Vestnik Otdelenia nauk o Zemle RAN VOL. 2, NZ5001, doi:10.2205/2010NZ000014, 2010

Shale gas – New vector of development of global market of raw hydrocarbons

¹IPNG RAS, Moscow, Russia
²JSC "VNIIZARUBEZHGEOLOGIA", Moscow, Russia

Abstract

The article is related to the global problem of shale gas production. According to some analytical estimations, development of this nonconventional kind of energy resources can entail the following situation – during the next ten years the USA, Europe and China can considerably minimize their import requirements and in the long term completely satisfy them at the expense of their own resources. The article tells about the history of production of shale gas in the USA. The authors also provide a general assessment of global resources of shale gas, also providing an analysis of field production and prospects of development of import and export of shale gas of different countries of the world.

Received 28 April 2010; published 14 May 2010.