The Regional Oil, Gas and Biofuels Sector Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARPEL) has recently developed the document "Opportunities for the development of unconventional oil and gas in Latin America and the Caribbean" with the purpose of sharing with all stakeholders the most significant aspects relating to the exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons (shale/tight oil/gas), as well as proposals for the development of these resources in Latin America and the Caribbean to take place in a sustainable manner and for the benefit of the countries in the Region.

Between 2005 and 2015, the Latin American and Caribbean region experienced a growth of its Gross Domestic Product of approximately 3.5% per year and unconventional hydrocarbons offer a historic opportunity to supply to the region the energy that is required to continue along that path.

Technological advances and the experience gained allow some of these projects to be technically and economically viable in a sustainable framework. The document proposes alternatives for all aspects of the exploitation of this type of hydrocarbons, seeking to achieve high-standards of excellence on issues such as water management, land use or social management. At the same time, it makes some regulatory proposals to facilitate the development of unconventionals, taking into account its particularities regarding the investments needed, production profile, logistics needed and technology applied. In order to contribute to the technical rigor of the debate, the document provides scientific and technical reference regarding issues like seismicity, use of water or the use of chemical additives, and the best practices to assure the socio-environmental sustainable exploitation of these resources.

The alternatives proposed in the document are intended to serve as a guide for a rational and sustainability approach to exploration and exploitation of unconventional resources with a focus on regulatory aspects and on best industry practices to strengthen the management throughout the value chain of the oil and gas sector. These alternatives derive from the best practices described in a wide range of publicly available policy and scientific reports published by governmental and intergovernmental organizations as well as by industry associations whose mission is to support the implementation of sustainable practices by oil and gas companies.

Unconventional resources represent a significant fraction of hydrocarbon resources in several countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Therefore, the sustainable development of these resources will ensure an additional source of energy to diversify the energy matrix and accompany the efforts of States to achieve increasingly higher levels of prosperity. This White Paper is a unique document that will assist governments and industry alike, as well as other stakeholders, to develop the basis for a sustainable development of unconventional resources for the lasting benefit of the entire society of Latin American and Caribbean States.

The document is available for download in the ARPEL website

https://arpel.org/library/publication/462/