British Columbia's offshore oil and gas resources are concentrated in four main geological basins underneath the waters of Hecate Strait, the Queen Charlotte Sound and the west coast of Vancouver Island. These basins have developed over millions of years, shaped by the tectonic processes that many people today hear about whenever earthquakes occur.

The formation of oil and gas is a complex process requiring millions of years. We offer a summary of the primary steps involved, especially as it relates to the Queen Charlotte Basin. We place an emphasis on the Queen Charlotte Basin throughout this web site as this area is considered the most promising target for oil and gas reserves.

The stratigraphy, or types of rock layers present, in the Queen Charlotte Basin are a good indicator that oil and gas generation has taken place. Although samples of these rock layers are limited, by examining characteristics of the individual layers it is possible to learn more about the basin's history.

The structure of the basin, or way the rock layers are arranged, is also very important. Not only can scientists learn more about the basin's history, but it is also helpful in understanding how quantities of oil or gas migrate in the subsurface.

It is also helpful to compare the offshore basins in BC to other offshore basins around the world with similar characteristics to judge how much oil and gas may form and how easy or difficult it may be to extract large quantities.

Find Out More:

Geological Basins | Oil & Gas Formation | Stratigraphy | Structure | Comparison to Other Basins

Geological Basins

Oil & Gas Formation

Stratigraphy