THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT

摘要

Horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing technologies have enabled the rapid expansion of natural gas production from organic-rich shale formations around the world. Abundant new supplies of natural gas have made possible large-scale fuel switching-from coal to natural gas-in electrical power generation in the United States. This fuel substitution has had beneficial effects on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, along with significant economic impacts as a fuel for consumers and industry. But fuel switching to natural gas will not be sufficient by itself to combat long-term climate change; further decarbonization by eventually switching to noncarbon energy sources will also be required. In this context, global shale gas resources represent a critically important transition fuel on the path to a decarbonized energy future.