Our coverage is based on well-documented data about these issues, drawing on authoritative sources, describing these conflicts over commodities in a neutral tone.
We hope you will use this information to assess risks about the conflicts over commodities and use that assessment to guide your decisions in the fields of oil, gas, shale, land, food and other commodities.
Lack of water or problems using it could create serious business risks for drillers attempting to use hydraulic fracturing techniques to extract shale gas, said the shale-water stress report, issued by World Resources Institute.
About 38% of the areas with shale gas potential experience dry conditions or high water stress level. Also, 40% of the top 20 countries rich in shale natural gas potential face arid or water stress conditions, the report said.
Water risk for shale, as measured by WRI, can also include: seasonal variation in water supply; drought severity; groundwater depletion rates; population density and the nature of the shale gas deposit.
China, the largest fast-growing economy in the world, is a major consumer of natural gas. Its proven gas reserves, largely conventional plays, is about 155 trillion cubic feet. The US Dept. of Energy said China produces 3.8 Tcf per year and may increase production to 10 Tcf by 2040.
Read more on the WRI report on water risks for shale gas potential.
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