The success of the horizontal boreholes as well as the volume of rock that is fractured (stimulated reservoir volume) during the fracturing process is dependent on mechanical properties of the rocks and the natural fracture network in the rock mass, the in-situ stress field and the mechanics of drilling and fracturing. The drilling of horizontal boreholes and subsequently fracturing (fracing) the reservoir rock is extremely expensive. In British Columbia, wells costing between 3 and 10 million dollars are typical in plays currently under development such as in the Horn River Basin.
