Scope and Contents
Scope
Unconventional hydrocarbons is a term that covers a wide-ranging array of resources. Wood Mackenzie's study will focus upon the following unconventional hydrocarbon types:
Heavy Oil
Wood Mackenzie has adopted the definition of heavy oil being that oil which is less than 20° API. This definition includes heavy oil that is produced via conventional means, often with need for IOR processes, or unconventional means, such as mining.
Tight Gas
Tight gas refers to gaseous sands and shales that have very low permeability, typically less than 0.1mD.
Coal Bed Methane
Gas generated during the coalification process and remaining in the coal seam is described as coal bed methane.
Shale Oil
Oil shales are shales rich in bituminous material and yield petroleum upon distillation. The shale oil can be extracted via mining and retortion or in situ processes.
Contents
3 main themes affect any investment : Geography, Technology, Economics
The issues that impact unconventional hydrocarbons are affected by one or more of these themes. For each Unconventional Hydrocarbon type, the issues explored are:
Global distribution and resource size
- Location of identified and conceptual opportunities, and potential resource size.
Technical elements
- Technology currently in use or in test stages.
Environmental impacts and issues
- Environmental impacts of production, regulations and local sentiment.
Market aspects
- Current market and commodity pricing structure and the accompanying outlook.
- Existing infrastructure and its impact on the development of unconventional hydrocarbons
Indicative economics and incentives
- An outline of the incentives provided.
- Indicative economics of 'type' unconventional projects.
Corporate
- Corporate positions in the unconventional arena.
For further information please contact Owen Burdekin at owen.burdekin@woodmac.com.