Make-or-break time for UK shale gas

The viability of the UK's shale gas sector will be decided in the by 2015, say industry leaders. Dan Byles, a member of the UK's parliament and chairman of the parliamentary Group for Unconventional Oil and Gas (APPG), told Petroleum Economist the future of the nascent UK shale gas industry would be decided within the next 12-18 months. The upcoming 14th onshore oil and gas licensing round, the 2015 general election and the impact of any economic sanctions on Russia would determine the success of UK shale gas, he said. "We're seeing a raft of applications starting for the next wave of exploratory wells ranging from Northern Ireland to different parts of England and Scotland," he said. The li