Unconventional Hydrocarbon reserves

It is notable that over the past decade , proven reserves of natural gas have increased dramatically as higher prices and advances in technology have turned previously unrecoverable resources into major sources of domestic production. Moreover the decline in crude oil reserves has slowed significantly over the past decade. therefore , there would be an end to the converntional hydrocarbon resources sooner or later and in the meanwhile global natural gas consumption is projected to grow 52% , an increase by nearly 2% annually from about 108 Tcf in 2009 to about 163 Tcf in 2030 . in addition since natural gas combustion produces less CO2 than coal and other petroleum products governments are encouraged its use to displace the other fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. shale gas accumulations , with a unique all in one nature where all petroleum system elements reside just in one lithology have become the focus of gas exploration strategies after recent successes in the barnett shale gas production in the meanwhile significant advances in drilling and stimulation technologies have made gas shale plays attractive for development in many countries including iran.

Keywords:

unconventional reserves , coal bed , tar sands , oil shale , gilsonite , bitumen , gas hydrates , iran