Not even the Covid-19 pandemic halted growth of Montney Shale production in northeastern British Columbia (GC), according to the latest annual industry performance review by the BC Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC).

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Natural gas flows increased by 11% to 6.2 Bcf/d as of year-end 2021 from 5.6 Bcf/d at the same time in 2019 before public health restrictions interrupted economic activity to slow down the spread of the virus.

The Montney, in the Fort St. John region along the Alaska Highway, draws 99% of BC drilling. After dipping to 3.6% as the pandemic hit in 2020, the BC gas production growth rate doubled to 7% in 2021, show BCOGC records.

Processing also grew through the 2020-21 worst of the pandemic. New plants and expansion projects added 1.3 Bcf/d. 

As of year-end 2021,...