Hydrocarbons in low-permeable shale rocks, unlike oil and gas-rich natural reservoirs, are located on a much larger area and, lacking mobility, are clogged in relatively small cavities. To ensure the extraction of hydrocarbons from such rocks, at least two additional measures are required: to increase the contact area of ​​the well with the gas-containing formation and to increase the permeability of the rock. Since the thickness of...

Steam injection is one of the most common and widely-applied methods of thermal stimulation of high-viscosity and high-density oil reservoirs causing a significant reduction in the viscosity of the heavy oils. There are three major types of steam injection techniques – SAGD (Steam Assisted gravity drainage), CSS (Cyclic Steam Stimulation) and Steam flooding. In practice, the steam injection process is often supported by a combination...

Eurostat presented preliminary data on energy commodities, estimating the dynamics of energy supply in the EU in 2021 compared to 2020. Overall, statistics show that in 2021 many EU countries saw a rebound in economic activity, which emerged after a long period of restrictive measures imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in 2020. For example, oil and petroleum products rose by 5% after a steep fall in 2020, and natural gas was the...

The BP Statistical Review of World Energy analyses global energy market data for 2021 and shows that energy demand rebounded to roughly pre-pandemic levels, thus reversing the temporary decline in 2020 caused by the COVID-19. Moreover, the drastic drop in carbon dioxide emissions in 2020 was unfortunately a short-lived and temporary phenomenon, due entirely to pandemic constraints. The experts emphasize that the challenges and...

In its latest report, the World Bank argues that progress in reducing harmful gas flaring has stalled over the past decade, which could lead to a failure in meeting the much needed targets for carbon dioxide emissions and the energy transition. One of the main reasons leading to the stagnation is the increase in liquids production by many of the major producers at a marginally lower flaring intensity. The energy sector must...

Petroleum fuel still remains the main energy source for an extensive list of consumers' sectors, primarily including transport and heating, but in a number of countries – also electric energy production. Despite the fact that the share of renewable energy sources in overall end-use energy consumption keeps growing steadily, in the coming two-three decades fossil fuel will continue to play a key role in the global energy balance. This...

In the structure of final global primary energy consumption, oil products lead by a significant margin, with the total final consumption of oil exceeding 30%. The uniqueness of raw materials in the form of fossil fuels, in addition to having the physical and chemical properties optimal for the energy sector, lies in the presence of another tremendous advantage – the possibility of its long-term storage. Located in the bowels of the...

The New report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) is the first estimate of global coal mine methane emissions at the asset level. The key findings of the report are: - The world's coal mines emit more annually than gas or oil production. Emissions from oil are 39 million tons annually, from gas – 45 million tons, and from coal – 52.3 million tons. There are also several coal mine projects which are being developed, and if they go ahead,...

The updated Natural gas market indicators by Eurostat  reviews the 2020 statistical data on the natural gas market in the European Union analyzing the activities of companies that supply natural gas to the national market by importing or producing it (IMport and PROduction = IMPRO). In general, a significant number of new companies entered the natural gas market between 2013 and 2020. While in 2013 there were 332 companies on the...

The Statistical Office of the European Union presented an overview of oil statistics for the 27 EU member states and several European countries outside the Union. The statistical overview covers crude oil as well as petroleum products for the period from 1990 to 2020. This data is important in the context that petroleum products play a huge role, accounting for the largest share of gross domestic energy consumption in the EU. Overall,...