How do you process shale?
Pyrolysis can either be done ex situ (above ground) or in situ (below ground). During the ex situ process, oil shale is first extracted from the earth by surface or underground mining. The rock is crushed, and then retorted (heated) to release the shale oil. The shale oil is then refined of impurities, such as sulfur.
Where is the Duvernay shale basin?
Alberta
The Duvernay Shale basin of west-central Alberta is bounded in the south by shallow-water carbonates of the Eastern Shelf and on its east by shallow-water carbonates of the Grosmont Shelf. On its northwest side, the Duvernay Shale basin is bounded by reefs that fringed the Peace River Arch.
Where is the Duvernay formation?
central Alberta
The Duvernay Formation is found over most of central Alberta and was deposited during the Upper Devonian Period over 372 million years ago. The Duvernay Formation sediments were deposited in a marine basin on the bottom of the sea floor surrounding coexisting Leduc Formation reefs.
Where is the Montney formation?
The Montney Formation is in the northwest part of Alberta. Historically, it has been a conventional oil and gas target in areas where permeability is high.
How oil and gas is extracted from shale?
Shale gas or unconventional gas is extracted from the impermeable shale through a process called hydraulic fracturing (also known as hydrofracking or fracking). A crude form of this technique, involving nitroglycerine, was used for the first time around the 1860s to explore for oil and gas.
How many oil wells are in Alberta?
As of January 17, 2022, there are currently approximately 459,000 total wells in the province. Of these, approximately 329,000 require closure work (including all active, inactive and abandoned wells, but excluding reclamation certified and reclamation exempt wells where no additional closure work is required).
Is the Montney shale?
The Montney Formation is a major shale gas and tight oil resource. A comprehensive joint study on the potential of the Montney Formation was completed by the National Energy Board, British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission and the Alberta Energy Regulator in 2013.
Which country is the largest producer of shale gas?
The United States
First, The United States is by far the most dominant producer of both shale gas and tight oil. Canada is the only country of both shale gas and tight oil producer. On the other hand, China is the only other country to produce only shale gas. On the other hand, Argentina is the only other country to produce shale oil.
Who discovered oil shale?
In the 10th century, the Arabian physician Masawaih al-Mardini (Mesue the Younger) described a method of extraction of oil from “some kind of bituminous shale”. In the early 14th century, the first use of shale oil was recorded in Switzerland and Austria.
What is the Duvernay shale?
The Duvernay Shale is an emerging oil and liquids-rich gas formation in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin that is thought to hold 443 Tcf of natural gas, 11.3 billion bbls of NGLs, and 61.7 billion bbls of oil, according to a report released in November 2012 by the Alberta Geological Survey.
Why is the Duvernay river so important to oil and gas companies?
Targeted for its shale gas condensate, the Duvernay is a popular target amongst Canadian exploration and production companies.
What companies are currently exploring the Duvernay Formation?
Companies such as Encana, Trilogy Energy, Chevron, and several other companies are currently exploring the Duvernay Formation. Oil can be found in the north portion of the Duvernay oil shale while Natural Gas can be found in the south and central parts.
What is the Devonian Duvernay Formation?
The Devonian Duvernay Formation is a mainly organic rich shale representing a basin-fill sequence concurrent with Devonian Leduc reef growth at the margins of the basin. The mineral content of shale determines the mechanical properties of the rock.