What Is The Utica Shale Of Quebec?
The Utica shale, named for the New York town where it appears on the surface, is a layer of shale rock that extends to deep below Quebec Canada and parts of the state of New York. Why is it significant? The Utica shale has been found to contain a large amount of natural gas. This natural gas is being extracted using both vertical wells and new horizontal wells.
The Utica shale lies along the St. Lawrence river valley in Quebec. There has been a dramatic increase in the amount of drilling activity for natural gas. Companies involved in the Utica shale play include Canadian Quantum and Questerre Energy.
One well in the Utica shale has produced 12 MMcfd of gas, or twelve million cubic feet per day, which is impressive by the standards for any natural gas play, shale or otherwise. Key to the success of these high volume wells is the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
The Utica shale formation has been compared to the Barnett shale in Texas. It promises to provide Canada and the northern United States with a long term supply of natural gas.
Shown in the map below is the city of Nicolet, in the heart of the Utica shale fairway.
For more on the Utica shale, including a map see Utica Shale Formation
[...] Natural gas is quickly gaining room in the spotlight as a means to reduce imported oil. The supply of natural gas in North America has increased to over one hundred years worth at current usage rates, thanks to shale gas discoveries like the Marcellus shale and Utica Shale. [...]