China shale gas development still needs to pass three hurdles

In recent years, shale gas exploration and development are more and more attention.Fracturing proppant Foreign experts believe that China's shale gas development outlook, but the development process required to solve the water shortage, lack of technical capacity and lack of resources on three major issues pipeline.

Foreign experts believe that China has become the world's largest energy consumer, although China in wind, solar, hydro and nuclear energy has developed rapidly, but it is a real change in natural gas provides the possibility of China's energy structure, it should be noted that in particular shale gas, coal bed methane and coal-gas.

Shale gas unconventional natural gas important part. According to the National Energy Board in 2011 data, China's  shale gas  recoverable resources of about 26 trillion cubic meters, roughly the same with the United States. At present, China shale gas resources remain undeveloped state, the development potential.

In the last month released the latest "World Energy Outlook" report, the IEA predicts that by 2035, including shale gas and coal bed methane gas, including unconventional gas production will account for nearly half of new, which Most new production comes from China, the United States and Australia.

Although the development outlook, but experts believe that China's shale gas resource development in the presence of water shortages, lack of technical capacity and lack of resources on three major issues pipeline.

Held in Kuala Lumpur World Gas Conference, the Asia-Pacific natural gas expert Gavin Thompson said, it is necessary for China and exploitation of shale gas potential of more in-depth investigation skills. Meanwhile, access to land issues, environmental challenges, supply chain services and infrastructure missing so will China shale gas development challenges.

First, the water shortage. Currently the main use of the development of shale gas "fracking." The method is sand, water and a special mixture of chemicals injected deep underground rock, forcing the rock failure to obtain shale gas. This method requires plenty of water support. "Earth Wars: global resources of the dispute," the author says Geoff Hiscock, most parts of northern China already water-stressed, while in the south, shale gas exploration will compete with the crop water.

Secondly, the development of technical capacity is insufficient. And exploitation of the more experienced compared to the U.S., China shale gas development technology capacity is obviously insufficient. U.S. shale gas resources have been developed for over 30 years, has extensive experience in oil and gas industry and infrastructure available. U.S. exploration company pioneered horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing and other key technologies, the drilling team is the industry leader, as well as covering and supporting the entire industry financing, distribution, processing and marketing of excellent service.

Solve this problem, Hiscock said, PetroChina, CNOOC and other Chinese state-owned enterprises through the North American shale gas company's investment as well as Exxon Mobil, Shell and other oil giants joint venture,frac sand learning the skills of shale gas exploitation. But he cautioned that in the process of developing shale gas, shale gas field in each block is unique, that there is no "one size fits all" technology. Therefore, Chinese companies must develop their technological innovation.

Finally, the pipeline resources. North America has been built thousands of kilometers of gas pipelines and receiving point, detailed geological survey records. These hardware and software aspects of the building, China still has a considerable gap.

Experts also warned that in addition to the above three short board, the development of shale gas resources in China, like the U.S., but also consider public support for environmental risks and other factors.