Unconventional oil and gas plays in Canada are focused in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, where geoscientists have extensive and intensive knowledge of petroleum systems, and abundant available datasets. We’ll review several tight sandstone and carbonate, shale, and CBM plays – although the Montney, Duvernay, Bakken, Cardium and Viking dominate production and investment because of their massive in-place resources and proven productivity. Environmental issues – affecting water, air, and land – are very important to unconventional development in Canada. Canadian regulation and mitigation strategies very successfully address these issues, but work is ongoing to improve industry’s interactions with the environment.
Unconventional oil and gas plays in Canada are focused in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, where geoscientists have extensive and intensive knowledge of petroleum systems, and abundant available datasets. We’ll review several tight sandstone and carbonate, shale, and CBM plays – although the Montney, Duvernay, Bakken, Cardium and Viking dominate production and investment because of their massive in-place resources and proven productivity. Environmental issues – affecting water, air, and land – are very important to unconventional development in Canada. Canadian regulation and mitigation strategies very successfully address these issues, but work is ongoing to improve industry’s interactions with the environment.