Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:40am EDT
* Shale gas seen economic in China
* Govt policy, not geology more likely to determine pace
By Tom Bergin
LONDON, April 26 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell gave a bullish outlook for the development of shale gas in China on Thursday, saying the Anglo-Dutch oil major’s drilling there suggested vast resources could be unlocked at a relatively low cost.
Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry said Shell had not yet determined the cost of producing shale gas in China but that it would probably be within the $2 to $6 per million British thermal units (Btu) seen in North America, a level that would be competitive with alternative gas sources.