shale gas

Shale gas is a natural gas that has been exploited on a grand scale since the beginning of the noughties.This gas, which is considered to be an alternative to hydrocarbons, is captured in rock reservoirs at great depths (1500 to 3000 meters). The extraction of shale gas is costly and particularly delicate because it combines two techniques: drilling and fracking. The United States - which has played a pioneering role in the exploitation of this natural resource - and South America possess many mining facilities for shale gas. Some countries are very cautious about allowing the extraction of this gas within their territories because even though this gas is an alternative to hydrocarbons, the technique involved in its extraction pollutes water reserves and increases greenhouse gas emissions.