Global Prospects for the Development of Unconventional Gas

The fast and large-scale development of unconventional natural gas in North America created a new geopolitical and economic situation in the world. Discovery of large deposits of shale gas triggered a quiet revolution on the local market. Unconventional gas in its various forms has also been found in other parts of the world, giving an opportunity for many countries to lower their import dependence and strengthen their energy security. The rise of unconventional forms of oil and gas and a fast shift from the traditional producers to plentiful domestic resources could present the beginning of a new era in global energy affairs. But the extraction of these resources has also been marked by different attitudes of political elites, business representatives and the public, mostly because of their economic and environmental impacts. In this paper, we will focus on the global perspective of the development of unconventional gas based on the assessment of relevant risks and implications on a global scale.