Unconventional gas could add 60-250% to global reserves

By NJ Watson Unconventional gas resources could add another 60-250% to world gas reserves, speakers at the WGC said yesterday. "As-yet undeveloped or unidentified unconventional gas could contribute a further 4,000 trillion cubic feet (cf) to reserves over the next few years," said Tony Hayward, chief executive of BP. That would add 60% to BP's 2008 estimate of conventional world gas reserves of 6,500 trillion cf. Hayward said a "quiet revolution" was taking place in North America, where new techniques such as horizontal drilling are allowing developers to access deposits of unconventional tight and shale gas, and coal-bed methane (CBM) at much lower costs than thought possible five years ag