6. The future of unconventional gas outside the United States?

For the time being, unconventional gas production is mainly confined to the United States. Considerable resources – even if their level is very poorly known – exist in many countries. China, European countries such as Poland and France, Argentina, Algeria and many others undoubtedly have significant resources. But rapid development outside North America is by no means certain. Indeed, the development of unconventional gas production in the United States is due to factors that are very specific to this country: the owner of the soil is also the owner of the subsoil, whereas everywhere else, the state owns the bulk of mining resources. The American farmer – or landowner – therefore has a strong incentive to allow hydrocarbon exploration, since he receives royalties in return. What's more, there's a vast parapetroleum sector with numerous drilling rigs available: a lot of them are needed because...