Statistics & Industry Activity

Last updated on May 5, 2016

Shale gas prospects and the technology used to extract natural gas from shale have reshaped the exploration and development landscape in northeast British Columbia (BC).

World-class shale gas plays such as the Horn River Basin, Cordova Embayment and the Montney play trend have provided oil and gas operators the opportunity to fine tune development techniques such as horizontal drilling combined with multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. As producing companies realize success from these regions, they continue to make significant purchases of petroleum and natural gas (PNG) rights. In 2009, northeast BC’s shale gas regions garnered 90 per cent of the province’s land sale bonus total of $893 million. An almost identical scenario unfolded in 2010 with land sale bonuses directed toward shale gas activity reaching 94 per cent of the $844 million total. Land sale bonus totals dropped in 2011 with only $223 million directed toward the exploration and development of BC’s shale gas regions. The Montney play trend accounted for 89 per cent of the 2011 bonus total while the Horn River Basin saw only a one-per cent allocation. There were no PNG rights sold within the Cordova Embayment and Liard Basin in 2011.

Publications

Report Number Report Name Author
Oil and Gas Report 2016-1 Summary of Shale Gas Activity in Northeast British Columbia 2014 C. Adams, E. Janicki, A. Balogun
Oil and Gas Report 2014-1 Summary of Shale Gas Activity in Northeast British Columbia 2013 C. Adams
Oil and Gas Report 2013-1 Summary of Shale Gas Activity in Northeast British Columbia 2012 C. Adams
Oil and Gas Report 2012-1 Summary of Shale Gas Activity in Northeast British Columbia 2011 C. Adams
Oil and Gas Report 2009-1 Summary of Shale Gas Activity in Northeast British Columbia 2008/09 C. Adams
Oil and Gas Report 2008-1 British Columbia Oil and Gas Exploration Activity Report 2007/08 C. Adams, M. Schwabe
Oil and Gas Report 2007-1 Summary of Shale Gas Activity in Northeast British Columbia 2007 C. Adams, S. McPhail, W. Walsh
Oil and Gas Report 2006-3 British Columbia Oil and Gas Exploration Activity Report 2006 C. Adams, M. Schwabe, J. Riddell
Oil and Gas Report 2005-A Oil and Gas Activity Report 2005 C. Adams, M. Hayes, F. Ferri, S. Morii
Northeast British Columbia

Exploration and Development Highlights