The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has released a "Patent Landscape Report" on patenting activity in the shale oil and gas sub-sector of the oil and gas sector. Interestingly (though perhaps not surprisingly), patenting activity in this industry sub-sector increased 188% between 2000 and 2012. The full report can be found here: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04093.html