Global Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves and Their Development

doi:10.1017/9781108774178.003

1 - Global Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves and Their Development

from Part I - Overview

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2022

John F. Stolz ,

Cassandra Ziegler and

W. Michael Griffin

Edited by

John Stolz ,

Daniel Bain and

Michael Griffin

Show author details

John Stolz: Affiliation:
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh
Daniel Bain: Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
Michael Griffin: Affiliation:
Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania

Book contents

Get access

Summary

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has assessed 46 countries for their technically recoverable unconventional oil and gas reserves. They estimate the global shale gas reserves at 7,577 Tcf (trillion cubic feet) and the global shale oil reserves at 419 billion bbl (barrels). The 10 largest reserves for shale gas are in China, Argentina, Algeria, United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, Russia, and Brazil. The European Union also has significant deposits with the majority located in Poland and France. The 10 largest reserves for shale oil are in the United States, Russia, China, Argentina, Libya, United Arab Emirates, Chad, Australia, Venezuela, and Mexico. To date, only the United States and Canada have reached commercial level production for shale gas and oil, followed to a lesser extent by China and Argentina. Australia has seen its efforts concentrate on liquified natural gas (LNG) and export. Most other countries remain in the exploratory phase or have halted development. This chapter provides a brief review of the major shale gas and oil plays based on the extensive assessment done by the EIA, and the current status of their development.

Keywords

shale China Argentina Algeria Canada Mexico estimated ultimate recovery

Type: Chapter
Information: Environmental Impacts from the Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves , pp. 3 - 18

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108774178.003 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2022

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Aczel, MR. (2020). Public opposition to shale gas extraction in Algeria: Potential application of France’s “Duty of Care Act.” The Extractive Industries and Society. 7(4): 1360–1368. doi:10.1016/j.exis.2020.09.003.Google Scholar

Aczel, MR, Makuch, KE, and Chibane, M. (2018). How much is enough? Approaches to public participation in shale gas regulation across England, France, and Algeria. The Extractive Industries and Society. 5: 427–440.Google Scholar

Agbroko, R. (2011). S. Africa imposes “fracking” moratorium in Karoo. Reuters, April 21, 2011. www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-fracking-idUSTRE73K45620110421. Accessed September, 2020.Google Scholar

Ambrose, J. “Fracking halted in England in major government U-turn.” The Guardian, November 1, 2019. www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/02/fracking-banned-in-uk-as-government-makes-major-u-turn. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Baca, MC. (2010). Pittsburgh bans natural gas drilling. ProPublica, November 16, 2010. www.propublica.org/article/pittsburgh-bans-natural-gas-drilling. Accessed June 2020.Google Scholar

BBC News. (2012). “Bulgaria bans shale gas drilling with ‘fracking’ method.” BBC News, January 19, 2012. www.bbc.com, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-16626580. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Belakhdar, N. (2020). “Algeria is not for Sale!” mobilizing against fracking in the Sahara. Middle East Report. 296 (Fall 2020).Google Scholar

Beller, RW and Schiariti, M. (2012). Argentina: regulations of the new Hydrocarbons Sovereignty Regime. Mondaq, August 7, 2012. www.mondaq.com/argentina/energy-law/190692/regulation-of-the-new-hydrocarbons-sovereignty-regime. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Bertram, R. (2019). “Will fracking be banned in Mexico?” Energy Transition. April 17, 2019. https://energytransition.org/2019/04/will-fracking-be-banned-in-mexico/ Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Bnamericas. (2020). Brazil-US to cooperate on regulations for unconventional oil and gas. Bnamericas, February 4, 2020. www.bnamericas.com/en/news/brazil-us-to-cooperate-on-regulations-for-unconventional-oil--gas. Accessed June 2020.Google Scholar

Cairney, P, Fischer, M, and Ingold, K. (2018). Fracking in the UK and Switzerland: Why differences in policymaking systems don’t always produce different outputs and outcomes. Policy and Politics. 46(1): 125–147. 10.1332/030557316X14793989976783.Google Scholar

Campbell, C. “Indonesia embraces shale fracking: but at what cost?” Time, June, 2013. https://world.time.com/2013/06/25/indonesia-embraces-shale-fracking-but-at-what-cost/ Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Chikhi, L, Zhdannikov, D, and Bousso, R. (2019). “Exxon’s talks to tap Algeria shale gas falter due to unrest -sources.” Reuters, March 20, 2019. www.reuters.com/article/us-algeria-protests-exxon-mobil-idUSKCN1R11G8. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Dias, P. (2019). “Brazil bans fracking in two states: National Congress hears arguments for a national ban.” Fossil Free, August 15, 2019. https://gofossilfree.org/press-release/brazil-bans-fracking-in-two-states-national-congress-hears-arguments-for-a-national-ban/. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

E360 Digest. (2021). Regulators ban fracking permanently in the four-state Delaware River watershed. Yale Environment 360. March 1, 2021.Google Scholar

Esterhuyse, S, Avenant, M, Redelinghuys, N, Kijko, A, Glazewski, J, Plit, L, Kemp, M, Smit, A, Vos, AT, and Williamson, R. (2016). A review of the biophysical and socio-economic effects of unconventional oil and gas extraction: Implications for South Africa. Journal of Environmental Management. 184: 419–430.Google Scholar

Gasser, H. (2017). “Shell positioning itself as Egypt’s preferred future partner.” Energy Egypt, September 19, 2017. https://energyegypt.net/gasser-hanter-shell-positioning-itself-as-egypts-preferred-future-partner/. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Gesley, J. (2017). “Germany: Unconventional Fracking Prohibited. Global Legal Monitor.” March 8, 2017. www.loc.gov/law/foreign-news/article/germany-unconventional-fracking-prohibited/ Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Graham, J and Rupp, J. (2022). Governance of fracking: Trends and challenges. In Stolz, JF, Griffin, WM, and Bain, DJ (eds.) Environmental Impacts from the Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar

Gryc, G. (1985). The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska: Earth-science Considerations. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1240-C. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.Google Scholar

Guo, F and Mccabe, P. (2017). Lithofacies analysis and sequence stratigraphy of the Roseneath-Epsilon-Mureree gas plays in the Cooper Basin, South Australia. Journal of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association. 57: 749. Doi:10.1071/AJ16202.Google Scholar

Herrera, H. (2020). Legal Status of Fracking Worldwide: An Environmental Law and Human Rights Perspective. The Global Network for Human Rights and the Environment. https://gnhre.org/2020/01/06/the-legal-status-of-fracking-worldwide-an-environmental-law-and-human-rights-perspective/. Accessed June 29, 2020.Google Scholar

Kuznestsov, S. (2013). “Lithuania: fracking gets trickier.” Financial Times, August 2, 2013. www.ft.com/content/371065ad-0a57-3c8f-a78e-dd9200fba9fe. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

McCarron, G and Dougall, S. (2022). An overview of unconventional gas extraction in Australia. In Stolz, JF, Griffin, WM, and Bain, DJ (eds.) Environmental Impacts from the Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar

Mead, LJ and Maloney, M. (2018a). Violations of nature’s rights. In The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal Session on Human Rights, Fracking and Climate Change. Earthlawyers.org. https://earthlawyers.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PPT-Natures-Rights-Final-Submission-31.03.18.pdf. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Mead, LJ and Maloney, M. (2018b). Appendix 2. In “The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal Session on Human Rights, Fracking and Climate Change.” https://earthlawyers.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/APPENDIX-2-Legal-Status-of-UOGE-across-the-world-31.03.18.pdf. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Minkow, D. (2017). What you need to know about fracking in Canada. The Narwhal. April 6, 2017. https://thenarwhal.ca/what-is-fracking-in-canada/. Access September, 2020.Google Scholar

Myers, SL. (2019). “China experiences a fracking Boom, and all the problems that go with it.” The New York Times, March 8, 2019. NYTimes.com www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/world/asia/china-shale-gas-fracking.html. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Natural Resources Canada. (2020). Shale and tight resources in Canada. www.nrcan.gc.ca/our-natural-resources/energy-sources-distribution/clean-fossil-fuels/natural-gas/shale-tight-resources-canada/17669. Accessed November, 2020.Google Scholar

Newbery, C. (2019). Argentina Faces Big Challenges to Develop Vaca Muerta for Export Growth. S&P Global.Google Scholar

NGI. (2019). Mexico environment minister wants to prohibit fracking. Natural Gas Intelligence. December 10, 2019. www.naturalgasintel.com/mexico-environment-minister-wants-to-prohibit-fracking/. Accessed September, 2020.Google Scholar

Orthofer, CL, Huppmann, D, and Krey, V. (2019). South Africa after Paris: Fracking its way to the NDCs? Frontiers in Energy Research. doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2019.00020.Google Scholar

Otaola, J. (2021). Argentina health works reject wage offer, keep road blockades at Vaca Muerta shale deposit. Reuters. April 26, 2021.Google Scholar

Rapoza, K. (2019). “Putin: ‘We’ll never frack.’” Forbes, November 20, 2019. www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2019/11/20/putin-well-never-frack/. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Reed, S. (2015). “Chevron to abandon shale natural gas venture in Poland.” The New York Times, January 30, 2015. www.nytimes.com/2015/01/31/business/international/chevron-to-abandon-shale-venture-in-poland-a-setback-to-fracking-europe.html. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Reuters. (2014). “Egypt Signs First Gas Fracking Contract with Apache, Shell.” Reuters, December 17, 2014. www.reuters.com/article/egpyt-shale-deals-idUSL6N0U11NR20141217. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Rogato, M. (2016). Brazil does a U-turn on fracking, indigenous lands protected from oil and gas exploration. Lifegate. www.lifegate.com/brazil-fracking-stopped-amazon-jurua-valley. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers). (1997). Petroleum Reserves Definitions [Archived 1997]. www.spe.org/en/industry/petroleum-reserves-definitions/. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Stefan, M. (2015). “Fracking in Romania: Gone, but hardly forgotten.” Food & Water Action Europe, September 28, 2015. www.foodandwatereurope.org/blogs/fracking-in-romania-gone-but-hardly-forgotten/. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Stolz, JF and Griffin, WM. (2022). Unconventional shale and gas oil extraction in the Appalachian Basin. In Stolz, JF, Griffin, WM, and Bain, DJ (eds.) Environmental Impacts from the Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar

Thomas, AR. (2014). “Fracking, Ukraine, and Russia.” Industry Week, March 2, 2014. www.industryweek.com/the-economy/article/21962437/fracking-ukraine-and-russia. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

United Nations. (2018). Shale Gas. Commodities at a glance: Special issue on shale gas, No. 9. https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/suc2017d10_en.pdf. Accessed July 17, 2020.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2013). Shale gas and shale oil resource assessment methodology. www.eia.gov/analysis/studies/worldshalegas/pdf/methodology_2013.pdf. Accessed June 29, 2020.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2014). Shale oil and gas resources are globally abundant. www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=14431. Accessed June 29, 2020.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015a). World Shale Resource Assessments www.eia.gov/analysis/studies/worldshalegas/. Accessed June 29, 2020.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015b). Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: Algeria. U.S. Department of Energy.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015c). Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: Argentina. U.S. Department of Energy.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015d). Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: Australia. U.S. Department of Energy.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015e). Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: Brazil. U.S. Department of Energy.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015f). Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: Canada. U.S. Department of Energy.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015g). Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: China. U.S. Department of Energy.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015h). Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: Mexico. U.S. Department of Energy.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015i). Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: Russia. U.S. Department of Energy.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015j). Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: South Africa. U.S. Department of Energy.Google Scholar

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2020). Assumptions to the Annual Energy Outlook 2020: Oil and Gas Supply Module. U.S. Department of Energy.Google Scholar

Vinson, and Elkins, . (2020). Global Fracking Resources www.velaw.com/shale-fracking-tracker/resources/. Accessed June, 2020.Google Scholar

Yadav, S. (2020). “Fracking in India.” The Ecologist, August14, 2020. https://theecologist.org/2020/aug/14/fracking-india Accessed August, 2020.Google Scholar