As part of the activities of the ConocoPhillips Chair in Tight Gas Engineering in the Chemical and PetroleumEngineering Department at the University of Calgary, a comprehensive literature review has been conducted that has led to our understanding of the current status on the study of tight gas sand formations. This paper presents the results of that work concentrating initially on Canadian and U.S. tight gas sands. Next, we will examine these types of formations throughout the world.The resource base of tight gas sands is estimated to be between 90 and 1500 trillion cubic feet in Canada. The resource base around the world has been estimated at some 7500 trillion cubic feet.The literature survey discussed in this paper is the basis for the mission-oriented research on tight gas reservoirs conducted at the University of Calgary. This research looks at refining the resource base and recoveries from tight gas in Canada and finding economic means of extracting as much of this gas as possible. The planned research program will be presented. It is expected that the research program will result in the delivery of highly qualified professionals, with significant knowledge of tight gas formations, needed by industry and research organizations. In addition, it is likely that the research results will prove to be of value in other parts of the world, and will be exportable, creating business opportunities for Canadian companies. Evaluating the current status of geologic models, reservoir characterization, recovery and production technologies currently available for these types of formations is the first step in the effort to reach the final goal: finding economic means of producing as much of this gas as possible.