Asian countries begin exploring for shale gas

But are struggling against technological limitations.

Standard & Poor’s Rating Services said Asia Pacific countries are sitting on the world’s second-largest shale gas resources with China alone possessing the world’s largest share.

Asian countries, however, are hampered from commercially exploiting this resource by limited technological knowhow and inhospitable terrain. Standard & Poor’s said Asia-Pacific countries could likely to take over five years to unlock their shale resources.

China, India and Indonesia have taken tentative steps to explore their shale gas and oil potential, including drilling wells.

Standard & Poor's noted that the need for energy security, the push for lower emission fuel and robust energy demand are likely to spur Asia-Pacific countries to pursue commercial production of shale gas and oil, in addition to other hydrocarbons.