Shale gas in Europe: an uncertain future

European shale gas  mining situation in Western Europe and Eastern Europe, the two regions should be considered. In Western Europe, many companies have carried out some exploration activities in the region and have a basic understanding of shale gas resources. Currently, a large number of Western European and other unconventional shale gas resources in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France and the Scandinavian Peninsula. Due to the economic, environmental and regulatory constraints,frac sand companies large-scale production of shale gas prospects are still being questioned.
On the one hand, the European regulations on shale gas development with the United States, Australia, compared to relatively less than perfect. Obtained exploration licenses uncertainty and risk is higher. Meanwhile, France, Scandinavia and other parts of Western Europe, shale gas resources zone near densely populated areas, the recent development of the region in order of potential shale gas resources is unlikely. On the other hand, European countries also lack of technology and infrastructure investments in shale gas economically viable long-term problems. Despite technological innovation is expected to reduce the cost of production of shale gas, but also impossible to achieve in the short term.
European investors are also being closely track the progress of U.S. shale gas industry, concerned about the U.S. company decided to develop its own shale gas resources and gas exports.
In Eastern Europe, except Poland shale gas resource potential concern, the Turkey and Ukraine also have some resource potential. Currently, Poland is making every effort seeking to develop its vast shale gas reserves. To reduce the country's dependence on Russian gas imports, Polish companies are working with scientists, research institutions, national laboratories and geological services and regulatory cooperation, the development of shale gas industry. If Poland, Hungary and other countries to achieve its commercial production of shale gas, the impact of Russian gas to Europe will continue to shrink. Currently,Proppant the European gas 1/4 volume of imports are from Russia through Ukraine input, and often controversial because the contract between the two countries faced off for the danger.
Some European countries the development of shale gas to the Russian conventional gas production poses a great threat. Shale gas production in Europe whether they would impact on the environment debate, Russia has behaved very active. It is because in conventional natural gas reserves and production occupies an absolutely dominant position, Russia shale gas development has been greatly hampered. But now, Russia's domestic investors in the long-term potential of shale gas has also been divided into two groups on the judgment: Some companies believe that the development of shale gas is not much sense, especially considering the current gas price conditions; Other companies shale gas development in the next big bet.ceramic ball For example, the Russian oil and gas company Exxon Mobil has the same strategic cooperation agreement to jointly carry out associated with shale gas technology research and development, which indicates that the Russian oil and gas companies at least aware of the future potential of shale gas.
Eastern investors are closely watching the U.S. shale gas development process. If the U.S. company decided to only meet domestic demand for production, then the U.S. shale gas production in Europe will have little effect large-scale development. But more likely is that U.S. companies to increase investment in order to meet the needs of entry into the European gas market, then Europe's imports from Canada and Russia will reduce gas dependence, this way, Russia is likely to turn their attention to the growing Asian market.