Inspecting fracking at our Dilly Creek operations in northeastern British Columbia.
Understanding the Resource
What is shale gas?
Shale gas is natural gas except that it is produced in an ‘unconventional’ way. The gas is tightly locked in very small spaces within the shale rock formation. To unlock it, Nexen uses advanced technology to horizontally drill and crack (fracture) the gas-bearing zones. The creation of fractures within the shale releases the gas. Once released, shale gas is produced the same way as ‘conventional’ natural gas.
What is horizontal drilling?
Horizontal drilling enables us to efficiently access the shale gas reservoir in a cost effective way with minimal environment impacts. This technology utilizes a flexible drilling pipe that ‘bends’ into a horizontal position that is parallel with the resource zone. This process allows for multiple wells to be drilled from the same drilling pad, which reduces land disturbance.
What is fracking?
Hydraulic fracturing is the process of using high-pressure fluid (composed primarily of water and sand) to crack the shale rock formation, allowing the gas that’s contained in the rock to be released and processed. The fluid we use when fracking is made up of approximately 99.5 per cent water and sand with the remainder consisting of chemicals that are added to enhance the production process.
