Unconventional Natural Gas By Adrian Casaday, Caroline Dykes, Alyssa Hooks, & Marnee Kirkpatrick

What is it? Some sources are deemed "unconventional" because of their out of the ordinary geological locations. Unconventional gas is found in highly compact rock or coal beds and requires a specific set of production techniques. Types of fuel that fall into this category include tight gas, shale gas, and coal bed methane.

The Process Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is the process used to extract unconventional natural gas. Under high pressure, water and fracturing fluids are injected into a formation to create spaces in the rock pores, which allows natural gas to be freed from under the rock where it was previously trapped.

The Process

Net Energy Outcome ●The energy used as a percentage is only about 6% for unconventional gas ●Production costs of unconventional natural gas range from $2.6 to $7.6/GJ for tight gas, from $3.8 to $7.6/GJ for CBM and from $3,8 to $8.6/GJ for shale gas

Advantages vs. Disadvantages ●natural gas can be a renewable resource ●it can be efficiently and safely stored ●more environmentally friendly due to its low emissions after burning ●abundant resource ●cheapest source of electrical power ●government is experiencing external costs that are not directly covered from tax revenues or impact on fees on oil and gas production. ●does create greenhouse gas emissions ●highly volatile and can be dangerous if handled or transported carelessly ●creates micro-earthquakes

Negative Impact on Environment The picture to the right is an image of the amount of pollution UNG puts out of its smokestacks. UNG pollutes the atmosphere. To the left, tap water is flammable due to groundwater contamination caused by fracking.

Availability It’s availability is very high and is referred to as the future of gas supply in North America.The U.S. is the leading producing nation, yet they have only produced a small fraction of their ultimate potential.

Depletion time ●Natural gas now is expected to peak around By the end of this century, nearly all of the economically recoverable fossil fuels will be gone and there will be shortages. ●Expected to peak around 2020 and cause major price increases. The use of Unconventional Natural Gas will significantly improve future resource recovery.

2005 Energy Policy Act This bill was passed on July 29, 2005 and signed into law on August 8, It was passed to help minimize the growing energy problems in the U.S. This act provided tax subsidies and loan guarantees for the production of energy.

References gas/why-it-called-unconventional-gas?%FFbw=kludge1%FF life-cycle-ghgs-air-emissions-and-road-impacts/ gasland-and-discussion-with-benjamin-scholz/ gas/why-it-called-unconventional-gas?%FFbw=kludge1%FF