BGS sees 822-2,281 tcf in place in Bowland shale

The Carboniferous Bowland shale in the central UK onshore has 822 to 2,281 trillion cubic feet of gas in place, the British Geological Survey estimated Thursday in a 46-page report, but said the proportion that it may be possible to extract is unknown.

The most likely estimate of the resource is 1,329 tcf, the BGS said. The extractable portion would be subject to the economic, geological, and social factors that prevail at each operation, it added.

That resource lies in part of central Britain in an area between Wrexham and Blackpool in the west and Nottingham and Scarborough in the east. The estimate is in the form of a range in order to reflect geological uncertainty, the agency noted.