H2S Mapping Project to Bring Safer, Lower Cost Natural Gas Production to Northeastern BC

Vancouver, BC - September 6, 2018 -A new Geoscience BC-funded project in northeastern British Columbia to map and predict 'sour gas'- natural gas which can contain harmful and/or dangerous concentrations of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) - aims to improve safety and reduce the cost of natural gas operations.

Called Distribution, origin, and implications of hydrogen sulphide in unconventional reservoir rocks in Western Canada with insights into the stratigraphic zonation and lateral variability of producible hydrocarbon liquids, the project will map and predict the distribution of sour gas and hydrocarbon liquids in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in northeastern British Columbia. This includes the active Montney, Doig, and Duvernay formations.

Commenting on the project, principal investigator and University of British Columbia Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences Professor Dr. Marc Bustin said: "The Montney, Doig, and Duvernay formations are important areas for natural gas activity, but the distribution of sour gas within these formations is complex. By mapping and predicting its location, natural gas production can be safer as well as easier and cheaper to plan."

Geoscience BC Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer Carlos Salas said: "Responsible natural resource development is a central tenet of Geoscience BC research. This project will provide detailed maps of produced gases and isotopic analyses, as well as predictive maps of hydrogen sulphide distribution across northeast British Columbia. It will also include reservoir production models to help plan resource exploration and drilling programs."

Gas analyses and isotopic data for the study is being provided from industry partners and complimentary, additional analyses will be undertaken as part of the study.

At low concentrations, hydrogen sulphide is colourless, flammable and smells like rotten eggs. At concentrations of greater than 100 parts per million it is potentially deadly and extremely corrosive. As a result, there are strict protocols and regulations regarding the gas

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View 2017-014 project page     View Project 2017-014 in Earth Science Viewer

 

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Geoscience BC is an independent, non-profit organization that generates earth science information in collaboration with First Nations, local communities, governments, academia and the resource sector. Our independent earth science enables informed resource management decisions. You can view a copy of the Geoscience BC Strategic Plan 2018-2022 here. Geoscience BC gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.