Unconventional natural gas: resources, potential and technology

Development of unconventional natural gas resources, including tight gas basins, Devonian shale, coal seams and geopressured aquifers, becomes increasingly attractive as the energy shortage continues and as the supply of natural gas from conventional sources is depleted. Estimates of the quantity of methane occurring in these sources vary widely, especially in estimating methane reserves in geopressured aquifers. This work describes these natural gas resources, their potential, and associated technology for recovery. 298 references.