Regardless of the barriers linked with shale gas production, Africa and world-wide nations competing in the Oil & Gas Industry are increasingly jumping on board and offering approval.
When it comes to accepting the use of shale gas production, there is slight resistance due to the assumption that extracting shale oil and gas is dangerous and environmentally non-friendly. However this is not the whole truth; the problem with public and political opinion often comes from the fact that the general population has little knowledge concerning the topic at hand.
It seems as though the world is slowly (but surely) starting to be more accepting of shale gas production.
Certain facts revolving around our understanding of shale gas production includes:
- The high decline rate of shale wells;
- High production costs;
- Insufficient equipment and personnel.
Misleading facts reveal that even though it is true that shale gas wells have a high decline rate, so do conventional oil and gas wells and yet the exploitation of these commodities is considered highly viable within the Industry. Additionally, with regards to high costs, only the early exploration costs were often considered without taking into account that costs would decline as drilling became more advanced. It is argued that even though it would be cost friendlier to develop a shale gas industry in a country where the necessary infrastructure existed and people were skilled, it is not an unbeatable barrier to do this in a country where pipelines are built and people are training.
Something to consider is that even though the costs involved for countries that would have to establish new shale gas industries while producing shale gas will not be cheap, it will be cheaper than imports.
