This also in the press today (Montreal). Shell going full speed...

This also in the press today (Montreal). Shell going full speed in the shale gas plays.

Shell swears by the shale gas - 14 September 2010

(Montreal) full debate on the risks associated with the development of shale gas in Quebec, the Royal Dutch Shell boss came in Montreal said yesterday that this form of energy is the future of humanity.

"If we allow its development, the natural gas industry has the capacity to change for the better world energy scene, said yesterday the Royal Dutch Shell boss, Peter Voser, the World Energy Congress.

The CEO of what is considered a giant oil has spoken only of gas during his speech. Oil still accounts for 52% of Shell's activities, compared to 48% for natural gas, but the proportions are reversed, "said Peter Voser during a press conference.

Shell, which has closed its Montreal refinery and is phasing out this type of activity, investing heavily in the exploitation of unconventional gas. The company is active in British Columbia and has recently made a grand entrance in the production of shale gas in the northeastern United States to 4 billion by swallowing a small U.S. company active in the field named Marcellus.

It is a geological formation of the same type that is being explored in Quebec that could be put into production. Shell is interested in what happens in Quebec, said his boss, but he did not want to be more specific.

"If opportunities arise, we will certainly consider them," he has merely said.
Peter Voser, Switzerland home, said he understood the public concern about the environmental impact of the exploitation of shale gas. He considers it possible to allay this concern, but perhaps not eliminate it.

"Whether we like it or not, energy production and distribution of billions of consumers around the world are not without risk," he said.

Whether from conventional deposits of shale, natural gas is the source of energy cheaper to produce clean electricity, he said. The natural gas plants emit 40-70% less CO2 than coal plants, said Peter Voser.

Shell expects demand for gas will increase twice as fast as demand for oil over the next two decades. This is a matter of time before natural gas fueling commercial aircraft and cars, according to the company.