Shale gas: a step toward sustainable energy future

The world energy consumption is going to rise by nearly 50% in 2050 when compared to 2010. With conventional and unconventional reserves depleting, demand for energy supply is rising. The feasibility and the current efficiency of renewable energy sources may not be capable of satisfying the world energy demand by themselves. Increase in production of non-renewable energy source, i.e., the fossil fuels may help to fulfill the energy requirement of future generations. Shale gas is one of the unconventional sources of energy. Shale gas deposits are scattered all over the planet in low-permeability and low porosity reservoirs. India has overall reserves of shale gas between 600 and 2000 TCF, of which 63 TCF is of recoverable shale gas (Pradhan and Prakash 2000). Shale production depends on many factors such as political matters, wars, social and economic aspects, and exploration techniques. Depending on the recoverable reserve (RR), production of shale gas entails different methods and with a different method, comes different problems described and discussed in this manuscript. Along with the problems, the technically recoverable reserves of different countries, different production mechanisms, and economic aspects of shale gas are also discussed.