The Role of Quaternary Geology in Development of Shale Gas in NEBC

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The Role of Quaternary Geology in Development of
Shale Gas in NEBC
British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program

• Adrian S. Hickin MSc. P.Geo.
• Quaternary Geologist
• British Columbia Ministry
• of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources

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Outline
British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program

• RDGB Quaternary Geoscience Projects
• Surficial Geology Mapping
• Aggregate Program
• Paleovalley Mapping and Quaternary Stratigraphy

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• Approximate outline of the HRB

Fort Nelson
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Glacial Map of Canada (Wilson, 1958)
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Till
Glaciolacustrine
130m
Thick Quaternary Sediments
Glaciofluvial
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Surficial Geology Mapping

• Surficial geology maps
• Displays character and distribution of surface
  units
• Land use planning and development tool
• Guide for road and pipeline routing
• Provides context and targets for detailed studies
• Bioterrain and habitat mapping
• Aggregate mapping

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Surficial geology map of Etset Lake 094P/11
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Surficial geology map of Etset Lake 094P/11
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Surficial Geology Mapping
Proposed Partnership

• Geological Survey of Canada
• New Mapping 150 000 scale
• 94O/09 94O/10

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate
Make BC competative

• Access to the landbase
• Load balance development by extending the
  drilling season into summer months
• Reduce footprint by building fewer quality roads
  that will service new areas

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate

• Regional assessment of aggregate resources and
  Quaternary geology in areas of oil and gas
  development.
• Identify and evaluate, local, area specific
  aggregate resources.
• e.g. Sierra-Yoyo-Desan Road, Royalty Credit
  Roads, etc.

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate
Success

• gt15 million m3 of sand and gravel identified.
• 20 new aggregate prospects and 7 new mines
• As of 2008 has saved the Province a total of
  28.4 million
• The combined operating budget since 2002 (6 yrs)
  is 1.175 million

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate
Success

• Province has saved 23 for every dollar spent
• Better all season roads are being built that
  increase drilling activity in summer, open new
  unexplored areas, and make BC a more attractive
  exploration jurisdiction

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate

• The Key to Success Collaboration

• Partnerships with industry, academia, and other
  provincial and federal government agencies.
• Data resource sharing.

Priorities, Data, Logistics
Industry
Government
New Discoveries, Great Partnerships
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate
What do we do?

• Explore for gravel based on an understanding of
  glacial processes, history and landscape
  evolution.
• Systematic evaluation of targets.
• Bring innovation and technology to a
  traditionally low tech. industry.

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program

• LiDAR The most successful tool for aggregate
  exploration

Aggregate
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate

• Frequency domain airborne resistivity survey
  (helicopter).
• Ground based capacitively coupled resistivity.

1km
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate

• Ground Penetrating Radar
• Reprocessed 2D Seismic

0m
5m
Oil and gas 2D seismic
Reprocessed for gravel
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate

• Data Dissemination
• All studies are public information and available
  online
• Surficial geology maps available free at NRCan
  Mirage Website
• Prospecting reports free online at BCMEMPR
  Aggregate website
• Work directly with partners on Royalty Credit
  Projects
• Proprietary data is not made public unless consent

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate

• Frac Sand
• Project evaluating NEBC Quaternary and Tertiary
  sand deposits as well as outcrop for frac sand
  potential
• Over 25 deposits sampled
• Analysis pending
• Partnership opportunities

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys

• Quaternary Geology and Paleovalleys
• Ultra-shallow gas
• Casing depth
• Seismic interpretation
• Frac Water

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Fort Nelson
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NTS 94I, British Columbia
British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
Hickin et al., 2008
Modern Topography
Bedrock Topography
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
30 m
Sand, Silt, and Clay
Aquitard
Silt and Clay
Till
Gravel
Aquifer
Aquitard
Till
Gravel
Aquifer
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
Gamma Log Response behind casing
Valley-Fill
Fine Grained
Coarse Grained
Aquitard
Aquifer
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
Zama-Hay, Alberta
Surficial sediments are the main aquifer over
the study area "The highest yields known to
date over the entire area are found in the
northern half of the map area immediately north
of the Zama-Hay Lakes region, where water wells
are used for water injection in secondary
recovery of oil. The water wells are completed
in sands and gravels at depths varying from
30-60m (100 to 200 ft). After completion, a few
aquifer tests were conducted on these wells by a
drilling company. Transmissivity values derived
from these pump tests varied from about 137
m2/day to about 2240 m2/day with 20-year safe
yields varying from about 15 L/s to 450 L/s."
Borneuf and Pretula, 1980
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
Hickin et al. 2008
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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
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• Limitation
• Need high density of wells
• Need wide distribution of wells

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys

• Time Domain Airborne Resistivity
• Long proven and effective method of identifying
  paleovalleys in the Canadian Interior Plains
• Fix-wing time domain is cost effective and covers
  a relatively large area providing appropriate
  depth of penetration and resolution
• Unlike point source data, (well logs) airborne EM
  offers continuous data more appropriate for
  mapping geometrically isolated paleovalleys

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Conclusion

• Quaternary Geology has an important role in the
  development of NEBC unconventional gas resources
• Surficial Geology Mapping
• Aggregate Mapping
• Paleovalley Mapping and Stratigraphy
• Quaternary Program at RDGB is dedicated to
  working with industry to provide public
  information to assist the responsible development
  
• The key to the success of the Quaternary Program
  has been industry collaboration and partnerships

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British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program

• Partnership and Collaborative opportunities
• Adrian Hickin
• Surficial Geology and Aggregate Program
• 250 953 3801
• Adrian.Hickin_at_gov.bc.ca
• http//www.empr.gov.bc.ca/OG/oilandgas/aggregates