What is the difference between conventional and non-conventional oil and gas production?

The difference between conventional and non-conventional oil and gas production can be summed up by the types of resources and the extraction process. Conventional oil and gas production are produced from more easily accessible resources that are located in shallower sites such as onshore and shallow waters. Non-conventional oil and gas production on the other hand refers to production from more difficult to access resources such as deepwater sites and shale formations. In Pennsylvania, these unconventional drilling methods have become increasingly more important as they are necessary to tap into the vast Marcellus Shale formation in the north-west area of the state. Non-conventional production also differs from conventional methods in the way in which it is extracted. Conventional extraction relies on the natural pressure of the reservoir to push the hydrocarbons up the well, while non-conventional extraction requires extra help to get the resources to the surface. Technological advances such as hydraulic fracturing (fracking) are used to increase the pressure in the reservoir to ensure effective extraction. Overall, conventional and non-conventional oil and gas production are both essential pieces of the energy industry puzzle, however they differ in the types of resources being extracted and the methods of extraction. Pennsylvania has been an industry leader in non-conventional production due to the Marcellus Shale formation, and it is this production that has allowed the state to become a major player in the U.S. energy sector.

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What is the difference between conventional and non-conventional oil and gas production?

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