Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom Management Committee held a meeting at the Gazprom Headquarters on the estimation of the development prospects for the market of non-conventional natural gas sources.

Taking part in the meeting were Vasiliy Podyuk, Member of the Management Committee – Head of the Gas, Gas Condensate and Oil Production Department as well as heads from Gazprom specialized subdivisions and subsidiaries– Gazprom VNIIGAZ, Gazprom promgaz and representatives of the Russian Federation Academy of Sciences.

The meeting participants discussed the current trends in the development of the non-conventional natural gas sources market.

“Russian science should intensify its efforts on developing the cutting-edge technologies of hydrocarbon production and transportation. It is especially crucial today, taking into account the big scope of work done by Gazprom in the regional gasification area. Besides, we should thoroughly analyze and monitor the foreign market of non-conventional natural gas sources,” noted Alexander Ananenkov while summing up the meeting results.

The specialized subdivisions and institutes were entrusted with the appropriate tasks.

Background

Shale gas resources of the USA are currently estimated at 30 trillion cubic meters. By 2030 shale gas production in this country may amount to 120–140 billion cubic meters per annum. Shale gas and other non-conventional sources (coalbed methane, gas hydrates etc.) may fully meet the USA demand for natural gas. In addition, the USA produces today over 50 billion cubic meters of coalbed methane per annum.

Russia possesses up to 25 per cent of the global oil shale resources. The potential volume of natural gas extraction from these resources hasn’t been estimated yet.

At present Gazprom is engaged in the arrangement of commercial methane production from coal beds.

Characterized by the existence of a ramified infrastructure and favorable location of resources against large industrial centres in Kemerovo Oblasat, Kuzbass is the most appropriate place to organize commercial coalbed methane production.

The coalbed methane exploration and extraction license for the South Kuzbass group of coal fields is held by Prospecting Company Kuznetsk – 100 per cent subsidiary of Gazprom.

In June 2009 Gazprom started to drill the first exploration well in the eastern area of the Talda CBM field in the Kemerovo Oblast.