Heavy crude and unconventional gas are the most cost efficient alternate energy sources
A study by the Joint Economic Committee of Congress that examined all the alternative energy resources concluded that the US government would get the best return on its R and D investment by supporting heavy-oil and unconventional-gas development. Both technologies stem from well-established production techniques, but their development requires improvements and environmental considerations. The three unconventional gas resources that offer immediate production potential are the tight gas sands, Devonian shales, and coalbeds. Of these, the tight sands contain the largest recoverable reserves (50-350 trillion CF), followed by coal seams (over 16 TCF) and Devonian shale (2.56-3.38 TCF). But in terms of actual production by 1990, tight sands and Devonian shales will be way ahead of coalbed production, possibly providing 10-40% of the total US gas requirements.
- OSTI ID:
- 5836533
- Journal Information:
- Energy (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Energy (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 6; ISSN ERGYA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
030100* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves-- (-1989)
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
COAL DEPOSITS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLORATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PRODUCTION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESERVES
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES