Energy in Brief -- What is shale gas and why is it important?

Published: December 17, 2010

ENERGY IN BRIEF ARTICLE
December 16, 2010

What is shale gas and why is it important? Chart showing historical and projections of U.S. gasoline production in trillion cubit feet for 1990-2035.

Chart showing historical and projections of U.S. gasoline production in trillion cubit feet for 1990-2035.

Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations. Shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that can be rich sources of petroleum and natural gas. Over the past decade, the combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has allowed access to large volumes of shale gas that were previously uneconomical to produce. The production of natural gas from shale formations has rejuvenated the natural gas industry in the United States.

Read the entire article: http://www.eia.doe.gov/energy_in_brief/about_shale_gas.cfm?

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