Shale Gas

Shale gas is natural gas produced from the fractures, pore spaces and physical matrix of shales. Shales are the most commonly occurring type of sedimentary rock in northeast British Columbia and are theoretically suited to shale gas production. Following the commercial success of several shale gas plays in the United States, B.C.'s shales are now recognized as potential reservoirs.

To develop a better understanding of this potential, the B.C. Government contracted a study — Gas Shale Potential of Devonian Strata, Northeastern British Columbia, by CBM Solutions — which focused on shale gas potential three areas — Prophet Trough and the Liard Plateau and Basin in northeast B.C., and western extensions of the Peace River Arch/Embayment in east central B.C.

Studies

This joint report by the National Energy Board and British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines is the first publicly released, probability-based resource assessment of the Canadian shale basin:

• Ultimate Potential for Unconventional Natural Gas in Northeastern British Columbia's Horn River Basin (PDF) 

Exploration activity for shales in B.C.'s lightly developed northeast region has expanded
in recent years.

• Shale Units of the Horn River Formation, Horn River Basin and Cordova Embayment, Northeastern British Columbia