There are two news stories this week that, far from derailing the shale gas bandwagon, might cause it to slow down somewhat.

In the UK an independent report from European seismic experts found that it was “highly probable” that tremors in the region were caused by exploratory drilling by shale gas firm Cuadrilla Resources.

And in China, analysts have said it will take the country 10 years to have the infrastructure in place to successfully tap into, and market, its vast reserves of shale gas.

In the US the shale dash for gas continues apace, but many European countries already cautious of the environmental effects of fracking – the process to release the gas – will greet the news from the UK with a ‘told-you-so’ reaction.

Only last week UK energy secretary Chris Huhne said there was too little known about shale gas side effects to “bet the farm” on it as an energy security silver bullet.

There might now be many investors who now may not bet the barn, never mind the farm, on it.