Page 65 - Danish Offshore Industry 2015

SHALE GAS – THE GAME-CHANGER Expectations to the Danish shale gas boom are running high as there may be four times as much as the amount of gas till now produced from the Danish North Sea. However, several obstacles are to be eliminated frst. Danish production of shale gas is still an option lying many years ahead. In Northern Jutland and North Sealand a hunt for shale gas has been called. Especially Northern Jutland is at- tracting a good deal of attention. It is far from the frst time that this region is experiencing a gas bonanza. In the beginning of the last century, more than 1,000 pro- IN EUROPE EXPLORA- ducing gas wells were registered and most likely just as many were not reported to the authorities. TION FOR SHALE GAS This time, drilling takes place in a more controlled IS JUST IN ITS INFANCY way. Since 2010 licences have been awarded to Total E&P Denmark B.V. as a result of the Open Door principle COMPARED TO NORTH allowing for exploration and production. The company behind the shale gas licence is an affliate of the French AMERICA, AND WE giant, Total, describing itself as the ffth-largest, inte- ARE FAR FROM BEING grated oil company listed on the Stock Exchange. The li- cences were awarded on the condition that a number of ABLE TO COMPARE investigations and other activities took place. In North- ern Jutland Total as its partner has the State-owned ANYTHING TO THAT, Danish North Sea Fund. The two companies are jointly BUT IT SURE LOOKS working to fnd out if the gas can be produced in a way that is economically feasible and responsible regarding INTERESTING environment protection. The potential is enormous. EIA ▲ 65 / SHALE GAS– THE GAME-CHANGER