SHALE GAS:THE NEXT ENERGY REVOLUTION

SAKINA BABAYO ARDO

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HYDROCARBON CHEMISTRY, FALL 2013

WHAT IS SHALE GAS

• Shale gas refers to natural gas – a fossil fuel that is trapped within shale formations.

• Shales are fine grained sedimentary rocks that can be rich sources of petroleum and natural gas. Shale is primarily composed of clay and fragments of other minerals such as quartz and calcite.

SHALE GAS VS NATURAL GAS

• Both contain methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentanes and heavier hydrocarbons

• Natural gas has been the sole focus of the oil and gas industry since it began nearly hundred years ago. It is free gas trapped in porous zones in naturally occurring rock formations such as sandstones

and siltstones.• Most of the growth in supply from today’s gas resources

comes from shale gas.• The major difference between natural gas and shale gas

is the manner, ease and cost associated with extracting the resource.

WHY SHALE GAS WAS CHOSEN AS FUTURE ENERGY: significance

• It is an abundant energy source,• Affordable energy choice• A safe and reliable fuel• Cleanest burning hydrocarbon• A fundamental element in the future

energy supply mix.

INNOVATION

• Technological breakthroughs in hydraulic fracturing are used to tap shale gas.

• Hydraulic fracturing is a process by which water is mixed with sand and chemicals an the mixture is injected at high pressure into a wellbore to create small fractures along which shale gas can migrate to the well.

HYPOTHESIS

Natural Gas is the cleanest burning hydrocarbon fuel. Shale gas is an unconventional form of natural gas. The market for cleaner future energy can be expanded due to increased production of shale gas.

WHERE CAN SHALE GAS BE FOUND IN THE WORLD?

SHALE GAS IN THE UNITED STATES:competitive advantage

• Shale gas is expected to shake up the world enegry markets.

• Shale gas deposits are found in areas that had no exploitable gas reserves.

• Due to availability of shale gas and sophisticated technology , the united states became the largest producer of natural gas in 2009.

• US poised to become significant player in the global natural gas market.

SHALE GAS IN NIGERIA

• Nowhere to be found in the growing list of shale oil and shale gas production.

• NNPC proposes that shale gas is a major source of energy to Nigeria’s oil industry.

• US shale gas production has increased from 8 to 32 percent

SHALE GAS IN NIGERIA

• Consequently, natural gas import from Nigeria fell from 3 percent to 1 percent.

• No attempt to explore shale gas which Nigeria has.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST WAY OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM SHALE GAS MAY BRING TO THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY.

• FG should push for exploration and production of shale gas

• Diversify the economy towards minerals and agriculture

• Find new buyers for crude in North America and Asia

• Build refineries in Nigeria to refine our crude and cut cost