Shale gas reserves in trillion cubic feet
1 China – 1,115
2 Argentina – 802
3 Algeria – 707
4 U.S. – Â Â Â 665
5 Canada – 573
6 Mexico – 545
7 Australia – 437
8 South Africa – 390
9 Russia – 285
10 Brazil  – 245
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With global energy demand increasing exponentially, shale gas will play an increasingly important role in providing for the world’s future energy needs. We take a look at the 10 countries who own the biggest reserves of shale gas.Â
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1) China: 1,115 tcf – Shale gas output was about 30 million cubic meters in 2012, according to Bao Shujing, a director at the ministry’s geological research bureau.
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 2) Argentina: 802 tcf – In July 2013 Chevron and YPF put pen to paper on a deal worth $1.2 billion to develop shale gas facilities at the Vaca Muerta field.
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3) Algeria: 707 tcf – Eni SpA (ENI), Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) and Talisman Energy Inc. (TLM) have already signed shale exploration deals with Algeria and Exxon Mobil could follow suit in the near future.
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4) US: 665 tcf – The US shale gas boom has undoubtedly impacted on the entire global gas industry. As well as moving towards self-sufficiency, the US’ new found abundance of shale gas has radically altered export targets for countries like Qatar who had previously planned on selling their gas to the US.
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5) Canada: 573 tcf – Commercial production of shale gas has not yet got off the ground in Canada. However, there have been significant explorations in Alberta, British Columbia and New Brunswick. With enormous reserves and a far smaller population than the US, it seems likely that Canada will move towards self-sufficiency in the coming years.
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6) Mexico: 545 tcf – Mexico has seen relatively little investment in shale oil excavation as Mexican oil company Pemex is focussing its attentions on its oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico. That being said, Mexico has the potential to excavate enormous quantities of shale gas in the near future.
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7) Australia: 437 tcf – Global oil producers in Australia are seeking to emulate events in the US, where hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling has unlocked oil and gas trapped in shale rock formations.
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8) South Africa: 390 tcf – The development of shale gas exploration in the Karoo region of South Africa could be a game changer for the South African economy
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9) Russia: 285 tcf – Despite its massive reserves, Russia has done little to cultivate a shale revolution of its own, preferring to focus on its abundance of more traditional fossil fuels. In a recent interview with business website RT, Alexanr Medvedev, deputy chairman of the board of directors for Gazprom, said that Russia would not concern itself with shale gas until next century.
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10) Brazil: 245 tcf – Brazilian oil firm Petrobras dominated the bidding at a recent shale gas exploration auction, buying 49 of the 72 oil shale and natural-gas exploration blocks that received bids, according to Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency, or ANP.
