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Shale Gas is Commercially Produced in Just Three Countries

Just three countries currently produce shale gas at commercial levels according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) – the United States, Canada, and China.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American



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Just three countries currently produce shale gas at commercial levels according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) - the United States, Canada, and China. Furthermore, while all three of these countries increased their production levels in 2014 compared to 2013, the United States is still by far the dominant shale gas producer.

Several countries including Algeria, Australia, Colombia, Mexico, and Russia are in the process of exploring their ability to produce domestic shale gas resources. Other countries are debating if they will exploit their national shale resources or steer clear of the resource due to environmental concerns. In the United Kingdom, fracking is expected to be banned in two-fifths (40%) of the land in England that is being offered for shale gas exploration by the government. Scotland has banned fracking within its borders until additional safety and health evaluations can be conducted.

Graphic: U.S. Energy Information Administration