tight gas

Tight gas refers to natural gas trapped in rock formations with very low permeability, typically sandstones with a permeability of less than one millidarcy. These formations hold significant gas reserves but are difficult to extract from using conventional vertical wells due to low natural flow rates.1

However, advancements in technology, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking), have greatly enhanced the production of tight gas. These techniques create larger collection areas within the low-permeability formations, allowing gas to flow more easily to the well. Tight gas is considered an "unconventional" source because it is more expensive and may produce at slower rates than conventional gas fields, but it can complement conventional production as technology evolves.1