Algeria
Algeria’s hydrocarbons basins hold two significant shale gas and shale oil formations: the Silurian Tannezuft Shale and the Devonian Frasnian Shale. The Energy Information Administration, Advanced Resources International, Inc (EIA-ARI) report World Shale Gas and Shale Oil Resource Assessment, June 2013, which analyses the Ghadames (Berkine) and Illizi Basins in eastern Algeria, the Timimoun, Ahnet and Mouydir Basins in centre of the country, and the Reggane and Tindouf Basins in the southwest, estimates that there are 3,419 trillion cubic feet of risked* shale gas in place with 707 trillion cubic feet as the risked, technically recoverable** shale gas resource. Six of these basins contain 121 billion barrels of risked shale oil and condensates in-place, with 5.7 billion barrels as the risked technically recoverable shale oil resource.
Notes: *An adjustment to the total hydrocarbon in-place taking into account the current knowledge about the play, the quality of the data, and the current state of technology. **Calculated by applying a recovery factor to risked gas in-place. Varies between 15%-35% with most plays in the 20%-30% range.
The country’s national petroleum company, Sonatrach (Société nationale de transport et de la commercialisation des hydrocarbures) has undertaken a comprehensive effort to define the size of its shale gas and shale oil reserves. Pilot wells are scheduled first for the Berkine (Ghadames) Basin, followed by test wells in Illizi, Timimoun, Ahmet and Mouydir basins. The international energy companies Statoil and Repsol have also undertaken geological and reservoir characterization studies of Algeria’s shales. Over the last year the country modified its hydrocarbons legislation to improve the investment climate in anticipation of a hydrocarbons licensing round in 2013. Sonatrach is expected to remain dominant in the sector, according to the report.
Libya
The EIA-ARI report considers three of the four major hydrocarbons basins in Libya: the Ghadames (Berkine) basin in the west of Libya, the Sirte basin in the centre, and the Murzuq basin in the southwest. The Kufra Basin in the southeast is not assessed quantitatively by the report. The first three of the basins mentioned contain 942 trillion cubic feet of risked shale gas in-place with 122 trillion cubic feet as the risked, technically recoverable shale gas resource. They also contain 613 billion barrels of risked shale oil and condensates in-place with 26.1 billion barrels as the risked, technically recoverable shale oil resource. Furthermore, according to ARI “(…) it is likely that future exploration will identify additional shale resources in other basins and formations.”
In late 2012, the Chairman of Libya’s national oil company, National Oil Company (NOC), Nuri Berruien, announced that the company was examining options for the exploration of unconventional oil and gas resources, one option being to make an internal evaluation and then bring in international companies with expertise in unconventional exploration and development.
Egypt
Egypt has four basins in the Western Desert with shale oil and gas potential: Abu Gharadig, Alamein, Natrun, and Shoushan-Matruh. The largest horizon is the Khatatba Shale in the Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation. ARI estimates that this Khatatba Shale contains around 535 trillion cubic feet of risked shale gas in-place with 100 trillion cubic feet of risked, technically recoverable shale gas resources. In terms of shale oil, ARI assesses that here there are about 114 billion barrels of risked shale oil in-place, with 4.6 billion barrels of risked, technically recoverable shale oil resources.
South Africa
South Africa has one major sedimentary basin, the Karoo Basin. This extends across nearly two thirds of the country with the southern portion of the basin being potentially favorable for shale gas. Considerable uncertainty surrounds the characterization and assessment of the country’s shale resources. Exploration is just starting in the Karoo Basin, but in the Permian-age Ecca group, ARI estimates that there is 370 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable shale gas.
The country, being a net natural gas importer, mainly from Mozambique and Namibia, has given priority to exploration for domestic gas and oil, and a number of major and independent companies have signed Technical Cooperation Permits to pursue shale gas in the Karoo Basin: these companies include Royal Dutch Shell, the Falcon Oil & Gas–Chevron joint venture, the Sasol–Chesapeake–Statoil joint venture, Australian Sunset Energy Ltd, and South Africa’s Anglo Coal.
Mongolia
Mongolia has limited but locally significant shale gas and shale oil potential located in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country. Risked, technically recoverable resources are estimated at 4 trillion cubic feet of shale gas and 3.4 billion barrels of shale oil out of 55 trillion cubic feet and 85 billion barrels of risked shale gas and shale oil in-place. The most prospective areas are the East Gobi Basin, close to the border with China, and the Tamtsag Basin.
Thailand
Even though no shale gas or shale oil exploration has been reported to date, Thailand has significant prospective shale gas and shale oil potential in the Khorat Basin in the north-east, and in the Northern Intermontane and Central Plains Basins. The greatest potential appears to be in the shale gas deposits contained in the Permian and Triassic shale source rocks in the Khorat Basin.
UK-based Salamander Energy holds several license blocks in this basin. Earlier this year China’s Yanchang Petroleum reportedly entered into a contract with the Thai Ministry of Energy to explore natural gas opportunities in the Khorat. Coastal Energy and Hess also have interests in this basin but have not reported activity in the last two years.
Indonesia
Indonesia has an estimated 46 trillion cubic feet and 7.9 billion barrels of risked, technically recoverable shale gas and shale oil resources out of 303 trillion cubic feet and 234 billion barrels of risked shale gas and shale oil in-place.
India and Pakistan
India and Pakistan contain numerous basins with organic-rich shales. The ARI study assessed four priority basins : Cambay, Krishna-Godavari, Cauvery, and Damodar Valley. ARI estimates a total of 1,170 trillion cubic feet of risked shale gas in-place for India and Pakistan: 584 trillion cubic feet in India and 586 trillion cubic feet in Pakistan. Risked, technically recoverable shale gas reserve is estimated at 201 trillion cubic feet: 96 trillion cubic feet for India and 105 trillion cubic feet for Pakistan. In addition, the institute estimates risked shale oil in-place for both countries of 314 billion barrels, with 87 billion barrels in India and 227 billion in Pakistan. The risked, technically recoverable shale oil resource is estimated at 12.9 billion barrels for both countries with 3.8 billion barrels for India and 9.1 billion barrels for Pakistan.
Jordan
The country has two basins with potential for shale gas and oil: the Hamad (Risha area) and Wadi Sirhan. The target horizon is the Silurian-age Batra Shale within the larger Mudawwara Formation. ARI estimates that the Batra Shale in these two basins contains 35 trillion cubic feet of risked shale gas in-place, with 7 trillion cubic feet of risked, technically recoverable shale gas resource. The institution also estimates that the Batra Shale holds 4 billion barrels of risked shale oil in-place, with about 0.1 billion barrels of risked, technically recoverable shale oil resources.
Turkey
The Southeast Anatolia Basin and the Thrace Basin have active shale gas and shale oil exploration underway undertaken by the Turkish National Oil Company and several international companies. ARI estimates that the Dadas Shale in the Southeast Anatolia Basin and the Hamitabat Shale in the Thrace Basin contain 163 trillion cubic feet of risked shale gas in-place, with 24 trillion cubic feet as the risked technically recoverable shale gas resource. Also, the institute estimates that these two shale basins contain 94 billion barrels of risked shale oil in-place with 4.7 billion barrels as risked, technically recoverable shale oil resource.
By Stuart Wilkinson
oileconomyfocus.com
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Shale Oil: Will the “Shale Revolution” be just in the United States?
- Part I: A general view starting from the U.S.A.
- Part II: Shale in russia, china, europe, australia and latin america
- Part III: Shale in africa and asia
- Part IV: Shale and global oil and gas reserves – revealing figures
- Part V: Shale to be a geopolitical game changer
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Source:
EIA Report prepared by Advanced Resources International “World Shale Gas and Shale Oil Resource Assessment”. May 17th 2013