Available on: www.bahria.edu.pk/bukc/burjes2016 Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol.

2, Issue 1, June 2017

An Overview on Unconventional Gas Resources: Future of Pakistan

Syed Haris Ali, Tahmina Fatima Siddiqui
Department of Earth & Environmental Science, Bahria University, Karachi Campus, Pakistan.
Corresponding Author Email: sharis141@yahoo.com

Abstract – World’s conventional reserves are gradually
depleting and energy demand is tremendously increasing. The
petroleum industry is switching from conventional to
unconventional hydrocarbon resources. Not only the existing
reservoirs are depleting but the world is also running out of
novel conventional resources to discover, therefore
hydrocarbon explorers are focusing more towards
unconventional resources to fulfill the urgent need to develop
unconventional energy resources. Pakistan must focus towards
the unconventional resources because Pakistan’s conventional
reserves are also gradually depleting. Due to excessive
dependence on the gas reserves there will be no gas in Pakistan
by 2025 at current production rate and no further discoveries.
Pakistan has a proven petroleum system and the sedimentary
area of Pakistan is enriched with thick shale formation
sequences which act as a source. The conventional gas reservoir
has been explored and developed in Pakistan however very little
work has been done in developing unconventional reservoirs.
Unconventional hydrocarbon resources are different from
conventional hydrocarbon resources in their states of
occurrence, models of distribution, mechanisms of
accumulation, and manners of exploration and development.
Unconventional gas reservoirs can be defined by thermal
evaluation of source, presence of kerogen type, driving force,
trapping mechanism and pore system network. These types of
resources are difficult to produce, consume more time, requires
new technologies and the cost of these resources are higher than
that of the conventional ones. Unconventional resources include
very heavy crudes/bitumen, oil sands, synthetic crude oil/gas
shale, tight sand gas, coal mine methane, and clathrate gas.
Keywords – Unconventional gas resources, Shale gas, Tight
sand gas, Coal mine gas, Clathrates gas.
INTRODUCTION
Unconventional resources are now becoming one of the
main and vital sources of energy (Jia et al., 2012; Caineng et
al., 2013a). As the conventional resources are depleting, the
world is moving towards the unconventional resources
which were earlier considered to be economically unfeasible
(Song et al., 2015; Johnson and Dore, 2010). Unconventional
resources are now becoming a decisive component of
petroleum industry and it account for intimately 10 percent
of the total global yield today (Caineng et al., 2013a). The
primary motivation of this paper is to highlight the
significance of unconventional gas resources as well as the
availability of extensive amount of these resources in
Pakistan. On comparison with other unconventional
resources, unconventional gas resources are most imperative
because of their huge reserves and potential. The
unconventional recoverable gas resources of the world are
about 141259 TCF, which are about eight times greater than
that of the conventional gas resources (EIA, 2009).
According to the estimates its recovery will increase
drastically (McGlade et al., 2013). The future prediction of
gas resources and the contribution of unconventional gasesin
USA (North America) and China (South Asia) can be seen
in figure 1.
The estimated reserves of gas in Pakistan were 52 TCF,
from which only 23TCF are remaining and there will be no
gas by 2025 if the scenarios remain the same. Figure 2 shows
triangulation of types of resources, technical advancement
and economic evaluation. It predicts that unconventional gas
resources will ultimately have to be economic with the
advancement of technology and the gradual increasing of
conventional gas price.
This paper presents the fundamentals of geological
review of unconventional gas reservoirs which can produce
unconventional gas and also on the production mechanisms
of these gas resources. The total unconventional gas
resources of Pakistan are predicted as 586 TCF shale gas, 40
TCF tight gas and 35.3 TCF CMG. Clathrate gas is not figure
out yet because not much work is done for it, however huge
quantities were observed. Good strategy and wise allocation
for these resources is required. Energy is essential and crucial
for a country’s development. Unfortunately, Pakistan is
running out of conventional energy resources as it has a
shortfall of 0.5 TCF annually but fortunately we have huge
unconventional resources to explore just novel approaches
and critical analysis are needed to evaluate these resources.
Enhancement in subsurface geologic theories, advancement
in geophysical exploration techniques and improvement in
drilling and well completion techniques are leading towards
the recovery of these unconventional gas resources in much
more economical way. As a result, today’s unconventional
gas resources are becoming tomorrow’s “conventional gas
resources”.
Fig. 1 Contribution of unconventional gases with the
total production of natural gas for USA and china in 2012
and 2040 (modified from EIA, 2016).

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Unconventional and conventional hydrocarbon
resources are unalike from one another due to the states of
occurrence, models of distribution, mechanisms of
accumulation, and manners of exploitation and development
(Caineng et al., 2012). Unconventional gas resources can be
identified by type of Kerogen, evolution of source rocks,
type of reservoir and absence of reservoir traps (Song et al.,
2013; Caineng et al., 2010). These types of resources are
considered difficult to produce, consume more time, requires
new technologies and the cost of these resources are higher
than that of the conventional ones (Sunjay and Kothari,
2011).
Fig. 2 Technology, Resource and Economy Tri-plot
(adapted from Arthur and Cole, 2014).
Unconventional hydrocarbons resources can be
primarily classified, as unconventional oil resources and
unconventional gas resources. The former one is further
classified as heavy crudes, bitumen, synthetic crude, oil
sands, and oil shale while the latter one is classified as shale
gas, tight sand gas, coal mine gas and clathrate gas (Caineng
et al., 2010).
PHYSIOGNOMIES
There are two basic descriptions through which the
concept of unconventional gas resources can be understood.
The first is geologic perception which says that it is the
natural gas trapped in the rocks of ultra-low permeability.
The other is technical and economic perception according to
which it is the natural gas that is not economically viable to
produce without using new and advance technologies (Perry
and Lee, 2007).
Ultra-low permeability makes the reservoir resistive for
the natural flow of gas therefore, the gas remains into the
source rock until secondary or artificial permeability took
place (Ratner and Tiemann, 2014).
The second description of unconventional gas resources
is debatable, as the technologies are continuously improving
and advancing. For example; deep water gas was earlier
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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 2, Issue 1, June 2017
comes under the heading of unconventional gas resources but
it is now known as conventional (McGlade et al., 2013).
Technology and economics are variable measurements,
which can change with time. The relationship between these
variables and the effect of their relationship on
conventionality and unconventionality of a resource can be
seen in Figure 2.
The unconventional gas resources are generally classified as;
1. Shale Gas-Natural gas trapped into the self-source shale.
2. Tight Gas-Natural gas trapped into isolated rock pores.
3. Coal Bed Gas-Natural gas trapped into naturally
occurring coal seam.
4. Clathrates Gas -Natural gas trapped into the crystals of
iced water.
A) Shale Gas
Shale Gas is that type of natural gas which is
accumulated in shales (Max and Johnson, 2011) and
predominantly exists in self-controlled petroleum system
(Schmoker, 1995). Shale gas has a conflated system as some
gas is accumulated as free gas in pore spaces of shale while
some as adsorbed gas on to the clay minerals and organic
matter (Curtis 2002; Ross and Bustin, 2009; Schmoker,
1995). The production of free gas will start instantly however
the production of adsorbed gas is depends on the phenomena
of desorption which in turns depends on pressure drop
(Holmes et al., 2011). It is therefore significant to know the
relative amounts of free and adsorbed gas. Shale is the type
of sedimentary rock which is very fine grained and has high
fragility and ultra-low permeability, so in commercial
measures gas production requires artificial crevices to
alleviate production (Sunjay and Kothari, 2011). These
shales can be deposited in all environments whether it is
Marine, transitional or continental (Jia et al., 2012).
B) Tight Sand Gas
Tight sand gas is that type of natural gas which is
accumulated in any rock which has low porosity, ultra-low
permeability which makes the rock tight reservoirs hence
known as the tight sand gas.
This gas is cemented so tight within the matrix that it
cannot flow effortlessly (Alam, 2011). It mostly exists in free
state and it is accumulated within the nano sized tight pores
of the reservoirs close to the source. Tight reservoirs are
mostly sandstone formations and are remarkably micro
porous however in some special case carbonates can also acts
as producers of tight gas.
The geologic difference between conventional and tight
gas is not comprehensible. Indeed, tight sand gas is
accumulated in tight reservoirs that are analogous to
conventional gas reservoirs. The only noticeable distinction
is the primarily ultra-low permeability because of fine-
grained sediments, their compaction, and/or filling of pore
voids by cements of carbonate/silicate. Tight sand gas is
generally found in those sandstones which are deposited in
deep marine environments and are composed of very fine-
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grained almost Powderly and these grains are cemented
tightly.
C) Coal Mine Gas
Coal Mine gas is also the source of the natural gas. It is
initiated in natural coal reservoirs that are very poor for
mining (Max and Johnson, 2011). It contains a high
percentage of methane thus called as coal bed methane (Fan
et al., 2013). It mostly exists as adsorbed gas on coal surfaces
and very lesser amount is available in the form of free gas
(Song et al., 2015). The ability of coal reservoirs to store gas
is depends upon the composition and rank of the coal,
porosity network, temperature and pressure of the reservoir,
relative amount and properties of adsorbed gas (Wilkins et
al., 2002). Coal reservoirs have a twofold porosity network
constituting of micro and macro sized pores. The former is
in the coal matrix and the latter are actually natural crevices,
known as cleats. Coals can produce much more amount of
gas than they can accumulate and absorb (Cook NRLC,
2002). In a CMM gas reservoir, water totally pervades into
the coal beds, and the gas is adsorbed onto the surfaces of the
coal because of its pressure. The gas is produced through the
depressurization by the pumping out reservoir water (Ren et
al., 2014; Li et al., 2010). There could have been significant
petroleum production from coals (Littke and Leythaeuser,
1993). The most generative coals are those that are highly
saturated with gas, extensively fractured and extremely
permeable.
D) Clathrates Gas
Clathrate gas is the natural gas found in the cages of
iced-water crystals (Vedachalam et al., 2015). This type of
unconventional gas is also known as Gas hydrates
(Kvenvolden, 1993). The Clathrate gas resource deposits
around the world are of widely different estimates (IEA,
2009) but this gas resource is estimated to be greater than all
other unconventional resources (Markogon, 2007). Even
though this gas is not considered viable and anticipated not
to be a chief participator for more 20 years. However, they
are proved potential and possible contributor for future
(Leggett, 1990). This is all because of the lack of established
technologies which can extract gas from Clathrates (EIA,
2011). Gas hydrates can only be formed in areas where the
temperature is approximate to 0oC such as polar high-altitude
regions and in deep seas and oceans when the water depth
transcends 100 ft. (Markogon, 2007).
with or very adjacent to reservoirs. The former one is self-
source-reservoirs in which gas have been held inside the
layers of the source rock after primary migration instead of
being discharged from it e.g. shale gas, CMM and the later
one is source-reservoir-contacts in which gas accumulated
in various kinds of tight reservoir rocks adjacent to source
rocks after short distance secondary migration for e.g. tight
sand gas (Caineng et al., 2013a).
Fig. 3 Unconventional recourse in accordance with
source rock type and maturation (Song et al., 2013).
B) Distribution
The unconventional hydrocarbon has three models of
distribution the first one is intrasource rock model, the
second and third are basin-centered gas model, and the
source rock interlayer model respectively (Song et al., 2015).
Each model concords that the unconventional and
conventional resources can coexist and they both are
distributed orderly in sedimentary basins (Caineng et al.,
2014; Song et al., 2015). Figure 4 demonstrates the
conversion of conventional resource into unconventional
with the increase in burial depth.
Resources can be classified as continuous and
discontinuous resources depending upon the distribution
characteristics of the source (Caineng et al., 2010).
Continuous resources include shale gas, tight sand gas, coal
mine gas and clathrate gas. They are termed as the
unconventional gas resources which with a continuous and
gradual distribution of organic matter. Discontinuous
resources include heavy crudes and bitumen which are out
the scope of this paper (Xiaosong and Zhanjiang, 2003).

GEOLOGY OF UNCONVENTIONAL
GAS RESOURCES

A) SOURCE AND RESERVOIR ROCKS

If source rock has TOC and Ro values over 1 and 0.7
percent respectively, then the source rock can be considered
as potential unconventional source rock (Caineng et al.,
2010). Maturation of organic matter is indicated by the
increase in the value of Ro (Song et al., 2013). The formation
of unconventional resources is illustrated in figure 3 along Figure: 4 Conversion from conventional to unconventional
with the type and maturation of source kerogen. In resources (personalized after Song et al., 2015).
unconventional gas resources, source rocks are coexisting

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C) Generation
Unconventional gas resources are generated into the
source rocks during the thermal maturation of preserved
organic matter, same as conventional one (Song et al, 2015).
The gas generation and expulsion from different types of
kerogen is different (Tissot and Welte, 1978; Martini et al.,
2003). Type 1, 2 and 3 kerogens are oil prone while Type 4
is gas prone. Figure 5 depicts that all these types can produce
gas too depending upon the maturity level of the organic
matter. At a relatively lower stage of maturity no gas is
formed from Type 1, 2 and 3 kerogens. During mature stage,
they can generate and expel some amount of gas along with
associated oil and/or condensate. During the stage of over
maturity, they mainly generate only gas (Song et al., 2015).
Natural gas is yielded from type 4 kerogen on enough
maturation stage (Dai et al., 1992). Coal mine gas is
generated into the beds of coals during maturation of coal
(Song et al., 2015).
Fig. 5 Products of different source rock at different
maturity levels.
D) Migration
The Unconventional gases do not undergo long distance
migrations and are not significantly affected by local
hydrodynamics. Water column pressure and buoyancy force
also plays a limited role in the migration (Cainenget al.,
2013a). Conventionally shale gas, CMM and clathrate gas
tends to accumulate into the source rock itself after primary
migration and do not undergo any secondary migration.
Tight gas may undergo some short distance secondary
migration mainly in the form of percolation and diffusion (Li
et al., 2015; Sun et al., 2014). The migration mechanisms of
unconventional gases are very important because they
determine their exploration and development strategies (Jia
et al., 2012). Figure 6 reflect how the mechanism of
migration decides the reservoir type. The long distance
secondary migration might form the conventional reservoirs,
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but intra source primary migration or short distance
secondary migration might form unconventional reservoirs.
Fig. 6 Reservoir type division based on migration (staged
after Caineng et al., 2010).
E) Accumulation
There are great differences in accumulation mechanisms
of conventional and unconventional gas resources. The
accumulation of unconventional gas resources are also not
affected by regional hydrodynamics, water column pressure
and buoyancy force (Caineng et al., 2013a). The factors
which control the process of accumulation are also different
in each case however the foremost accumulation mechanism
of unconventional resources is diffusion (Caineng et al.,
2010). In self-source-reservoirs unconventional gas
accumulates into the source rocks itself without buoyancy
effect and is mainly accumulated by adsorption on grain
surface. In source-reservoir-contacts these gases
accumulates in the reservoirs very near to the source with
micro sized pore throats. It accumulates mainly as free gas in
pore spaces of tight reservoirs (Caineng et al., 2013b). Non-
natural pores and artificial crevices are needed to develop
unconventional gas in commercial scale (Jia et al., 2012).
F) Pore Throats
As mention earlier unconventional gases occur in tight
reservoirs with micro sized pore throats (Jia et al., 2012;
Caineng et al., 2010). Such micro pores usually necessitate
advanced technologies such as horizontal well drilling and/or
artificial stimulation to produce economic values of gases
(Jia et al., 2012). Generally, in unconventional resources, the
pore throat radius is smaller than 1 µm (Caineng et al.,
2013a). Figure 7 represents the accumulation modes with
different pore throats sizes.
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Fig. 7 Pore throat structure and type of reservoirs
(adumbrated from Caineng et al., 2013a).
G) Trap
Unconventional gas resources tend to be reservoirs of
large continuous areas, with no definite trap boundaries like
conventional gas resources (Caineng et al, 2009; Caineng et
al., 2015). They can be referred as unconventional, unclosed,
invisible or subtle trap so they cannot be categorized on the
cornerstone of traps (Caineng et al., 2010).
H) Flow Characteristics
Non-Darcy flow is a typical feature of unconventional
petroleum accumulations however in tight sand gas flow
mechanisms depends upon both Darcy and non-Darcy flow
(Caineng et al., 2013a).
I) Recovery Features
Recovery factors of unconventional gas from primary
recovery are much lower approximately in the range of 15 –
20 percent of the OGIP. This is mainly because of its tight
nature and the poor phase separation (Caineng et al., 2013a).
These gas recourses usually have no natural economic and
commercial recoveries, and must be produced with the aid of
technologies including stimulation, fracturing and/or
multilateral/ radial/horizontal wells (Jia et al., 2012).
UNCONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON
RESOURCES IN PAKISTAN
Pakistan has very diverse geological formations being
geographically at the triple junction of Indian, Arabian and
Eurasian Plate (Kazmi and Jan, 1997) and is looking forward
for its unconventional resources now because it is entering
the stage of being an energy starved country (Hussain, 2013).
Its conventional resources are going to be depleted soon and
we have to switch for the unconventional resources now.
Unconventional gas resources can play momentous role in
the development and progress of the country (EIA, 2014).
A) Basin Wise Distribution
Pakistan has two primary sedimentary basins the Indus
and the Baluchistan basin. The former is the major producing
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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 2, Issue 1, June 2017
basin and the latter is believed to be prospective as well, but
there is no discovery up till now. This is because of the
geologic complexity of the area, sparse drilling and
unavailability of appropriate technologies (Kadri, 1995).
Indus Basin
Indus basin of Pakistan is the largest basin of Pakistan
and therefore is further divided into Upper, Central and
Southern parts depending upon their geologic characteristics
(Kadri, 1995).
UIB is further divided into sub-basins, Potwar and
Kohat in the east and west respectively (Bender et al., 1995).
The unconventional hydrocarbon resources in UIB are
present but not tested up till now. This basin mainly
possesses oil-prone regions thus there is a possibility of
unconventional oil resources. CIB is the major gas
contributing area of Pakistan. This basin mainly possesses
gas-prone regions thus there is a possibility of tight sand gas
and shale gas. SIB holds both oil and gas prone regions.
Presence of compact sands and fractured limestones in this
basin ascertains the presence of tight sand gas, shale gas and
CMG resources.
Baluchistan Basin
This basin is bounded between right-lateral Chaman
transform fault, offshore Makran coast in the east and the
west respectively (Kazmi and Jan, 1997). Several seepages
are the proof of the potential of the basin (Kadri, 1995). The
hydrocarbons have already been generated in the basin.
Resources of clathrate gas are also possible near offshore
Makran coast (Khan and Ali, 2016)
B) Resource Evaluation
Fig. 8 Estimated prospects of Unconventional resources
of Pakistan. Sourced from (EIA, 2013)
Shale Gas
Pakistan has a potential of shale gas with most
prospective lower Indus basin. Shale gas prospective
formations in IB are Sembar, Lower Goru shale members,
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Patiala, Hangu, Chichali, Datta formations and Ghazij,
Sardhai, Mughal Kot formations while a generous reserve
might also found in Baluchistan Basin. Figure illustrates the
Pakistan’s shale gas basins and their potential. In Pakistan,
total shale gas reserves predicted are 586 TCF of which 105
TCF is technically recoverable (EIA, 2013). Even though
Pakistan is currently facing a shortage of more than 0.5 TCF
per year, as the current annual conventional gas consumption
of Pakistan is approximately 1.6 TCF (Tirmizi, 2011) and by
2020, the demand will probably rise upto 2.9 TCF in turns
generate a shortfall of greater than 2.1 TCF (Rana, 2011)
therefore shale gas development is considered crucial for
Pakistan to overcome the country’s energy shortfall.
However, billion-dollar capital is needed to drill new
wellbores because shale gas exploration, production and
development are extremely pricey, and need extensive
expertise and novel technologies (APP, 2012).
Tight Sand Gas
Pakistan has a potential of tight sand gas with most
prospective lower Indus basin. Lower Goru deep, Pab and
Sembar Sandstone, Sui Upper, Habib Rahi and Pirkoh
Limestone are the tight gas favorable formations of Pakistan
(Alam, 2011). Figure 9 indicates the presence of tight sand
gas resources of Pakistan. Presence of some gas can also be
seen in Sulaiman Foldbelt, Middle Indus Basin, and Kirthar
Foldbelt, Potwar region and Offshore Indus basin. These
estimated resources could produce significant quantities with
the availability of modern technologies at economic price.
Pakistan can produce unconventional gas from tight gas
reservoirs to overcome the country’s energy shortfall.
According to an estimate, Pakistan has approximately
33TCF reservoirs of tight gas (EIA, 2013). But this gas is
more expansive because it requires fracturing, acidizing, and
other costly and advanced treatments for the production.
Coal Mine Gas
Pakistan has a potential of tight gas with most
prospective Lakhra and Thar coal fields. Thar coal field in
the district of Sindh was found in 1990’s and is identified as
the world’s biggest lignite reserve (PakTribune, 2010). High
and constant lignite is dominant in the coal with R0 value
ranging between 0.33 – 0.41 percent and with low content of
sulphur. Moisture content is also low but net thickness of
coal bed is very good. Approximately 187 billion tons coal
reserves are present in Pakistan from which only Thar
contains almost 185 billion tons. Coal was an historic
importance for Pakistan and was used as primary energy
source until 1960’s before the large Hydrocarbon discovered
(Kazmi, 2001) but now this is contributing only 6 percent to
the country’s energy (EIA, 2014). Now the scenario is
changed the hydrocarbon deposits are depleting and Pakistan
is facing energy shortfall due to a gap in demand and supply.
Unconventional resources like coal may play a significant
role to overcome the crisis.
Clathrate Gas
Pakistan has a potential of clathrate gas with potential
coastal region of Baluchistan basin .
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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 2, Issue 1, June 2017
(Tabrez and Inam, 2012). All essentials are evident from
BSR observations and Marine seismic surveys done
previously and the presence of clathrates gas is also evident
in Makran (Khan and Ali, 2016). A chain of more or less 18
mud volcanoes are spread the on- and off- shore belt of
Makran coast. The Makran offshore region and the mud
volcanoes are anticipated to produce gas hydrates. First
indication of gas concentrations was observed during seismic
survey (White, 1977). From last 20 years Makran have
become an interesting zone for many scientist and
researchers (Carson et al., 1990).
PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
In general, the problems of unconventional resources in
Pakistan are variable depending upon the type of resource
and the geology of the area. These problems can be overcome
through the understanding of geology of the area, better
delineation of the area and new advance exploration and
production technologies. Furthermore, evaluation of
previous data and case histories can also lead towards the
success. Figure 8 shows the systematic way towards
unconventional successful gas recoveries.
A) Shale Gas
For these resources, there are lots of problems and
challenges regarding including;
 Variable thickness of shale formations in the country
may cause problems in estimation of bed thicknesses
which in turns made the drilling and completion jobs
challenging.
 Geologic heterogeneities and accessibility issues can
also create difficulties.
 Unavailability of geochemical data and technical
lacking must have to take into consideration.
We can overcome these challenges by analyzing old
well’s samples characters and geochemical and core data,
Pakistan can develop its shale gas resources.
B) Tight Sand Gas
For these resources, there are lots of uncertainties including;
 Irreducible water saturation and the connate gas
saturation may cause problems.
 Overburden correction factor that has a big impact on
the low permeability range value can cause problems in
drilling and completion jobs.
 Presence and absence of natural fractures must have to
take into consideration.
The modern techniques like multi-lateral wells and
fracking can optimize the production. Moreover, micro-
seismic processing can also help in development of these
resources.
C) Coal Mine Gas
For these resources, there are lots of uncertainty and
challenges including,
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 The coal is covered with the recent unconsolidated
deposits which are sheltered by the sand dunes. The
drilling and well completion jobs are technically tricky
and difficult here because there is a risk of collapsing.
 The coal is sandwiched between aquifers, which in turns
increases the formation pressure issues.
 Hydrological expertise is needed for the proper
production, discharge and drainage of formation water.
Advanced technologies such as Fluidized Bed
Combustion, Pulverized Fuel and Coal-Briquetting are
required for the purpose of CMM extraction in Pakistan
(PakTribune, 2010). Understanding of subsurface geology
and Hydrogeology of the area can play a major role.
Moreover, advance micro seismic and enhanced geophysical
exploration can lead to better understanding of
geomechanics of coal mines.
D) Clathrates Gas
For these resources, there are lots of uncertainty and
challenges including,
 The drilling and well completion jobs in clathrates are
technically tricky and difficult because there is a risk of
enlarged holes.
 Collapse casing is another issue which can influence the
well-completion strategies.
 Gas plumes can be very dangerous and problematic.
We can overcome this problem by using advance
technologies like De- Pressurization Hydrate Production and
Thermal- Injection Cycle Gas Hydrate production (Khan and
Ali, 2016). Moreover, the understanding of the
geomechanics of the area can give an edge. The collaboration
between N I O and the R&D sectors of the industry can play
a key role in order to overcome the economy and energy
shortfall of the country (Tabrez and Inam, 2012).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
Unconventional gas resources include shale gas, tight
sand gas, coal mine gas and clathrates gas. Theses all
resources are ascertained by the unconventional reservoirs
and type of source rocks. The unconventional oil/gas are
generated in the source rock and accumulated into the source
and/or into the reservoir after short-distance secondary
migration.
The unconventional oil/gas reservoir is divided into
“continuous” and “discontinuous” reservoirs. These are
different in all respect from the conventional reservoirs in
geologic characteristics, evaluation method, classification,
research content and exploration phase.
According to IEA, Unconventional resources are now
becoming a vital component of globe’s energy supply and
these gas resources are estimated to increase the supply upto
40 percent. Unconventional gas resources have huge reserves
and potential than that of the conventional gas resources and
the rapid growth of the unconventional resources in USA and
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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 2, Issue 1, June 2017
China proves that the unconventional gas resources are
becoming conventional.
As we have discussed above that Pakistan has enormous
potential of unconventional gas reserves. However, the
efforts which are required to fully explore the potential of
these resources have never done. In a nutshell, the shortfall
of natural gas is found a manifestation of the policies of GOP
and MPNR. The exploration of unconventional gas resources
needed huge investment and development of gas reserves
already been discovered was delayed in some cases. MPNR
may conduct studies to discover the statistics of probable,
possible and recoverable reserves in the country.
Unconventional gas resources just required to be evaluated
by critical observation and detailed analysis. The exact
estimates may attract foreign companies to recover these
resources. Moreover, we need to revolutionize the theories
of unconventional petroleum geology. Unconventional gas
reserves development with advance technology is considered
crucial for Pakistan to fulfill the country’s energy
requirements. Figure projects that in near future,
unconventional gas reserves are going to become
conventional, as the recovery of gas can increase
significantly with advancement in technology.
There is no shortcut to overcome the energy crisis of the
state but it is hoped that critical thinking of experts,
advancement in technologies, foreign investments and
appropriate pricing can gear up exploration activities in the
long run.
It is recommended that MPNR may facilitate the country
through a system of symposium and conferences which
would lead to enable the Geophysists, Geologist and
Petroleum Engineers of the country working in the field to
interact with each other. This could be a game changer in the
long term. It is also advocated that a Research Institute is set
up in the country to accommodate the needs of the
Researchers which in turns can accommodate the energy
needs of the country.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We give sincere thanks to Dr. Mubarak Ali and the
department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Karachi
Campus for substantive efforts, endless encouragement and
continuous guidance. We would like to acknowledge the
provision of our teachers and specialy respected teacher Mr.
Zawar Hussain for his insightful reviews.
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