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Unconventional gas is something that this world is depending on more and more every day.

But what is it exactly? This is a question that is simple, yet difficult to explain. For years, we have relied on conventional natural gas deposits to mine. These are what would be considered the easiest, and most economical, to extract from.

Unconventional gas is much more expensive to mine and takes a lot more time and effort. As the world of technology moves forward and this becomes an easier process, this will become normal. There will be another product that will be considered unconventional and will take the place of unconventional gas in that sector.

In the past few decades, laws and regulations have changed, allowing places like the Anadarko basin in Western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle to become conventional. The Natural Gas Policy Act helped a lot. Now these places are considered conventional gas places.

Incentives were given to explore, extract, and develop deep exploration technologies in this area, as well as others. Costs were driven down as new ways to drill were discovered, and the shift occurred.

Forms Of Unconventional Gas

1 - Coalbed Methane: Coal is a fossil fuel that is formed underground. They generally run in seams, and it is in these seams where methane gas builds up. While this poses a safety threat to miners, it can now be extracted and serves as a popular form of unconventional gas.

2 - The second is Deep Natural Gas. This is natural gas that is found deep in the earth. It is normally at lest 15,000 ft beneath the earths surface. This gas is much harder to get to than others. The advancement in technology has made it possible over recent years; it is still easier to extract conventional gas.

3 - Geopressurized Zones: Areas of clay which are compressed very quickly release their natural gases and water during the compression stage. This is then deposited into the more porous material below, usually sand or silt. It is under very high compression from the clay above it, and is typically deep within the earth. Normal depths range from 10-25 thousand feet.

4 - Shale Gas is formed from shallow seas years before. This soft rock will not disintegrate over time when it gets wet. A gas is formed when a small piece of this rock is trapped between two bigger pieces. This is still an unconventional gas and it difficult and more expensive to extract.

5 - Methane Hydrates: This type of unconventional gas is still in its infancy, as it is the most recent to have been discovered. In simplest terms, methane molecules are caged within frozen water. It is thought that this gas may contain more organic carbon than unconventional gas, coal, and oil combined.

Reference: "Unconventional Natural Gas Resources". NaturalGas.org. June 9, 2010