Shale gas (unconventional gas)

[Admin]

Hello,
Our topic for next week is shale gas (and unconventional gas in general). I’d like you to read an article concerning this topic and post a short comment concerning what you’ve read (what was it about, was it interesting, did it meet your expectations, would you recommend it etc.) along with 3-4 words/ expressions from the text.

The words/ expressions should be defined using a monolingual dictionary, e.g.

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/

www.macmillandictionary.com/

Be prepared to talk (in small groups) for 1-2 mminutes about what you’ve read.

See you on Monday!

[Hugues Charbon]

geology.com/energy/shale-gas/

This website explains that the shale gas is a natural gas contained in rocks. The americans have lots of shale gas in their country. the drilling industry has increased in recent years. That's why the USA depend less on foreign oil. According to experts' estimates the USA have a reserve that would last for 110 years. I think shale gas can be a good alternative to cope with the rise of oil. However, it is not a renewable energy and therefore the problem is just put back.

[Rudy]

Shale gas exist in shale rocks. Shale gas is considered as “unconventional gas" from sandstones or limestones (sedimentary rocks) with low permeability and “coal bed methane”. This article explains that natural gas in shales has essentially formed from the remains of plants, animals, and micro-organisms that lived millions of years ago. The most widely accepted theory on the origin of fossile fuels is that they are formed when organic matter is buried, compressed and heated in the earth´s crust for long time.

shale: a type of soft stone that splits easily into thin flat layers
GASH: first European interdisciplinary shale gas research initiative

[Rudy]

www.shale-gas-information-platform.org/what-is-shale-gas.html

[Pierre]

This article explains that shale gas production help reduce methane emissions.
www.energyfromshale.org/articles/energy-and-methane

[Boutillier Jean-Baptiste]

I have found an article about shale gas. This article is a critic about the Shale exploitation, indeed, in USA, this exploitation decrease and have not a lot of advantages. In addition, this exploitation have a lot of risk, like earthquakes etc...

www.forbes.com/sites/billpowers/2014/09/03/the-popping-of-the-shale-gas-bubble/

[Damien Perez]

This article is interesting because it explains many drawbacks of the shale gas. It shows that some consequences are frightening and we must wonder ourselves if it's a good thing to extract this gas.

citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.286.8671&rep=rep1&type=pdf

[Nezar]

This article explain the commercial potential of shale fas in the future years. According to the new methods of extraction, gas production increased considerably. that coud satisfy the insatiable and unstable energy need of some large countries such as China. But the production of shale gas does not seem to appeal to all countries. This one is facing some very strict environmental laws. Like in UK where shale gas extraction could jeopardize the scarce water resources presented in the bowels of the country. we will see what the future their reserve.

www.ogfj.com/articles/2014/09/shale-gas-market-expected-to-reach-104-1b-by-2020.html

[Nicolas]

This article explains the different risks linked to shale gas. It talks about the greenhouse gas emission, the contamination of water,induced seismicity ans economic development. The shale gas must include economic factors alongside the ecological risks and societal issues. The article is interesting because it presents the risks of shale gas and exposed the effect of shale gas in the field of economy.

www.shale-gas-information-platform.org/what-are-the-risks.html

[Victor]

Here is what I read: www.shale-gas-information-platform.org/what-is-shale-gas.html

This small Article explains what is shale gas. It is interesting because it describes the different elements which are present in this "“unconventional gas". It also explains how europeans and americans use this gas. And their points of view are different.

[Matthieu.B]

This week-end I read this article about the controversy around the nominated movie GasLand. It appears that some informations weren't very accurate according to specialists.

science.time.com/2011/02/26/a-documentary-on-natural-gas-drilling-ignites-an-oscar-controversy/

I then watched a ted talk about a project I personally follow: www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_trent_energy_from_floating_algae_pods

It consists on floating cultures off-shore of micro-algea. they are only prototypes for now but might be used in the future in coastal city as natural waste water treatment powered by the sun through photosynthesis. The project is really interesting because it might produce biofuel, clear and help oxygenize the sea water and be a food supply for pisciculture we will desperatly need in the near future