David G. Roberts¹

(1) BP Exploration, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, England

ABSTRACT: Conventional and Non-Conventional Gas Resources in the 21st Century: A Geological Perspective

Although the world has been relatively well explored for oil, the large difference between proven and yet to find gas resources suggests considerable undiscovered volumes. Differences in oil and gas exploration maturity reflect the greater value of oil in the 20th century. Only in the latter part of the 20th Century have the competing factors of F & D cost, demand and supply led to exploration of gas reserves notably close to market in S.E Asia, Europe and North America. Neglecting these areas, future gas exploration will focus on exploitation of stranded or undiscovered gas driven by volume and proximity for infrastructure. Key areas are likely to include the Palaeozoic basins of North Africa, Arabia and South America, as well as the huge under exploited gas resources of Turkmenia and East Siberia. Candidate deep water gas provinces close to market include offshore Nova Scotia and the Nile Delta. Non-conventional gas resources such as hydrates offer a considerable resource with those Arctic onshore of Alaska and Siberia possibly offering a more exploitable resource rather than those of continental margins.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90906©2001 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado