As is well known, shale gas and other unconventional resources have revolutionised the hydrocarbon industry in the US, and the country is expected to become a net exporter of gas by 2020, according to the EIA. What is the significance of this for global energy?

The recent shale gas boom is a reminder that the effective use of hydraulic fracturing in shale formations is a relatively new phenomenon. However, this ‘fracking’ (also called 'fracing’ or ‘fraccing’ in the technical literature) has been around for longer than many people realise, and the use of unconventional techniques to extract oil and gas from the ground has developed over more than 150 years.

The gas potential of the Marcellus Shale of the Appalachian Basin has made it an attractive investment opportunity. Horizontal wells and hydraulic fracturing have boosted production rates and recoverable reserves in these low permeability rocks.

The Palaeozoic tectonic history of the Great Basin of Nevada in south-western USA parallels that of the US east coast, where the Marcellus Shale has been a target of intense exploration and production.

Using the Montney Play as an example of how a Common Risk Segment Mapping approach can be applied to quantifying Estimated Ultimate Recovery in pervasive hydrocarbon systems.

Following a rock properties-based workflow for shale plays makes it possible to gather intelligence which not only defines where to drill and how to frac, but also better predicts the economic outcome.

A new report estimates that the UK Bowland Shale resources could amount to over a quadrillion cubic feet of gas in place.

AAPG Distinguished Lecturer Terry Engelder assesses the history behind European bans on fracking.