Non-traditional diffi ult oil and gas reserves: challenges of development and ecology

Abstract
The article reviews specifics of the architecture and oil and gas content of the low permeable rocks, and experience in prospecting and development of non-traditional oil and gas resources in such rocks (shale, Domanic and Bazhenov shales).
Results
Geological framework of new non-traditional low-permeable rocks is presented. Experience of development of oil and gas resources is shown for the shale rocks, primarily in the USA. Geological, technological, environmental challenges are analyzed in terms of the oil and gas resources development in the shale, Domanic and Bazhenov shales, including the Russian ones.
Conclusions
Oil and gas prospecting surveys require immediate commencement in Russia along with further HC production from the non-traditional sources, including from the low-permeable rocks. If the works commence today, we will be able to produce oil and gas from the shale in 20-30 years at the soonest. The top target is solving geological, technological, and environmental problems. Solving them would allow finding an efficient solution to this problem in common. The authors draw the attention to the importance of the environmental issue (safety), and to the high content of the metal of industrial vale in the shale rocks and oils.