Fluid types classify wells by what they produce or inject, from conventional crude oil to specialized injection operations.
Unrefined petroleum liquid extracted from conventional reservoirs. Crude oil ranges from light (high API gravity) to heavy based on density. Light oil flows easily; heavy oil may require heating or dilution to transport.
Example: Light crude oil from the Pembina field sells at near-benchmark prices.
Try it on the mapExtra-heavy oil that does not flow at reservoir conditions, found primarily in Alberta's oil sands. Bitumen requires specialized extraction methods (mining or in-situ heating) and must be upgraded or diluted before pipeline transport.
Example: Cold Lake bitumen is produced using cyclic steam stimulation.
Try it on the mapGaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane, produced from conventional and unconventional formations. Natural gas is measured in cubic meters or thousand cubic feet (Mcf). It may contain valuable liquids (condensate, NGLs) or impurities (H2S, CO2).
Example: Alberta produces about 10 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
Try it on the mapLight liquid hydrocarbons that exist as gas in the reservoir but condense to liquid at surface conditions. Condensate is highly valuable, selling near crude oil prices, and is used to dilute heavy oil for pipeline transport.
Example: Montney condensate production has made BC a significant liquids producer.
Hydrocarbons heavier than methane extracted from natural gas, including ethane, propane, butane, and pentanes. NGLs are separated at gas plants and sold separately or used as petrochemical feedstock.
Example: The gas plant extracts propane and butane from the raw gas stream.
Natural gas trapped within coal seams, released by dewatering the coal formation. CBM development requires many closely-spaced wells and produces large volumes of water. Major CBM areas exist in southern Alberta.
Example: Horseshoe Canyon CBM wells produce from shallow coal at 200-500 meters depth.
Natural gas produced directly from shale source rocks using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Shale gas has transformed North American energy supply. Major Canadian plays include the Montney and Horn River.
Example: Horn River shale gas wells can produce over 20 million cubic feet per day.
Produced water is a byproduct of oil and gas production, often containing dissolved salts and minerals. Water wells may produce fresh water for operations or dispose of produced water into deep formations.
Try it on the mapHighly saline water found in deep formations or produced alongside hydrocarbons. Brine disposal wells inject this salty water into approved formations. Some brines contain valuable lithium being evaluated for extraction.
Try it on the mapNatural gas containing significant hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and/or carbon dioxide (CO2). Acid gas requires processing before sale and creates handling challenges. Disposal options include injection into deep formations.
Example: Sour gas from the Kaybob area requires specialized safety equipment.
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