The Fossil Fuel Revolution

The Fossil Fuel Revolution: Shale Gas and Tight Oil describes the remarkable new energy resources being obtained from shale gas and tight oil through a combination of directional drilling and staged hydraulic fracturing, opening up substantial new energy reserves for the 21st Century. The book includes the history of shale gas development, the technology used to economically recover hydrocarbons, and descriptions of the ten primary shale gas resources of the United States. International shale resources, environmental concerns, and policy issues are also addressed. This book is intended as a reference on shale gas and tight oil for industry members, undergraduate and graduate students, engineers and geoscientists.

• Provides a cross-cutting view of shale gas and tight oil in the context of geology, petroleum engineering, and the practical aspects of production
• Includes a comprehensive description of productive and prospective shales in one book, allowing readers to compare and contrast production from different shale plays
• Addresses environmental and policy issues and compares alternative energy resources in terms of economics and sustainability
• Features an extensive resource list of peer-reviewed references, websites, and journals provided at the end of each chapter

Geologists, Geophysicists, Geochemists, Petroleum Engineers, Oil and Gas Industry Professionals

PART I: GEOLOGY OF TIGHT OIL AND GAS SHALES
1. PETROLEUM GEOLOGY CONCEPTS
Origins of Black Shales
Source Rocks
Conventional Oil and Gas Resources

2. UNCONVENTIONAL TIGHT OIL AND SHALE GAS RESOURCES
The Nature of Continuous Resource Plays
The Challenges of Development
Natural Fractures

3. THE REVOLUTIONARY U.S. SHALE PLAYS
Defining a Play
Barnett Shale
Fayetteville Shale
Haynesville Shale
Marcellus Shale
Bakken Shale

4. THE EVOLUTIONARY U.S. SHALE PLAYS
Woodford Shale
Niobrara Formation and Pierre Shale
Utica Shale
Eagle Ford Shale
Permian Basin
Emerging Plays

5. INTERNATIONAL SHALE PLAYS
Introduction
Canada and Mexico
The U.K. and Continental Europe
Russia
Saudi Arabia and North Africa
South Africa
South America
China and India/Pakistan
Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia

PART II. THE FUTURE OF FOSSIL FUELS
6. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
Potential Environmental Risks of Tight Oil & Shale Gas Development
Engineering Risk Assessment
Risks to Groundwater and Surface Water
Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change

7. ENERGY ECONOMICS
Cradle to Grave Responsibility
Technology versus Cost
Economics of Different Energy Sources
Descriptions of Primary Energy Sources

PART III. ENERGY POLICY
8. ENERGY SECURITY
Energy Security History
Defining Energy Security
Elements of Energy Security

9. THE POLITICS OF ENERGY
Global Responsibilities
Energy Poverty
Energy Sustainability