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Upstream · Fiscal Systems

World Fiscal Systems for Unconventional Oil & Gas

Shale · Tight Gas · CBM · Oil Sands · Deepwater — Global Delivery

Available Upon Request 3 Days 5-Star Hotel / Client Site Global Delivery Certificate Awarded
About This Course

Course Overview

This advanced 3-day programme provides a complete overview of the fiscal terms governing unconventional oil and gas resources worldwide — covering shale gas, shale oil, coal bed methane, oil sands and emerging resources such as gas hydrates. It combines geological and technical context with rigorous fiscal and economic analysis.

The course uses a powerful Excel-based fiscal model that simulates actual fiscal terms from the USA, Canada, Australia and a wide range of countries in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Participants assess fiscal terms, negotiate optimal contracts and benchmark investment attractiveness across jurisdictions.

This course is delivered upon request at any location worldwide. It is equally suited to in-house delivery for governments, NOCs and IOCs seeking a rigorous, tailored fiscal training programme.

Programme Content

Key Topics

01

Unconventional Resources: Geology, Technology & Economics

  • Geological and technical characteristics of shale oil, shale gas, CBM and gas hydrates
  • How unconventional resources differ from conventional production
  • Drilling technologies: horizontal drilling, multi-stage fracturing and pad drilling
  • Cash flow characteristics: high decline rates and large capital requirements
  • ESG and environmental issues: water use, induced seismicity, methane emissions
02

North American Fiscal Systems: Shale, CBM & Oil Sands

  • US fiscal system: federal and state royalties, severance and property taxes
  • Canadian fiscal system: Crown royalties and provincial variations
  • CBM fiscal terms: Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Queensland
  • Oil sands economics and fiscal frameworks: SAGD and mining, Alberta royalties (FTP, price caps, deemed interest)
  • Case studies: Permian Basin, Marcellus, Montney and Duvernay
03

International Fiscal Systems: Europe, Latin America, Russia & Asia

  • European fiscal terms: UK, Germany, France, Spain, Poland; oil shales in Estonia
  • Latin American fiscal terms: Argentina's Gas Plus programme, Brazil and Colombia
  • Russian fiscal terms: mineral resource extraction tax, export duties and incentives
  • Asian and African unconventional markets: China, India, Indonesia and Algeria
  • Benchmarking fiscal attractiveness across global jurisdictions
04

Production Sharing, Joint Ventures & State Participation

  • PSC structures for unconventional resources: profit oil and cost oil rules
  • Domestic market obligations and local supply requirements
  • Joint Operating Agreements, farm-out structures and carried interest
  • State company participation and its impact on economics and risk
  • Treatment of JV cash flows under corporate income tax
05

Fiscal Design, ESG & Resource Wealth Sharing

  • Designing fiscal terms that attract unconventional investment
  • Integrating carbon pricing, emissions regulation and ESG into fiscal design
  • Resource wealth sharing and progressive fiscal features
  • Front-end vs back-end loading of government take; fiscal stability and renegotiation risk
  • Capstone: full fiscal regime design and benchmarking project
Learning Outcomes

What You Will Learn

01Describe the main fiscal instruments and contract types used for unconventional oil and gas projects, including leases, concessions, licences and PSCs
02Explain the geological, technical and economic characteristics of shale oil, shale gas, CBM, oil sands and gas hydrates, and how these differ from conventional developments
03Analyse the cash-flow profiles, profitability and risk characteristics of unconventional projects across North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia
04Interpret and compare fiscal systems for unconventional resources in countries including the USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, UK, Germany, Poland, Russia, Algeria, Indonesia, China, India and Australia
05Use an Excel-based economic model to simulate unconventional projects and calculate investor returns, government revenues and risk-sharing metrics
06Design and adjust fiscal terms — royalties, taxes, profit-oil shares, state participation, bonuses and PSC parameters — to encourage investment while protecting government interests
07Incorporate ESG, environmental and climate-policy considerations into unconventional fiscal design, including emissions, water use, community impacts and carbon pricing
08Evaluate resource-wealth-sharing mechanisms and progressive fiscal features based on volume, price and costs
09Assess the timing and stability of government take (front-end vs back-end loading) and manage fiscal stability and contract change risk
10Prepare and critique fiscal alternatives and negotiation positions for unconventional licences and PSCs
Dates & Pricing

Sessions & Fees

All sessions are held at five-star hotel venues.

DatesLocationFormatFee
Available upon request Global — any location Classroom / In-House £3,300 (VAT where applicable)
Target Audience

Who Should Attend

Government Officials
Policymakers and regulators designing fiscal terms for unconventional resources
Country Managers
External affairs and country managers in unconventional plays
Economists & Analysts
Fiscal and economic analysts in energy companies and governments
CEOs & CFOs
Senior executives making investment decisions in unconventional resources
Tax Advisers
Fiscal specialists and tax planners in oil and gas companies
Legal Counsel
Lawyers advising on unconventional resource contracts and fiscal terms
Engineers, Geologists & Geophysicists
Technical specialists involved in unconventional resource projects
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the trainers? +

Dr Pedro, a petroleum economist who has advised more than 80 governments over 40 years, and Alexey Kovshin, Vice President of Van Meurs Corporation, an international fiscal policy expert advising governments and NOCs globally.

When and where is this held? +

Delivered upon request at any location worldwide — as a public classroom session or customised in-house programme. Contact us to discuss scheduling.

What is the course fee? +

£3,300 per delegate. UK sessions subject to 20% VAT. No VAT on international sessions. In-house pricing available on request.

Is Excel experience required? +

Basic Excel familiarity is helpful. The fiscal model is built step by step — all participants can follow regardless of technical background.

Can this be delivered in-house? +

Yes — one of our most popular in-house programmes. Contact j.rogus@londonpetroacademy.co.uk for a tailored proposal.

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In-House Training

Need a Tailored
Programme for Your Team?

All London Petro Academy courses are available as fully customised in-house programmes delivered at your premises, or in Bali, Rio, Bangkok, Singapore or any location worldwide.

📞+44 (0) 1582 516247
✉️info@londonpetroacademy.co.uk
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£3,300
3 Days · Global Delivery
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World Fiscal Systems for Unconventional Oil & Gas · 2026

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