Shale gas:Enormous potential of unconventional natural gas resources

Shale gas is a special type of unconventional natural gas resource.This paper conducted in-depth investigation into and summed up history and successful experience from the exploration and development of the shale gas reservoirs in North America.Unlike conventional natural gas reservoirs,shale gas reservoirs have their special characters from the aspects of geology and development.Oil and gas operators regarded the shale gas as their important target for natural gas development,and achieved great success by their effective policy and advanced drilling and completion technologies including horizontal well and hydraulic fracturing.This paper points out that research and exploration and development of shale gas in China is still at the exploratory stage,the Paleozoic sea facies and Cenozoic continental facies are two important areas for shale gas exploration and development,and the enormous potential of shale gas will become a realistic gas resource only if geological study and technology on drilling and completion are improved to a high level.This paper suggests that survey on the shale gas resource should be hastened,favorable polices should be made out,and more cooperation with foreign countries should be encouraged to promote the shale gas development in China.