Senior VP of Exxon Advises Development of Unconventional Resources

The senior vice president for Exxon Mobil has warned Europe against making it too difficult to develop its shale gas resources. Andrew P. Swiger said that Europe's current reliance on conventional gas resources could be in danger as those resources continue to decline.

Speaking in London at the Oil and Money Conference, Mr. Swiger said that Europe's reliance on gas was likely to rise in the future and that unconventional resources could help avert a crisis. "By 2030, Europeans are expected to be significantly more reliant on imports of natural gas than they are today," he said. "Europe’s unconventional natural resources can provide the opportunity to offset this changing mix with domestic supplies."

Mr. Swiger also challenged negative attitudes to fracking (hydraulic fracturing), saying that the process could be done safely and cleanly.