string(18) "[Energy-Resources]"

NEBC Granite Wash Geological CCS Atlas

Lead Researcher(s):  Natalie Sweet

Project ID:  2023-008

Key Research Organization(s):  Canadian Discovery Ltd.

Project Location:  Northeast BC

Strategic Focus Area:  Energy-Resources

Summary



Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been identified as a priority emissions reduction and mitigation tool by federal and provincial governments, industry and others. Understanding the storage potential for carbon dioxide (CO2) in sedimentary rocks in British Columbia’s Northeast Region is key for supporting emissions reduction, and providing information to inform decisions about potential hydrogen generation in BC. This is valuable to industry, governments, academia, communities and Indigenous groups.

This project is building on the completed Northeast BC Geological Carbon Capture and Storage Atlas project by undertaking a study of the Granite Wash Formation. This formation was not included in the previous study because of limited public well data available.

By working with a consortium of industry partners contributing seismic information and participating in the carbon storage assessment, this project is gathering, cataloguing and interpreting existing relevant geoscience data. 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.

The project is a partnership between Geoscience BC, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (EMLI) and the BC Energy Regulator, with data contributions from Canlin Energy Corporation, Logan Energy Corporation and other industry partners. The City of Fort St. John and the Canadian Hydrogen Association is also supporting the research.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our partners, including the Province of British Columbia through EMLI.

The Need

Carbon management can play a critical role in meeting both BC’s climate action and economic development objectives. This project augments the Northeast BC Geological Carbon Capture and Storage Atlas project and will help further the understanding of the extent to which sedimentary rocks in the Northeast Region have CCS potential. The findings will guide the province’s rapidly developing low-carbon energy and CCS sectors, and the Northeast Region’s transition to a net-zero emissions economy.

The Situation

The Granite Wash Formation is a deep, regionally occurring deposit lying unconformably on basement rocks, notably in the Peace River Arch area of Fort St. John. It is regionally extensive but highly variable in thickness. During data acquisition for the Northeast BC Geological Carbon Capture and Storage Atlas project, the Granite Wash Formation was not included due its variable nature and limited well data.

This project would not be possible without participation and contributions from industry partners, and we are grateful for their collaboration.

The Goals

The goals for this Energy project are:

  • Catalogue existing relevant technical reports and data.
  • Identify, interpret and report on existing well log, core, and other geological data to determine reservoir distribution and characteristics of the Granite Wash.
  • Identify, and where possible, acquire appropriate seismic data and existing seismic interpretations to assist with regional mapping of the Granite Wash.
  • Map primary fault and structural features.
  • Develop easy-to-interpret, public atlas-style report summarizing the Granite Wash reservoir CCS potential, including where possible porosity, permeability, pressure data, and volumetrics.
  • Preliminarily assess CCS technical risks. 
  • Identify data gaps and recommendations for next phase research. 

The Benefits

The public information generated by the project will be valuable to groups including CCS project developers, low-carbon hydrogen producers, industry, governments, academia, communities and Indigenous groups who are working to meet emissions reduction targets.

Project Governance

Project governance includes a Steering Committee made up of industry partners, Geoscience BC, EMLI and Indigenous representation.

  • Jose Condor, Senior Policy Analyst, BC Govt EMLI
  • Gavin C. Dirom, President & CEO, Geoscience BC
  • Lana Eagle, Chair, Geoscience BC Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation Advisory Council and Vice Chair, Geoscience BC Board of Directors
  • Neil Orr, Chief Geophysicist, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

 

Technical input is provided by a Project Advisory Committee (PAC):

  • Ron Stefik, Supervisor, Reservoir Engineering, BC Energy Regulator
  • Tony Grimison, Geologist – Tenure & Resource Stewardship, BC EMLI
  • Cathie Hickson, CEO, Alberta No. 1 Hickson Terrapin Geothermics
  • Kathy McConnell, Manager New Energy Technology Underground Storage Engineering, Enbridge
  • Stu Venables, Supervisor, Energy Geoscience, BC Energy Regulator
  • Warren Walsh, Strategic Energy Manager, Energy and Industry Decarbonization, BC EMLI
  • Wanju Yuan, Research Scientist, Natural Resources Canada / Geological Survey of Canada

Location

Although this project covers the entire Northeast Region, there will be more detail in areas where data is available – primarily near Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson, which are within portions of the territories of the Treaty 8 First Nations.

Geoscience BC encourages anyone planning exploration work to first contact Indigenous groups in the area. The Province of British Columbia’s Consultative Areas Database can help with this (https://maps.gov.bc.ca/ess/hm/cadb/). The Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) also produces an Indigenous Engagement Guidebook. 

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