Shale Oil & Gas | The Game changing 'gift of God' to Pakistan.

[Kompromat]

Gift of God​

Farrukh Saleem
Monday, August 12, 2013
From Print Edition



Gift of God to Pakistan. Shale gas is “natural gas that is found trapped within shale formations." In the US, the ‘shale gas revolution’has already begun. In 2000, shale gas was a paltry one percent of US natural gas production. Currently, around 25 percent of US natural gas production is shale gas and within the next 20 years 50 percent of the US’ natural gas supply will come from shale gas.

As of December 2011,Pakistan’s proved reserves of natural gas stood at around 30 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). According to a State Bank of Pakistan report,“Pakistan is left with only 50 percent natural gas reserves as high consumption in different sectors has exhausted 50 percent of the overall reserves of 54 Tcf by financial year of 2011-12.” Pakistan, as per the SBP, has “sufficient reserves to last just over 20 years.”

Gift of God to Pakistan. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), an agency of the US Federal Statistical System, Pakistan has 586 Tcf of “risked shale gas in-place.” For Pakistan, that is 400 years worth of gas supply. Of the 586 Tcf, Pakistan’s “technically recoverable shale gas resource is estimated at 105 Tcf.” For Pakistan, that is 73 years worth of gas supply.

Gift of God to, Pakistan. According to the EIA, Pakistan has 227 billion barrels of risked shale oil in-place. For Pakistan, that is 1,700 years worth of oil supply. Of the 227 billion barrels, Pakistan’s “technically recoverable shale oil resource is estimated at 9.1 billion.” For Pakistan, that is 68 years worth of crude oil supply.

The two shale formations have already been identified: the Sembar Shale formation and the Ranikot Shale formation. Within the Sembar Shale, dry gas in 31,320 square miles, wet gas in 25,560 square miles and oil in 26,700 square miles. Within the Ranikot Shale, oil in 26,780 square miles, 4 Tcf of wet shale gas and 3.3 billion barrels of shale oil.

Pakistan has the ninth largest shale oil reserves on the face of the planet. This gift of God can be a game-changer – abundant, cheap source of energy. Shale gas and oil assets have a life cycle-exploration, appraisal, development, production and rejuvenation. The critical processes involved are hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. The disciplines involved include geo-mechanics, geochemistry, mineralogy, rock mechanics, seismology and stimulation modelling.

Uncle Sam has all the secrets. And Uncle Sam is not opening up the secrets behind shale fracturing fluids, chemical management, hydraulic fracturing, multi-stage fracturing, directional well drilling, steerable down-hole drill motors and horizontal walls. Then there is the all-important risk management; drinking water well contamination and surface water contamination.

Uncle Sam has his secrets but according to Arshad Abbasi, Pakistan’s foremost energy-sector expert, Pakistan has guar or cluster bean – the essential ingredient in the shale gas fracturing process. For the record, Pakistan and India produce over 80 percent of global guar production – and that is so because guar loves the “sun and is very susceptible to frost”.

What we need is shale technology. A one-point agenda with Uncle Sam. We need to ‘think about future generations because if we don’t they’ll never forget us’.

The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. Email: farrukh15@************. Twitter: @Saleemfarrukh

Gift of God - Farrukh Saleem


Pakistan should invite the US to invest in our reserves.

 

[AUz]

There are no "gifts of God" to nation.

God only gives "tools" to nations..Some nations use those tools and work hard and progress....while others...well they are just called Pakistan.

 

[Black Eagle 90]

Gift of God​

Farrukh Saleem
Monday, August 12, 2013
From Print Edition



Gift of God to Pakistan. Shale gas is “natural gas that is found trapped within shale formations." In the US, the ‘shale gas revolution’has already begun. In 2000, shale gas was a paltry one percent of US natural gas production. Currently, around 25 percent of US natural gas production is shale gas and within the next 20 years 50 percent of the US’ natural gas supply will come from shale gas.

As of December 2011,Pakistan’s proved reserves of natural gas stood at around 30 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). According to a State Bank of Pakistan report,“Pakistan is left with only 50 percent natural gas reserves as high consumption in different sectors has exhausted 50 percent of the overall reserves of 54 Tcf by financial year of 2011-12.” Pakistan, as per the SBP, has “sufficient reserves to last just over 20 years.”

Gift of God to Pakistan. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), an agency of the US Federal Statistical System, Pakistan has 586 Tcf of “risked shale gas in-place.” For Pakistan, that is 400 years worth of gas supply. Of the 586 Tcf, Pakistan’s “technically recoverable shale gas resource is estimated at 105 Tcf.” For Pakistan, that is 73 years worth of gas supply.

Gift of God to, Pakistan. According to the EIA, Pakistan has 227 billion barrels of risked shale oil in-place. For Pakistan, that is 1,700 years worth of oil supply. Of the 227 billion barrels, Pakistan’s “technically recoverable shale oil resource is estimated at 9.1 billion.” For Pakistan, that is 68 years worth of crude oil supply.

The two shale formations have already been identified: the Sembar Shale formation and the Ranikot Shale formation. Within the Sembar Shale, dry gas in 31,320 square miles, wet gas in 25,560 square miles and oil in 26,700 square miles. Within the Ranikot Shale, oil in 26,780 square miles, 4 Tcf of wet shale gas and 3.3 billion barrels of shale oil.

Pakistan has the ninth largest shale oil reserves on the face of the planet. This gift of God can be a game-changer – abundant, cheap source of energy. Shale gas and oil assets have a life cycle-exploration, appraisal, development, production and rejuvenation. The critical processes involved are hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. The disciplines involved include geo-mechanics, geochemistry, mineralogy, rock mechanics, seismology and stimulation modelling.

Uncle Sam has all the secrets. And Uncle Sam is not opening up the secrets behind shale fracturing fluids, chemical management, hydraulic fracturing, multi-stage fracturing, directional well drilling, steerable down-hole drill motors and horizontal walls. Then there is the all-important risk management; drinking water well contamination and surface water contamination.

Uncle Sam has his secrets but according to Arshad Abbasi, Pakistan’s foremost energy-sector expert, Pakistan has guar or cluster bean – the essential ingredient in the shale gas fracturing process. For the record, Pakistan and India produce over 80 percent of global guar production – and that is so because guar loves the “sun and is very susceptible to frost”.

What we need is shale technology. A one-point agenda with Uncle Sam. We need to ‘think about future generations because if we don’t they’ll never forget us’.

The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. Email: farrukh15@************. Twitter: @Saleemfarrukh

Gift of God - Farrukh Saleem


Pakistan should invite the US to invest in our reserves.

But its not good as it produces EarthQuake....

 

[bornmoron]

Keep this away from the US,,,,

Saale chor hai,,,,

 

[Leader]

Gift of God​

Pakistan should invite the US to invest in our reserves.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

We have also been blessed, with by far the largest reserves of Shale Gas in the world:

List of countries by recoverable shale gas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And we also have one the largest Shale Oil reserves in the world as well, only behind Russia and America.

This is an opportunity that cannot be missed.

 

[OrionHunter]

As of December 2011,Pakistan’s proved reserves of natural gas stood at around 30 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). According to a State Bank of Pakistan report,“Pakistan is left with only 50 percent natural gas reserves as high consumption in different sectors has exhausted 50 percent of the overall reserves of 54 Tcf by financial year of 2011-12.” Pakistan, as per the SBP, has “sufficient reserves to last just over 20 years.”

Gift of God to Pakistan.

That's good news. Now for the bad news....

It takes two barrels of water to produce one barrel of oil shale liquid (source: Argonne National Laboratory and RAND). And without cutting-edge water treatment technology, the water discharge from oil shale refining will increase salinity in surrounding water, to unacceptable levels poisoning the local area.

So then, to extract 9 billion barrels of shale oil, you would need 18 billion barrels of water!! And that is the hitch! But there's more bad news.....In addition to the environmental impacts of oil shale, and the huge requirement of clean water, vast amounts of energy are required to support production. NRDC cites Rand Corporation estimates that generating 100,000 barrels of shale oil would require 1,200 megawatts of power—or the equivalent of a new power plant capable of serving a city of 500,000 people!!

And then, shale oil production faces huge technical and environmental obstacles and is many times more expensive to extract compared to crude oil. Shale oil, has not yet been commercially developed even in the United States, only shale gas, because of the huge investments involved and technical aspects that have not been mastered so far.

Considering this, it would be a decade or more for Pakistan to exploit its reserves, though extracting shale gas would be comparatively easier and the way forward. Shale oil extraction would be financially unaffordable for Pakistan as the infrastructure required would be gargantuan.

 

[Kompromat]

@orion hunter

The technology is in its infancy, and steadily improving, these are not the sort of reserves we can exploit today, but definitely in the near future.

 

[Argus Panoptes]

There are no "gifts of God" to nation.

God only gives "tools" to nations..Some nations use those tools and work hard and progress....while others...well they are just called Pakistan.

Golden words.

And then some nations are unfortunate enough to return the gift package from God via FedEx by marking it "Return to Sender".

 

[fjamil]

No doubt that there are great risks to environment but eventually Shale Gas exploration will take place in Pakistan, sooner or later. As we start to work on Shale Gas exploration (technology, investment, planning etc) we should work in parallel with environmentalists on safeguards as well. Lots of work needs to be done on that front.

 

[niaz]

Firstly, let us not forget that it was the companies such as Mitchell Energy (now Devon Energy) from the United States developed fracking techniques such as ""slick water fracturing". Halliburton another US company is probably the largest outfit in the world providing fracking services.

Understand that Taliban & Khilafat lovers of which we have a plenty in Pakistan (even in this forum) care nothing for this world and all of their action are geared for the reward of 72 houries in the next world. Do you think that these bigots of JI & TTP supporters will let GOP go begging to the great Satan the US; to provide Pakistan technical help for something that is good only in this world?

Secondly, being passionate about Oil & Gas; I have been following growing debate in the UK about environmental impact of fracking.

The UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir John Beddington FRS, asked the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering to review the scientific and engineering evidence and consider whether the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (often termed ‘fracking&#8217 as a means to extract shale gas could be managed effectively in the UK.

The key findings of this review were:

1. The health, safety and environmental risks can be managed effectively in the UK. Operational best practices must be implemented and enforced through strong regulation.

2. Fracture propagation is an unlikely cause of contamination. The risk of fractures propagating to reach overlying aquifers is very low provided that shale gas extraction takes place at depths of many hundreds of metres or several kilometres. Even if fractures reached overlying aquifers, the necessary pressure conditions for contaminants to flow are very unlikely to be met given the UK’s shale gas hydrogeological environments.

3. Well integrity is the highest priority. More likely causes of possible contamination include faulty wells. The UK’s unique well examination scheme was set up so that independent, specialist experts could review the design of every offshore well. This scheme must be made fit for purpose for onshore activities. Robust monitoring is vital. Monitoring should be carried out before, during and after shale gas operations to detect methane and other contaminants in groundwater and potential leakages of methane and other gases into the atmosphere.

4. An Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) should be mandatory. Every shale gas operation should assess risks across the entire lifecycle of operations, from water use through to the disposal of wastes and the abandonment of wells.

5. Seismic risks are low. Seismicity should be included in the ERA. Seismicity induced by hydraulic fracturing is likely to be of smaller magnitude than the UK’s largest natural seismic events and those induced by coal mining.

6. Water requirements can be managed sustainably. Water use is already regulated by the Environment Agency. Integrated operational practices, such as recycling and reusing wastewaters where possible, would help to minimise water requirements further. Options for disposing of wastes should be planned from the outset. Should any onshore disposal wells be necessary in the UK, their construction, regulation and siting would need further consideration.


There are many very competent & honest engineers in Pakistan who have genuine interest of the country & the public at heart. However, I have no faith in the money grabbing politicians. I sincerely hope that our policy makers exercise due diligence when fracking actually starts in Pakistan.

 

[Menace2Society]

Fracking has been going on in the UK for the past 2-3 years with minimal impact to the environment.

Give it 10 years and the tech will be opened up to the developing world and those who can will take advantage.

We have enough Shale oil to see us through for 40 years operating at max capacity and more.

Be patient, keep the territories secure and the let the oil flow.

 

[livingdead]

and god left us Indians with nothing.. yet again..

 

[Samlee]

Firstly, let us not forget that it was the companies such as Mitchell Energy (now Devon Energy) from the United States developed fracking techniques such as ""slick water fracturing". Halliburton another US company is probably the largest outfit in the world providing fracking services.

Understand that Taliban & Khilafat lovers of which we have a plenty in Pakistan (even in this forum) care nothing for this world and all of their action are geared for the reward of 72 houries in the next world. Do you think that these bigots of JI & TTP supporters will let GOP go begging to the great Satan the US; to provide Pakistan technical help for something that is good only in this world?

Secondly, being passionate about Oil & Gas; I have been following growing debate in the UK about environmental impact of fracking.

The UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir John Beddington FRS, asked the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering to review the scientific and engineering evidence and consider whether the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (often termed ‘fracking&#8217 as a means to extract shale gas could be managed effectively in the UK.

The key findings of this review were:

1. The health, safety and environmental risks can be managed effectively in the UK. Operational best practices must be implemented and enforced through strong regulation.

2. Fracture propagation is an unlikely cause of contamination. The risk of fractures propagating to reach overlying aquifers is very low provided that shale gas extraction takes place at depths of many hundreds of metres or several kilometres. Even if fractures reached overlying aquifers, the necessary pressure conditions for contaminants to flow are very unlikely to be met given the UK’s shale gas hydrogeological environments.

3. Well integrity is the highest priority. More likely causes of possible contamination include faulty wells. The UK’s unique well examination scheme was set up so that independent, specialist experts could review the design of every offshore well. This scheme must be made fit for purpose for onshore activities. Robust monitoring is vital. Monitoring should be carried out before, during and after shale gas operations to detect methane and other contaminants in groundwater and potential leakages of methane and other gases into the atmosphere.

4. An Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) should be mandatory. Every shale gas operation should assess risks across the entire lifecycle of operations, from water use through to the disposal of wastes and the abandonment of wells.

5. Seismic risks are low. Seismicity should be included in the ERA. Seismicity induced by hydraulic fracturing is likely to be of smaller magnitude than the UK’s largest natural seismic events and those induced by coal mining.

6. Water requirements can be managed sustainably. Water use is already regulated by the Environment Agency. Integrated operational practices, such as recycling and reusing wastewaters where possible, would help to minimise water requirements further. Options for disposing of wastes should be planned from the outset. Should any onshore disposal wells be necessary in the UK, their construction, regulation and siting would need further consideration.


There are many very competent & honest engineers in Pakistan who have genuine interest of the country & the public at heart. However, I have no faith in the money grabbing politicians. I sincerely hope that our policy makers exercise due diligence when fracking actually starts in Pakistan.

Respected Niaz Sahib I Am Surprised At You.Normally You Are Quite Skeptic About Any News About Massive Hydrocarbon Reserves In Pakistan Yet You Sound Quite Optimistic in This Regard.We Must Be Very Careful About EIA.In 2011 It Reported 83 tcf Shale Gas in The Alum Shale In Norway.Excited Shell Came In And Found Nothing and Was Forced To Leave In Disappointment.Now The EIA Has Revalued Norway's Shale Gas Reserves To Zero.
In This Regard I Should Add That I Am Not Implying That The EIA Report Is A lie(The Alum Shale May Be An Exception to The Rule) but What I Am Trying To Say Is That It Is Not Conclusive and That We Should Get A Detailed Survey Of The Sembar Formation in Thar and Ranikot Done to Verify It.
Having Said That I am Confident Of Massive Hydrocarbons Potential In Pakistan Considering That It Lies On Three Tectonic Plates and Has Vast Sedimentary Basin.
I Even Insist That There Should Be A Third Party Survey That Should Verify The Existence Of The Six Trillion Barrels Crude Oil or The 200 Tcf Natural Gas offshore Makran Coast as Reported By Geological Survey of Pakistan and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources(Of Which You Have Made No Secret of Your Disdain)

 

[Samlee]

and god left us Indians with nothing.. yet again..

India Has 584 tcf of Shale Gas and 96 tcf of which is technically recoverable and 87 bbl of shale oil of which 3.8 bbl is recoverable according to the same report.So Cheer Up Don't Be Sad