Canada’s oil production can be broadly divided into two categories: “unconventional” production (oil sands) and “conventional” production (the rest!). The term isn’t a reflection of different types of oil, but a reflection of how that oil is produced. About 30% of Canada’s oil (and all of Canada’s natural gas) is produced using conventional methods: wells are usually drilled vertically into rock formations that hold oil or natural gas, but conventional production may also make use of horizontal drilling. Offshore production is considered to be conventional.