SHALE GAS PRODUCTION BY THE METHOD OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURE: THE CURRENT CONDITION, RISKS AND HAZARDS

Abstract

The current condition of shale gas production on basis of multiple hydraulic fractures in USA is characterized in the present article. It is shown that the breakthrough in development of shale gas and shale oil consists exactly in combination of technologies of lateral drilling from vertical well bore with the usage of revolving controlled system and technologies of multiple hydraulic fracture. Usage of such complex technologies increases the production cost and so shale gas will be more expensive than traditional gas. It is noticed that technological breakthrough in the sphere of shale gas production encourages the situation when USA importing gas up until recently, today is the biggest gas producer in the world leaved Russia behind. On the basis of analysis of geological exploration experience in the countries of European Union it is shown the absence of significant prospects of shale gas production in these countries and also in Ukraine. Negative influence of multiple hydraulic fractures on environment is considered. Herewith chemical pollution and geodynamic influence are separated. It is offered the hypothesis that expansion of shale gas and oil production scales has ecological risks and hazards in global scale.