Unconventional Oil & Gas
Last updated on March 3, 2016British Columbia has substantial tight gas and shale gas resource potential. New shale gas discoveries, and advancements in shale and tight gas extraction technology, have expanded B.C.’s unconventional gas opportunities.
By conservative estimates, northeast B.C. has 1,200 Tcf of shale gas and 300 Tcf of tight gas in place. This potential production was the primary driver for record sales of petroleum and natural gas rights over the last seven years.
B.C.'s natural gas production is transitioning from the conventional natural gas resource base to an emerging unconventional resource base. Up to 60 per cent of B.C.’s gas production stream in 2011 came from unconventional sources such as tight gas and shale gas, according to estimates.
By comparison, the province has seen no recent coalbed gas activity.
Explore the differences in technologies required to extract oil and gas economically, depending on the porosity and permeability of surrounding formations:
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