The Gazprom Board of Directors took notice of the information about the results of monitoring the shale gas industry evolution around the world.

It was pointed out that nowadays the proven shale gas reserves across the globe were estimated at about five trillion cubic meters, which was less than three per cent of the world's aggregate proven gas reserves. Besides, the proven shale gas reserves are concentrated mostly in the USA as well as in Canada and China to a much lesser degree.

A drop in oil and gas prices undermines the shale industry development. Particularly, in the USA the number of operating drilling rigs was cut down by over 60 per cent over the last year amid the declined hydrocarbon prices. Not long ago the US shale gas production was sometimes supported through the implementation of high-profit projects for oil and other liquid hydrocarbons production from shale deposits. However, because of the drop in oil prices this mechanism has become moot.

Tags: Gazprom