Unconventional Oil and Gas Production

Unconventional Oil and Gas

Methods of oil and gas production that differ from traditional extraction, including fracking and deepwater drilling.

Peak Oil Hypothesis

Predicts that conventional oil production will decline as easily accessible reserves are depleted.

Sedimentary Basins

Locations where oil and gas accumulate.

Shale

A source rock that requires fracking for oil and gas extraction.

Fracking (Hydraulic Fracturing)

Process of injecting high-pressure fluids to fracture shale rock and release oil and gas.

Environmental Effects of Fracking

Includes air pollution from methane leakage and water contamination due to wastewater.

Induced Seismicity

Increased earthquakes resulting from wastewater injection during fracking.

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

Techniques used to extract remaining oil from reservoirs after conventional extraction.

CO₂ Injection in EOR

A method where CO₂ is pumped into reservoirs to increase pressure and recover additional oil.

Deepwater Oil Production

Extracting oil from deep beneath the ocean floor through offshore drilling.

Jackup Rigs

Offshore drilling rigs that cost between $75,000 and $150,000 per day.

Energy Return on Investment (EROI)

A measure indicating that unconventional oil generally has a lower EROI than conventional oil.