Horn River Basin Subsurface Aquifer Project — Early Public Release of Phase I Data
Fort Nelson, British Columbia (April 30, 2010): Geoscience BC is pleased to announce, in partnership with the Horn River Basin Shale Gas Producers Group and the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, the early public release of Phase I Data of the Horn River Basin Subsurface Aquifer Project.
"The Horn River Basin is one of North America's premier shale gas opportunities, with the potential to stimulate economic activity and create local jobs," said Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Blair Lekstrom. "The results of this project will be used by shale gas producers, regulators, communities and First Nations to develop B.C.'s resources while significantly reducing the surface environmental footprint and helping to protect surface fresh water."
In October 2008, Geoscience BC announced a $5 million program to undertake geoscience studies in the Horn River Basin, focused on identifying and evaluating deep geological water sources for shale gas production. The $3.5 million Phase I research was supported by $5 million of in-kind contributions from the Horn River Basin Producers Group to provide confidential data from their drilling activities for Geoscience BC to analyze and interpret.
Geoscience BC releases its research results to the public after an appropriate confidentiality period for project partners. Phase I data was originally scheduled to be released in early July 2010. However, the Horn River Basin Producers Group endorsed an early public release of the data.
"The Horn River Basin Producers Group was extremely pleased to support the Horn River Basin Deep Aquifer Project to identify potential subsurface water sources," said Rob Spitzer, Chair of the Horn River Basin Producers Group. "We fully endorsed making this information available as soon as possible to support the responsible development of the Horn River Basin."
Phase I results include:
"Geoscience BC is extremely pleased to support the priority research needs of both industry and government through this innovative collaborative approach to geoscience research," said Dr. 'Lyn Anglin, President and CEO of Geoscience BC. "The result of Phase I research will help contribute to cost-effective and environmentally sound development of British Columbia's unconventional gas resources."
Phase II research priorities are being developed and will be announced when finalized.
The Horn River Basin shale gas producers group consists of the major industry players, which are Apache, ConocoPhilips, Devon, Encana EOG Resources, Imperial Oil, Nexen, Pengrowth, Quicksilver, Stone Mountain Resources and Suncor. The purpose of the group is to facilitate cooperation and communication between major industry players, key stakeholders and First Nations in the area.
Geoscience BC is an industry-led, industry-focused not-for-profit society. Its mandate includes the collection, interpretation and marketing of geoscience data and expertise to promote investment in resource exploration and development in British Columbia. Geoscience BC is funded by the Provincial Government and works in partnership with industry, academia, government, First Nations and communities to attract mineral and oil & gas investment to BC.
For more information, please contact:
Geoscience BC
'Lyn Anglin, PhD
President and CEO
(604) 290-1194
www.geosciencebc.com
"The Horn River Basin is one of North America's premier shale gas opportunities, with the potential to stimulate economic activity and create local jobs," said Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Blair Lekstrom. "The results of this project will be used by shale gas producers, regulators, communities and First Nations to develop B.C.'s resources while significantly reducing the surface environmental footprint and helping to protect surface fresh water."
In October 2008, Geoscience BC announced a $5 million program to undertake geoscience studies in the Horn River Basin, focused on identifying and evaluating deep geological water sources for shale gas production. The $3.5 million Phase I research was supported by $5 million of in-kind contributions from the Horn River Basin Producers Group to provide confidential data from their drilling activities for Geoscience BC to analyze and interpret.
Geoscience BC releases its research results to the public after an appropriate confidentiality period for project partners. Phase I data was originally scheduled to be released in early July 2010. However, the Horn River Basin Producers Group endorsed an early public release of the data.
"The Horn River Basin Producers Group was extremely pleased to support the Horn River Basin Deep Aquifer Project to identify potential subsurface water sources," said Rob Spitzer, Chair of the Horn River Basin Producers Group. "We fully endorsed making this information available as soon as possible to support the responsible development of the Horn River Basin."
Phase I results include:
- A Horn River Basin stratigraphic framework for hydrogeological and deep aquifer analysis.
- Aquifer and fluid data from deep water wells that may be used for water source and fluid disposal.
- Systematic hydrogeological investigation of potential aquifers in the Horn River Basin to quantify and map reservoir capacity and productivity / injectivity potential.
"Geoscience BC is extremely pleased to support the priority research needs of both industry and government through this innovative collaborative approach to geoscience research," said Dr. 'Lyn Anglin, President and CEO of Geoscience BC. "The result of Phase I research will help contribute to cost-effective and environmentally sound development of British Columbia's unconventional gas resources."
Phase II research priorities are being developed and will be announced when finalized.
The Horn River Basin shale gas producers group consists of the major industry players, which are Apache, ConocoPhilips, Devon, Encana EOG Resources, Imperial Oil, Nexen, Pengrowth, Quicksilver, Stone Mountain Resources and Suncor. The purpose of the group is to facilitate cooperation and communication between major industry players, key stakeholders and First Nations in the area.
Geoscience BC is an industry-led, industry-focused not-for-profit society. Its mandate includes the collection, interpretation and marketing of geoscience data and expertise to promote investment in resource exploration and development in British Columbia. Geoscience BC is funded by the Provincial Government and works in partnership with industry, academia, government, First Nations and communities to attract mineral and oil & gas investment to BC.
For more information, please contact:
Geoscience BC
'Lyn Anglin, PhD
President and CEO
(604) 290-1194
www.geosciencebc.com