| Shale play | Stratigraphy | Depositional environment |
|---|---|---|
| Bakken | Mississippian | Marine environment |
| Barnett | Mississippian | Marine environment |
| Duvernay | Upper Devonian | Deep-water environment |
| Eagle Ford | Upper Cretaceous | Marine environment |
| New Albany | Late Devonian | Marine environment |
| Niobrara | Upper Cretaceous | Foreland basin environment |
| Utica/Point Pleasant | Upper Ordovician | Basin environment |
| Wolfcamp/Bone Springs | Lower Permian | Marine environment |
| Woodford | Devonian | Shallow marine environment |
| Fayetteville | Mississippian | Shoreface environment |
| Haynesville/Bossier | Middle Cretaceous | Marine environment |
| Marcellus | Later Devonian | Marine environment |
| Montney/Doig | Lower Triassic/Middle Triassic | Marine environment |
| Muskwa | Upper Devonian | Shallow marine environment |