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The Status, Obstacles and Policy Recommendations of Shale Gas Development in China

Author

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  • Guanglin Pi

    (School of Business Administration, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China)

  • Xiucheng Dong

    (School of Business Administration, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China)

  • Cong Dong

    (School of Business Administration, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China)

  • Jie Guo

    (School of Business Administration, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China)

  • Zhengwei Ma

    (School of Business Administration, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China)

Abstract

The Chinese government has introduced numerous policies and development plans to boost its shale gas industry in recent years. However, China’s shale gas exploration and development is still in the initial stage and has been confronted with many challenges. This paper systematically analyzes the current status of China’s shale gas industry from five aspects for the first time—resource situation, exploration and development status, policy and planning situation, technology status and international cooperation—then respectively elaborates on the different obstacles of shale gas development in the short run and the medium and long term. We argue that short-term barriers to the Chinese shale gas industry mainly include objective factors, such as geological and surface conditions, shale gas proven reserves, technology innovation and environmental concerns, while some man-made obstacles (except for water scarcity) may restrict shale gas development in the medium and long term. In order to better tackle the short-term challenges, this paper proposes policy recommendations from five perspectives: strengthening the investigation and evaluation of China’s shale gas resources; perfecting shale gas industry policy; establishing a national shale gas comprehensive experimental zone; enhancing scientific and technological research; and establishing a shale gas regulatory system with an emphasis on environmental protection and supervision.

Suggested Citation

  • Guanglin Pi & Xiucheng Dong & Cong Dong & Jie Guo & Zhengwei Ma, 2015. "The Status, Obstacles and Policy Recommendations of Shale Gas Development in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:3:p:2353-2372:d:46201
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xia Wu & Jun Xia & Baoshan Guan & Xinming Yan & Lei Zou & Ping Liu & Lifeng Yang & Si Hong & Sheng Hu, 2019. "Water Availability Assessment of Shale Gas Production in the Weiyuan Play, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-22, February.
    3. Wang, Jianliang & Mohr, Steve & Feng, Lianyong & Liu, Huihui & Tverberg, Gail E., 2016. "Analysis of resource potential for China’s unconventional gas and forecast for its long-term production growth," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 389-401.
    4. Keqiang Guo & Baosheng Zhang & Kjell Aleklett & Mikael Höök, 2016. "Production Patterns of Eagle Ford Shale Gas: Decline Curve Analysis Using 1084 Wells," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-13, September.
    5. Fei Wang & Changjian Wang & Yongxian Su & Lixia Jin & Yang Wang & Xinlin Zhang, 2017. "Decomposition Analysis of Carbon Emission Factors from Energy Consumption in Guangdong Province from 1990 to 2014," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Cong Dong & Xiucheng Dong & Joel Gehman & Lianne Lefsrud, 2017. "Using BP Neural Networks to Prioritize Risk Management Approaches for China’s Unconventional Shale Gas Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-18, June.
    7. Hui Li & Renjin Sun & Wei-Jen Lee & Kangyin Dong & Rui Guo, 2016. "Assessing Risk in Chinese Shale Gas Investments Abroad: Modelling and Policy Recommendations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-17, July.
    8. Dong, Xiucheng & Pi, Guanglin & Ma, Zhengwei & Dong, Cong, 2017. "The reform of the natural gas industry in the PR of China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 582-593.
    9. Chen, Siyuan & Zhang, Qi & Wang, Ge & Zhu, Lijing & Li, Yan, 2018. "Investment strategy for underground gas storage facilities based on real option model considering gas market reform in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 132-142.

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