unconventional

Reservoirs that require the application of advanced technology to extract the natural gas and oil resources.

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Natural gas 101

Natural Gas. Abundant, affordable energy to meet North America's needs.

When natural gas is burned it produces energy. It is a clean-burning fossil fuel that is colourless, shapeless and odourless. We use the energy from natural gas to heat our homes, cook our food and generate our electricity.

The many terms used to describe natural gas have to do with where natural gas is found. The location of natural gas is important in understanding the methods used to extract and produce it. The following terms are common in the oil and gas industry and are used throughout our site:

  Shale natural gas - an unconventional, continuous natural gas reservoir that's contained within fine-grained rocks, dominated by shale.
  In 2008 we solidified our presence in two of the most exciting shale plays in North America: the Haynesville Shale play in Louisiana and Texas, and the Horn River Shale play in northeastern British Columbia. The resource potential of these opportunities is enormous.
 
  Deep natural gas - unconventional natural gas that's located deep within geological formations.
  Our Bighorn resource play in northwest Alberta produces from deep basin sands.
 
  Coalbed methane (CBM) - unconventional natural gas that's located within coal and consists of hydrocarbons, which include methane and carbon dioxide.
  A liquid, low-pressure sweet gas, CBM gas is used to fuel hot water heaters, furnaces and ranges. Our CBM resource play activity is focused on production from the Horseshoe Canyon formation in south-central Alberta, as well as exploration of the Mannville formation in central Alberta.
 
  Tight natural gas - unconventional natural gas that's trapped in hard rock, sandstone or limestone formations that is impermeable and non-porous.
  By applying innovative seismic and completion technologies, we have had a dramatic increase in reserves and production growth at our East Texas resource play.