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"Under the Sand"

Algeria Utilizes Hydraulic Fracturing
To Extract Tight Gas in the Desert

Algeria has vast untapped shale gas reserves, estimated at 20 trillion cubic meters, ranking as the world's third-largest reserve. However, when the government first announced its intention to initiate extraction operations in 2014, protests erupted across various regions of Algeria in opposition to this new technology.

Between December 2014 and May 2015, thousands of protesters gathered daily in the rural town of Ain Salah, nestled in the heart of the desert approximately 1,262 kilometers from Algiers. They rallied against a $70 billion hydraulic fracturing project, drawing widespread attention on Arab television channels and social media platforms. The locals of the Saharan region, already marginalized compared to their counterparts in the more affluent north, voiced concerns that the fracking initiative would endanger their water sources and their livelihoods.

Many protesters faced arrest during the demonstrations. Saleh Dabouz, a prominent Algerian lawyer now residing in Brussels, confirmed in an interview with the investigative team that due to hydraulic fracturing, numerous citizens were detained while others were subjected to intimidation tactics. Among those arrested is Mohamed Qasimi, an activist from the city of Adrar in southern Algeria, who remains in prison to this day.

Dabouz further elaborated, stating that Qasimi had actively participated in the anti-shale gas movement sparked by the drilling operations. Pressure on Algerian authorities mounted due to widespread opposition to the use of this technology, driven by environmental, social, and economic concerns.

In 2019, amidst the movement against Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth presidential term and the broader call for regime change, Al-Qassimi emerged as a prominent figure in Adrar.

According to Salah Dabouz, a lawyer and human rights activist, "Qasimi was convinced from the outset that the exploitation of shale gas would come at the expense of the locals of the Algerian Sahara, and he joined the movement to secure the rights of these marginalized people."

While initial tests for shale gas extraction in the desert and nearby areas were successful, the government ultimately yielded to the demonstrators' demands and announced the discontinuation of hydraulic fracturing plans. However, there were tentative indications that this might not mark the end of the matter.

Official Plans Unannounced

Pranav Joshi, head of the Africa research team at consultancy Rystad, notes, "There are no formal government plans to extract shale resources, but the government has created a separate tax system for companies in unconventional gas, which suggests there is still some interest."

In 2023, the state energy company Sonatrach indicated its "commitment" to increasing investment in shale oil, while ExxonMobil announced at the beginning of 2024 that it was in "talks" to explore new opportunities in the country.

The investigative team inquired with ExxonMobil about whether future plans in the country would involve hydraulic fracturing. A spokesman for ExxonMobil responded by stating that the company "does not comment on the details of commercial strategy."

Activists continue to harbor deep concerns regarding the potential of hydraulic fracturing. Hamza Hamouchane, an Algerian activist based in the UK, expressed skepticism, stating, "There is a feeling that when the government said it would not pursue fracking in the last decade, it was really just to silence the population and direct attention elsewhere." He further emphasizes, "Since then, there has been no information from official sources, and the journalists or activists looking into the matter are either in prison or too afraid to investigate. Whether Algeria has been subjected to fracking, no one knows."

Hamouchane highlights that fracking poses a "major concern" due to apprehensions about water supplies in desert regions where extraction activities occur in Algeria. He asserts that European demand for new natural gas sources is the primary motivation for the Algerian government, stating, "The Algerian regime relies on gas extraction and the foreign currency it receives from European exports for its existence." Additionally, he notes, "At the same time, the government fears that domestic demand for gas will deplete much of the supply as the population grows, and therefore, any opportunity to increase exports is of great importance to them."

Using satellite images, the investigative team acquired evidence indicating that Algeria is currently engaging in hydraulic fracturing to facilitate the expansion of its natural gas sector and intends to escalate such activities further in the future.

Nils Bartsch, the head of oil and gas research at the German non-profit Urgewald Foundation, elucidates that the prominent hydraulic fracturing operations observed in Algeria are not targeting shale resources but rather tight gas reservoirs.

Tight gas resources are natural gas reserves confined within rock formations with low permeability, posing challenges to extraction. Typically found in sandstone or limestone formations, these reservoirs necessitate extensive hydraulic fracturing to increase permeability and enable gas flow.

Tight gas formations dating back approximately 248 million years predate conventional gas deposits. Extracting gas from these formations involves horizontal or directional drilling techniques to access the gas deposits. Methods such as hydraulic fracturing and acidification are employed to fracture rocks and enhance permeability to stimulate production. Maximizing gas recovery often involves drilling multiple wells in these trapped formations.



Where is the trapped gas located?

Tight Gas in Algeria

In the 2020 factbook of French major TotalEnergies and the 2022 integrated report of Spanish multinational Cepsa, the Timimoun field was identified as an active site for extracting trapped gas in Algeria. GlobalData confirmed that both companies are collaborating on operations in this field with the state-owned enterprise Sonatrach.

Another significant site for extracting trapped gas is the Assal field, situated in the Berkine Basin area approximately 250 km southeast of Hassi Messaoud. This field is under development by Sonatrach in partnership with the major Russian oil company Gazprom, as indicated by data from Urgewald, cross-referenced with information from GlobalData. According to GlobalData, Sonatrach has also disclosed plans to extract gas from another field known as Ahnet.

By analyzing satellite images from SkyTruth, we found some clues about hydraulic fracturing activities taking place in the country.

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A field called Timimoun is listed as an active tight resource in French major TotalEnergies' Factbook 2020, as well as in the Integrated Report 2022 of a Spanish multinational called Cepsa, which is also working on the asset. Both companies are working on the field alongside Sonatrach, according to GlobalData’s listing of the field.

According to data from Urgewald, and verified against data from GlobalData, a further tight field, El Assel, is being developed by Sonatrach and Russian oil major Gazprom. Sonatrach has also announced plans to extract from a further tight field, called Ahnet, according to GlobalData.

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The above left image of the Timimoun, taken from November 2023, offers several signs that could be indicative of fracking. For starters, the large square fluid impoundment that is away from any residential area, and measuring several hundred metres across, is suggestive of storing liquids required for fracking operations. At the top right of the impoundment is a flare stack, which is used to burn off escaping gas, and to the top right of the flare stack is a drilling site with what appears to be three drilled wells next to each other, a design that would serve little use unless horizontal fracking was taking place at this location.

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Other images of Timimoun, such as the above right image, contain further images of large fluid impoundments, suggesting fracking is taking place across the field.

The proposed Ahnet Field - which remains under development - also poses a particular risk because it is situated near towns and settlements. The above map shows the centre of the proposed Ahnet Field, a tight field also set to include fracking, which is just a few kilometres from the towns of Aoulef, Akabli, Tit, In Ghar, In Salah, Foggaret.

The investigative team emailed Gazprom, Sonatrach, and Total Energy with inquiries about hydraulic fracturing activities in Algeria. No responses were received regarding our satellite findings.

A spokesperson from Cepsa stated, "Cepsa is not engaged in shale oil activities." However, it is worth noting that multi-stage hydraulic fracturing technology was previously tested in two non-shale-producing wells within the Timimoun field, where Cepsa holds a minority stake. Currently, Cepsa has no intentions to implement multi-stage hydraulic fracturing technology in any of its production operations or those in which it holds a stake.

Salah Dabouz, an Algerian lawyer, acknowledges the possibility of hydraulic fracturing being utilized in Algeria, asserting, "The Algerian desert is vast, with extensive terrain and much of the oil and gas operations are under military control. Therefore, it's not uncommon for hydraulic fracturing operations to occur without our awareness."

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Part 2: Decades of Hydraulic Fracturing in Egypt Sacrificing Groundwater