The Current Stage of Shale Gas Exploration and Exploitation in European Countries Compared to the U.S. Situation

World countries are more and more concerned about finding new sources of energy, given the fact that the consumption is growing and the deposits of natural / conventional gas, known and currently exploated, can only provide the demand for a short period of time. Unconventional gas identified and exploated currently in the world, include shale gas, tight gas, sandstone/carbonate rocks, CBM-Coal bed methane and Methane Hydrates. Of all these, shale gas presents the hightest interest. The explanation may be based on one hand on the american model of success regarding shale gas exploitation, and on the other hand on the geological predictions, which indicate potential shale gas resources in various european countries. The interesting fact is how each country will choose to convert resources in shale gas reserves and to exploit them for the benefit of the economy, the society and the environment.