Unconventional Oil and Gas Extraction - Hydraulic fracturing is vital for unlocking shale gas and tight oil reserves. It has revolutionized energy supply by making unconventional resources commercially viable.
Unconventional oil and gas extraction refers to the techniques required to recover hydrocarbons from reservoirs with extremely low permeability, such as shales, tight sands, and coalbeds. These resources, unlike conventional oil and gas, do not flow easily to the wellbore, necessitating the synergistic application of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. The successful commercialization of these techniques is the most significant development in the energy sector of the last few decades, fundamentally reshaping global energy supply.
FAQs on Unconventional Oil and Gas Extraction
Q1: What is the main difference between conventional and unconventional resources?
A1: Conventional resources flow easily and are extracted with traditional vertical wells. Unconventional resources are trapped in tight, impermeable rock (like shale) and require horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to create flow paths.
Q2: What two technologies are essential for unconventional extraction?
A2: Horizontal drilling (to maximize contact with the thin reservoir layer) and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing (to create the necessary permeability and flow channels).
Q3: Name some major unconventional resource types.
A3: Shale gas, tight oil (or shale oil), tight gas, and coalbed methane (CBM).
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