Energy Companies Plan to Step Up Shale Gas Activity This month, Royal Dutch Shell began drilling for shale gas in Sweden in one of the latest developments within the sector. The prospects are good, as there are potentially enough resources to make the country self-sufficient for a decade. "We are drilling the first well and expect to finish this month," said a spokesperson for the firm. "It's a promising area. There could be enough gas to cover Sweden's gas needs for at least 10 years," he added. Shell is drilling the first three exploration wells during the first quarter of the year and the spokesperson told Reuters that full-scale operations may be possible within five to 10 years. Hydraulic Fracturing Concerns However, there have been some concerns expressed over the impact of drilling for shale gas on ground water. Goeran Gustafson, a science teacher who is active in a green group that is aiming to stop the project, has suggested that heavy metals and other dangerous substances may contaminate it. Similar anxiety has also arisen around the shale gas drilling in the United States. However, Rex Tillerson, chief executive of Exxon Mobil Group, recently told a hearing before the Congress energy and environment subcommittee that the hydraulic fracturing technique for extracting shale gas was safe. "We can now find and produce unconventional natural gas supplies miles below the surface in a safe, efficient and environmentally-responsible manner," he stressed. Shale Gas Exploration While these debates are ongoing, energy businesses are continuing to make the most of their shale gas investments. This month, Pioneer Natural Resources Company announced a second successful exploration exercise in the Eagle Ford shale gas well in south Texas. The Robert Crawley Gas Unit Number... To read the full article, visit the Shale Gas Drilling & Completions Download Centre: http://bit.ly/dKfIBr The Shale Gas Drilling and Completions 2011 event will be hosted from 20th – 21st June in Houston, Texas. For more details, please visit the website: www.shalegassummit.com, call freephone: 0800 652 2363 or email: enquire@iqpc.co.uk.