The sedimentary basins of Québec, which cover over 200 000 km2, offer potential for the discovery of new fossil fuel reserves. The basins stretch from the border with Ontario to the border with Newfoundland and Labrador, along the axis of the Fleuve Saint-Laurent.

The most promising geological targets for oil and gas exploration are:

• hydrothermal dolomites;
• shales gas;
• carbonate reefs;
• salt domes;
• gas-bearing quaternary deposits.

Assessment of potential

Recent surveys have demonstrated that there is enough potential in the sedimentary basins to warrant further assessment. In fact, the basins of the St. Lawrence Lowlands and the eastern Gaspé Peninsula have been subject to more sustained exploration activities over the last decades, during which over 350 wells have been drilled.

Moreover, since 1990, there has been a resumption of oil and gas exploration in Québec. Over the last decade, nearly $100 million has been spent in the area of exploration. This revival is attributable in part to the new discoveries made in nearby basins with geological settings similar to those observed in Québec. However, these activities remain limited compared to the exploration carried out in provinces with recognized fossil fuel potential.

Up until now, pan-Québec research has led to the discovery of four deposits in:

• Saint-Flavien, located approximately 50 kilometres southwest of the Ville de Québec (gas);
• Pointe-du-Lac, west of Trois-Rivières (gas);
• Galt, near the town of Gaspé (gas) ;
• Haldimand, near Gaspé (oil).

Current exploration projects

The exploration activities under way in each sedimentary basin are designed to assess the potential of the geological targets they contain.

Maps of Oil and Gas Licences in Force

• All region (PDF Format, 10,1 Mb) or (SHPFormat, 632 Ko) (Available in French only);
• Anticosti basin (East) (PDF Format, 4,1 Mb) (Available in French only);
• Anticosti basin (West) (PDF Format, 4,6 Mb) (Available in French only);
• Gaspé basin (PDF Format, 11,0 Mb) (Available in French only);
• Gulf of St-Lawrence (PDF Format, 4,5 Mb) (Available in French only).
• Lowers of St-Lawrence (PDF Format, 10,0 Mb) (Available in French only);
• St-Lawrence Lowlands (PDF Format, 20,1 Mb) (Available in French only);