The Nisku Formation in Saskatchewan holds significant potential for new commercial pools, similar to the Nisku play types that exist in Alberta, North Dakota, and Montana. Structure and associated salt tectonics are instrumental in these different Nisku play types. Trapping of hydrocarbons in both the Hays-Enchant (Alberta) and U.S. productive fairways relate to faulting and/or associated salt dissolution and subsequent compensation. The Nisku in Saskatchewan and Manitoba between W1 and W4 can be subdivided into 5 main paleo-geographic domains:

1. Argillaceous sub-basin.
2. Carbonate barrier.
3. Peritidal fairway.
4. Lagoonal- tidal flat.
5. Open marine carbonate shelf.