The Cardium Shale runs below the first white speckled shale while the Exshaw runs above the second white speckled shale.  Weird names I know but you will be hearing a lot more about the speckled shales in the coming years because they are starting to test these zones for oil & gas as well.  The Cardium Formation has been producing oil & natural gas for years and has been a huge driver for jobs and resounces for Canada's economy.  The Cardium Formation is a mix of sandstone & shale and is part of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.  Natural Gas can be found in Western Alberta while the main oil zone is located throughout the whole shale field from Alberta down to Montana and all the way up to Northeast British Columbia.  The Cardium Shale could end up being a huge oil discovery in Canada when all said and done.  The main oil producing area is called the Pembina Oil field which was discovered in 1953 and named after the Pembina River.  New technology such as horizontal drilling have made formations like the Cardium Shale really shine lately.

Shale Formations:  In the Pembina Field, the main zone is the Cardium Formation with the Fernie Formation and the Viking Formation also contributing.  In the Natural Gas portion of the Cardium Shale, other producing areas would be the Muskiki Formation, Wapiabi Formation, Blackstone Formation, and the Kaskapau Formation.

Pembina Oil Field - The Pembina Oil Field, which is the largest oil field in Alberta Canada, is located in the Cardium Shale Formation.  As I stated above, the Pembina Field has been producing oil since 1953.  The Pembina oil field is named after the Pembina River and is also part of the Viking Formation.  Horizontal drilling has caused a recent boom in this area and companies are now scrambling to rework old wells.

For an update on the current drilling activity going on in the Cardium Shale, view the information below.  It is really interesting to see what the companies are saying about the Cardium Shale and we update this as the news comes out.