--> Abstract: Unconventional Shale-Hosted Oil and Gas in the Canadian North, by Denis Lavoie; #90177 (2013)

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Unconventional Shale-Hosted Oil and Gas in the Canadian North

Denis Lavoie

Over the last few years, development of shale gas and oil has significantly changed the energy outlook of North America. From years of slow decline in production volume of conventional resources, the input of unconventional hydrocarbons has positively impacted on the overall energy independence to foreign sources. The development of shale gas and oil in the US has been hectic in the last decade or so, conversely, CA, given its large reserves of conventional hydrocarbons has been lagging behind. Recent evaluations from Canadian industry and government regulators indicate the potential presence of over 1500 TCF of gas-in-place in shale reservoirs in southern CA. Production from Devonian and Triassic shale gas and Devonian-Carboniferous shale oil in western CA is now rapidly ramping up. A significant number of shale units with potential for liquids and gas are preliminary identified in the Canadian Arctic. However, in most cases, geoscience data on these shales is limited to historical data on their conventional source rock potential and includes locally abundant TOC values, thermal maturation data and organic geochemistry. These shales are known from the Ordovician to the Cretaceous and locally form kilometre-thick successions. Currently, the Upper Devonian Canol shale in the North-West Territories is actively being explored and evaluated for its liquid potential. Its location in the area of active hydrocarbon exploitation provides key infrastructure support for eventual development. The Canol consists of primarily of Type II organic matter with TOC average values of 4.5%, over the area it is developed, the shales are mature to overmature. The Canol is time equivalent to the prolific Devonian shales in the Western CA Sedimentary Basin that are conventional hydrocarbon source rocks and in the early days of unconventional resource development.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90177©3P Arctic, Polar Petroleum Potential Conference & Exhibition, Stavanger, Norway, October 15-18, 2013