A lot has changed in New Brunswick since the provincial government imposed a moratorium on shale gas exploration 12 years ago. But the ground beneath your feet remains exactly the same.

We know shale gas exists under the soil. As the government reviews the moratorium ahead of a 2027 decision, understanding the geological reality of this resource is essential. According to a recent report from CBC News, the province holds an estimated 77 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in two known fields.

How Shale Gas Formed in New Brunswick

You will find shale rock across a large portion of the province. The deposits stretch from Bathurst to Fredericton and east to Sackville. To understand how gas entered this rock, you must look back 350 million years to the Carboniferous period.

Denis Lavoie is a retired geologist who spent 30 years with Natural Resources Canada. He notes that New Brunswick looked entirely different back then.

“At that time in southern New Brunswick there was a very vast setting, where marine conditions were prevailing,” Lavoie told CBC.

Small organisms populated this massive ocean. When they died, they settled at the bottom. Over millions of years, they created a thick layer buried under hundreds of metres of rock.

“The organic matter then is transformed into hydrocarbons from the effect of increased temperature,” Lavoie said.

Where the Gas is Located

The New Brunswick government estimates the McCully Field near Sussex holds 67.3 trillion cubic feet of gas. The Stoney Creek Field near Hillsborough contains another 10.9 trillion cubic feet. For context, Alberta holds 3,455 trillion cubic feet.

Having shale rock does not guarantee you will find gas. The rock needs the right amount of organic matter and the correct burial depth to produce hydrocarbons.

“In some areas you have shale, but it was not buried deep enough, so the organic matter hasn’t been transformed, so you don’t have hydrocarbons in those shales,” Lavoie explained.

The best chance for finding shale gas lies in southeastern New Brunswick. The rocks there are younger and have a higher probability of containing the necessary organic matter. Central and northern areas feature older rocks with minimal chances of significant gas deposits.

The Big Question: How Much is Actually Down There?

We know the gas exists, but determining the exact volume trapped in the shale is difficult. Dave Keighley is a professor in the department of earth sciences at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. He says the answer is simple.

“The only way you find out is dig or drill,” Keighley said.

Companies conducted seismic testing before the moratorium. This testing provides an idea of the shale volume and its depth. Geologists use this data to calculate potential gas volumes. However, these numbers remain estimates until physical drilling occurs.

Keighley notes that the most generous estimates suggest these areas have a 10 to 50 percent likelihood of containing shale gas.

“That’s the best case scenario, we don’t know,” Keighley said.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current status of shale gas exploration in New Brunswick?

The provincial government placed a moratorium on shale gas exploration 12 years ago. The current government is reviewing this moratorium and will make a decision on whether to lift it by January 2027.

How much shale gas does New Brunswick have?

Estimates suggest New Brunswick has 77 trillion cubic feet of shale gas located primarily in two fields near Sussex and Hillsborough.

Why is the gas only found in specific parts of the province?

Shale gas requires specific geological conditions to form. The rock must contain enough organic matter and be buried deep enough for heat and pressure to create hydrocarbons. Southeastern New Brunswick provides the best conditions for this process.

Can we know exactly how much gas is underground without drilling?

No. Seismic testing provides estimates regarding the volume and depth of the shale rock. Experts agree that drilling is the only way to confirm the exact amount of gas trapped inside.