Unconventional Energy Resources: 2011 Review

Journal Article · Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2011 · Natural Resources Research (New York, N.Y.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/S11053-011-9157-X· OSTI ID:22043831

Collaboration: American Association of Petroleum Geologists

This report contains nine unconventional energy resource commodity summaries prepared by committees of the Energy Minerals Division (EMD) of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Unconventional energy resources, as used in this report, are those energy resources that do not occur in discrete oil or gas reservoirs held in structural or stratigraphic traps in sedimentary basins. These resources include coal, coalbed methane, gas hydrates, tight gas sands, gas shale and shale oil, geothermal resources, oil sands, oil shale, and uranium resources. Current U.S. and global research and development activities are summarized for each unconventional energy commodity in the topical sections of this report. Coal and uranium are expected to supply a significant portion of the world's energy mix in coming years. Coalbed methane continues to supply about 9% of the U.S. gas production and exploration is expanding in other countries. Recently, natural gas produced from shale and low-permeability (tight) sandstone has made a significant contribution to the energy supply of the United States and is an increasing target for exploration around the world. In addition, oil from shale and heavy oil from sandstone are a new exploration focus in many areas (including the Green River area of Wyoming and northern Alberta). In recent years, research in the areas of geothermal energy sources and gas hydrates has continued to advance. Reviews of the current research and the stages of development of these unconventional energy resources are described in the various sections of this report.

• OSTI ID: 22043831
• Journal Information: Natural Resources Research (New York, N.Y.), Vol. 20, Issue 4; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2011 International Association for Mathematical Geology; Article Copyright (c) 2011 International Association for Mathematical Geology (outside the USA); http://www.springer-ny.com; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1520-7439
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ALBERTA
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
GAS HYDRATES
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
METHANE
MINERALS
NATURAL GAS
OIL SANDS
OIL SHALES
OILS
REVIEWS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SHALE OIL
URANIUM
WYOMING