Algeria Says Results of First Shale Gas Pilot Promising

Algeria has successfully completed its first pilot drilling of shale gas in the Ahnet Basin (In Salah), which is ''very promising,'' Algeria Press Service quoted Minister of Energy Youcef Yousfi as saying.

This first pilot well drilled by Sonatrach has confirmed the existence of substantial reserves of shale gas in the Ahnet basin, located in In Salah, said Yousfi adding that the well would be instrumental in process of moving forward in the possible exploitation of these unconventional gas resources.

According to Sonatrach the entire basin could hold total reserves of 200,000 billion m3 of gas of which 10% can be extracted, Algeria Press Service reported.

Yousfi called these resources, very important and useful for the country, which cannot be left unexploited.