Onshore natural gas
About onshore natural gas
Onshore natural gas is a land-based natural resource found in rock formations underground. It can be used as an energy source for heating, electricity generation, industry and in vehicles.
Natural gas is the cleanest and most efficient fossil fuel. It burns cleaner than coal and oil, releasing significantly fewer emissions. Natural gas is part of our transition to clean energy. The province can use this cleaner burning fuel to help reach net zero by 2050.
Currently, 100% of the natural gas used in Nova Scotia homes, businesses and electricity generating facilities either comes from, or flows through, the United States.
Nova Scotia has about 7 trillion cubic feet of onshore natural gas. That’s enough gas to meet the province’s needs for 200 years. Currently, there’s no commercial production underway.
Exploration of onshore natural gas could generate $100 million a year and create jobs for Nova Scotians. Full production would create even more jobs and generate taxes and royalties to help pay for schools, roads, hospitals and other services that Nova Scotians depend on.
The Government of Nova Scotia is preparing to attract new investment to responsibly develop natural gas projects here so that Nova Scotians benefit from the economic value in our natural resources and existing infrastructure.
Benefits of natural gas
Using our own natural gas offers many benefits to Nova Scotia, including:
- energy security – locally sourced, reducing imports bought at global market prices using existing natural gas pipelines and distribution system
- economic growth – jobs, tax revenue and rural investment
- lower emissions – less greenhouse gases emissions than other fossil fuels
- reliable power – consistent, flexible power to support intermittent renewables (like wind and solar)
- export opportunity – excess resources could be sold to other jurisdictions
Building a safe natural gas industry
The standard approach in North America to extracting natural gas is called hydraulic fracturing.
As of 2025, more than 200,000 wells have been hydraulically fractured in Canada and millions in the United States. Nova Scotia’s geology is similar to places in the western United States where hydraulic fracturing is done safely. There’s good reason to believe it can be done safely here.
Any natural gas project in Nova Scotia would require rigorous review, including an industrial approval. An industrial approval can require community consultation and outlines terms and conditions for the project, including ongoing monitoring and reporting.
About hydraulic fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing is a method of producing natural gas from certain rock formations underground. The process involves drilling a well, sealing it with a cement and steel casing to prevent leaks, and injecting a solution of mostly water to release the natural gas.
Nova Scotia will take advantage of advancements in technology and science around hydraulic fracturing to make sure it's safe.
Today, operators analyze data to carefully choose drilling sites and approaches. They drill down hundreds of metres below the ground water level and then sideways to reduce disturbance on the surface.
Water recycling technology has improved significantly, reducing the need for freshwater in the process and helping with the challenge of disposal. One well uses about the same amount of water as a golf course would use for one month of watering the grass.
The industry uses fewer chemical additives. Hydraulic fracturing uses a solution of more than 98% water and less than 2% chemicals. Today, there are more biodegradable products and less toxic options.
Wells drilled for hydraulic fracturing are hundreds of meters below the depth of drilled water wells. That fact, along with the well’s concrete and steel casing, means there is very little risk of contaminating water quality in the area. Also, well water surveys are done before and after activity to make sure there has been no impact.
Most seismic events associated with hydraulic fracturing are small and not noticeable on the surface. Today, operators working in other jurisdictions are required to monitor for any seismic activity within several kilometers of wells and have protocols that include immediately stopping operations for events of 4 or higher on the Richter scale.
Protecting human health is paramount. Regulators set limitations, such as setback distances and well density limits, along with other occupational health and safety measures to reduce impacts on people’s health.