The U.K. Becomes a Shale Gas Player

The United Kingdom may have significantly more shale gas resources than previously thought. Early estimates indicated that the United Kingdom had less than 1 trillion cubic meters of shale gas, but a British Geological Survey report published June 27 suggested the country could have as much as 64 trillion cubic meters, though this figure seems very optimistic. If these estimates prove accurate, the United Kingdom would be among the world's most promising shale gas producers outside North America. However, several obstacles stand in the way of the country's developing a robust natural gas sector.