Oh, Great! Up to 200 Billion Barrels Of Shale Oil In Two Separate Fields In Northwest Territories

The first official estimate of how much oil may lie beneath the central Northwest Territories says there could be nearly 200 billion barrels of the resource in two separate fields. The National Energy Board and the Northwest Territories Geological Survey warn that not all of that oil will be recoverable.

But if even a few per cent of it is economically viable, it confirms previous suggestions the Canol and Bluefish shales hold up to seven billion barrels of recoverable oil and could be comparable to North Dakota's booming Bakken field. "These are large numbers," said N.W.T. Energy Minister Dave Ramsay. "This should increase the level of investor confidence and revitalize interest in the Northwest Territories. This really does put wind in our sails."

About 146 billion barrels are estimated for Canol and 46 billion for Bluefish.

The board didn't give an estimate of how much of that oil might be recoverable because well test results haven't been released. It's also still uncertain whether those shales are capable of production at all. The potential fields lie in the central Mackenzie Plain, west of Great Bear Lake.

EDIT

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/duplicate-vast-reserves-of-shale-oil-estimated-in-northwest-territories-1.3086481