Unconventional Oil Resources

Unconventional Oil Resources Refer To Deposits Of Petroleum And Natural Gas, Which Are Technically Or Economically Difficult To Recover As Compared To Conventional Resources. Unconventional Resources Usually Refer To Oil And Natural Gas Deposits That Have Not Been Previously Discovered Or Considered To Be Commercially Viable. These Resources Are Increasingly Important As Global Demand For Energy And Oil Have Grown, And Due To Future Depletion Of Traditional Supplies. Unconventional Oil And Gas Resources Include Oil And Gas Extracted From Shale, Tight Sandstone Formations, And Coal Beds Through Hydraulic Fracturing ("Fracking"). Coal Bed Methane (CBM), Which Is Released When Water Is Drained From Coal Seams, Is Another Form Of Unconventional Oil And Gas Resource. Oil Sands, Also Known As Tar Sands, Where Oil Is Found Trapped In Sources Such As Bitumen Or Asphalt, Are Relatively Hard To Extract. Heavy Oil And Extra-Heavy Oil Are Yet Another Form Of Unconventional Oil Resource. Many Countries Around The World Are Now Investing In Developing The Technology And Infrastructure Needed To Access And Produce These Unconventional Resources. The Extraction Of Unconventional Oil And Gas Requires Specialized Equipment And Methods. For Example, Horizontal Drilling Technology Must Be Used To Access Many Shale Deposits. Hydraulic Fracturing Is Used To Break Apart Tight And Shale Formations. Specialized Trucks And Heavy Equipment Must Be Deployed For The Extraction Of Oil Sands. Techniques Such As Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) Must Be Used To Extract Heavier Oil. Unconventional Oil And Gas Resources Present Both Opportunities And Challenges For Energy Producers. On One Hand, These Resources Can Potentially Increase Global Energy Supplies And Help Meet The Continued Growth In Demand. On The Other Hand, Producing These Resources Can Be Expensive And Complex. For Example, Hydraulic Fracturing Uses Large Amounts Of Water And Can Be Environmentally Disruptive. Proper Public Consultation And Regulation Is Essential To Ensure That The Environment And Communities Are Protected.