overview

Key Learning Objectives

• Appreciate the recent impact shale development has had on global markets and exploration
• Understand the unique geological characteristics of shales and tight rocks
• Learn what recent technology has allowed for successful commercial development
• Understand the methods used to estimate recoverable oil and gas volumes
• Become familiar with the drilling and completion options and technical challenges
• Recognise the objectives, timing, costs, and required skills for the various stages of exploration and development
• Learn what technical processes and tools are applied to designing and evaluating hydraulic fracturing
• Review the environmental issues related to hydraulic fracturing
• Appreciate the common evaluation mistakes
• Recognise the major differences in the various commercially successful plays

Who Will Benefit

• Geologists, engineers, consultants and service providers who are involved, or might become involved, in evaluating and developing shale and tight gas reservoirs
• Managers, technical support staff, regulators and project developers needing or wanting to learn more about the unique rewards and risks of shale and tight gas reservoir exploration and development

About the Course

The recent success in developing a wide variety of shale and tight rock reservoirs in North America has had a dramatic impact on markets, development activities and the training requirements for the industry. With natural gas offering an energy source that offers reduced carbon dioxide emissions compared to coal, favourable gas prices in the future could push shale even further onto the scene as a game changer in most markets, offering an exciting step towards energy self-sufficiency.

There are significant challenges to identifying commercial opportunities and to developing these resources but the vast majority of their development potential exists outside North America and so it is inevitable these reservoirs will continue to grow in global importance.

This course will walk participants through the evaluation and development of shale and tight gas, using the North American experiences as a bench mark.

There will also be a discussion around the economic and environmental challenges in the exploitation shale gas. The 2 days will provide participants with a solid basis for identifying, evaluating and developing shale as a viable gas play.