Global Exploration Services Ltd is providing technical support to a new drilling company that is promoting its Near- Balanced Drilling methodology to the exploitation of shale-gas reservoirs. This approach is completely eco-friendly in that no fracking is required to open-up the natural fractures in the shale whilst there are also no toxic drilling fluids inserted downhole. Once the proper evaluation of a naturally fractured reservoir is done it will demonstrate that natural fractured (NF) shale reservoirs have adequate permeability to produce naturally if not damaged during the drilling process.

The solution available now is to drill & complete wells in tight Formations without the use of fracking, to avoid formation damage and address all environmental concerns;

• Undertake Discrete Natural Fractures (DNF) modelling to determine the "collective" permeability;
• Undertake the Near-Balanced Reservoir Drilling (NBRD) methodology and
• Drill & complete the wells using patent pending technology and special "Carbon-Neutral" rigs that eliminate the use of harmful drilling fluids.

This new approach requires the industry to rethink the evaluation of unconventional reservoirs; the consequences of their being subjected to environmental pollution resulting in serious ecological damage and the unsupportable cost of these activities. The following illustrations identify the wasteful use of resources that occur as a consequence of fracking as opposed to the more economical Near-Balanced Reservoir Drilling procedure.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Global Exploration Services