In the five years or so that the implementation of horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracture stimulation has changed the face of the conventional oil and gas business in North America, operators and service providers have pretty much nailed the technology. Horizontal wells now account for the majority of drilling, and fracking has become just another stage in the completion process. But while fracking has become common in the industry, it is far from accepted in many places across North America, particularly in areas that don't have a long history of living with the oil and gas business. Concerns surrounding aquifer contamination persist—despite evidence to the contrary—and fracking bans continue to inhibit the development of shale gas resources. In Quebec, a strategic environmental assessment into the impact of natural gas development recommended by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement in the fall of 2010 is about two-thirds of the way complete, and a final report from the assessment committee is expected in the fall of 2013.
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