In 2008, Geoscience BC secured $5 million in funding from the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, dedicated to geoscience studies supporting timely and efficient appraisal and development of the enormous shale gas resource of the Horn River Basin. In consultation with the Horn River Basin Producers Group (HRBPG), Geoscience BC determined a key geoscience challenge in identifying aquifers capable of producing high volumes of water to support completions (fraccing) operations, and also capable of accepting disposal of large volumes of spent frac fluids. The Horn River Basin Aquifer Characterization Project, a cooperative effort between Geoscience BC and the HRBPG, was conceived as a result, and Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd. (PRCL) was appointed project manager.

In a series of meetings commencing November 2008, three primary project objectives were defined:

• Synthesize available geological information to produce a stratigraphic framework for hydrogeological / aquifer analysis.
• Facilitate collection of aquifer and fluid data from new Producer Group wells, particularly those being drilled for water supply and disposal.
• Undertake a systematic hydrogeological investigation of potential aquifers in the Horn River Basin in order to quantify and map reservoir capacity and productivity / injectivity potential.

Posters and Presentations

2009: Horn River Basin Aquifer Characterization Project
- Flyer for 2009 CSPG Conference (pdf, 2MB)

Technical Articles

2010: "Horn River Basin aquifer characterization project, northeastern British Columbia (NTS 094I, J, O, P): progress report"
- Summary of Activities 2009, Report 2010-1 p.245-248 (pdf, 2.2 MB)

Deliverables

Geoscience BC Report 2010-11

Horn River Basin Subsurface Aquifer Project — Phase I Data

News Releases

April 30, 2010: Horn River Basin Subsurface Aquifer Project — Early Public Release of Phase I Data

March 30, 2009: Collaborative Horn River Basin Aquifer Study - Phase 1

October 8, 2008: Horn River Basin Project