Overview of shale layers characteristics in Europe relevant for assessment of unconventional resources. Delivery T6a of the EUOGA study (EU Unconventional Oil and Gas Assessment) commissioned by JRC-IET to GEUS

A compilation of critical parameters for 82 individual shale layers that meet the EUOGA screening threshold for shale gas and oil development within the European Union member countries including Ukraine are presented. The compilation is based on a template send to all National Geological Surveys, which includes 30 general and systematic descriptions for each shale layer. The systematic description furthermore includes a full bibliographic reference database with 230 references that together with the data delivery itself represent a state-of–the-art description of the current scientific knowledge of European shale gas and oil research.

The shale layers occur in a total of 36 basins comprising 34 thermogenic oil and gas bearing basins and two biogenic gas bearing basins. The European shales compare well with prospective North American shale layers with respect to lateral extent, thickness, TOC content, and maturity, but are slightly more clay dominated rock type than similar North American types. This report accompanies the detailed and complete basin-per-basin and play-by-play overview included in deliverable T4 (Geological resource analysis of shale gas and shale oil in Europe) and comprises the numerical description of the shale layers.