Collaboration Enables Geoscience BC’s Next-Stage Carbon Storage Assessment for Northeast BC
Vancouver, BC – June 28, 2024 – The next stage of innovative Geoscience BC research to assess the potential to store carbon in sedimentary rocks in Northeast BC’s Granite Wash Formation has been made possible, thanks to a unique collaboration involving industry, government and others.
The NEBC Granite Wash Geological CCS Atlas project aims to better understand carbon storage potential in the deep Granite Wash Formation. The Formation may have significant capacity to store carbon, but there is extremely limited relevant data available. As a result, an assessment is only possible with industry providing access to private and highly valuable data from previous natural gas exploration. Data provided to date focuses on the Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson areas in the territories of Treaty 8 First Nations.
Geoscience BC Manager, Energy and Water Randy Hughes said: “Leaders need access to independent, public geoscience data to make decisions about the potential for carbon capture and storage as a tool to tackle climate change. We are grateful to the industry, community and government partners that are supporting this project by providing support, funding and data to make this research possible.”
Canadian Hydrogen Association (CHA) President and CEO said: “The Canadian Hydrogen Association applauds Geoscience BC’s undertaking of this important study to provide valuable geoscience data which is needed to support the production of low-carbon hydrogen in British Columbia. We look forward to collaborating with Geoscience BC on this initiative towards the path to realizing a net-zero emissions economy for BC’s Northeast Region.”
BC’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation is providing funding for the research, while industry partners include Canlin Energy Corporation, Logan Energy Corporation and others. In addition, the project is supported by the BC Energy Regulator, the City of Fort St. John and the Canadian Hydrogen Association. Research is being completed by Canadian Discovery Ltd.
The latest research will augment the Northeast BC Geological Carbon Capture and Storage Atlas, which was published in January 2023. This original study did not include the Granite Wash Formation because of the limited data available.
It is not too late to join the consortium! If you have expertise, access to seismic information or potential funding contributions for the project, email info@geosciencebc.com.
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For more information about this developing project, visit the Geoscience BC website project page.
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About Geoscience BC
Geoscience BC's independent, public geoscience is a first link in the supply chain for Canada's net-zero emissions economy.
Our critical minerals and metals, cleaner energy and geological carbon capture and storage research is funded by industry, government and other partners. It informs evidence-based decisions by industry, governments, Indigenous groups and communities.
Geoscience BC is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors, technical and Indigenous volunteers and by Geoscience BC members. We are a not-for-profit society incorporated under the BC Societies Act.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of our partners, including the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.
Visit geosciencebc.com or follow us @GeoscienceBC to find out more.
For information, please contact:
Richard Truman
Geoscience BC
604-662-4147 / 778-929-1662