Title: The Role of Quaternary Geology in Development of Shale Gas in NEBC
1The 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
2Outline
British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
- RDGB Quaternary Geoscience Projects
- Surficial Geology Mapping
- Aggregate Program
- Paleovalley Mapping and Quaternary Stratigraphy
3- Approximate outline of the HRB
Fort Nelson
4(No Transcript)
5Glacial Map of Canada (Wilson, 1958)
6(No Transcript)
7Till
Glaciolacustrine
130m
Thick Quaternary Sediments
Glaciofluvial
8British 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
9British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Surficial geology map of Etset Lake 094P/11
10British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Surficial geology map of Etset Lake 094P/11
11British 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
12British 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
13British 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.
14British 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
15British 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
16British 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
17British 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.
18British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
- LiDAR The most successful tool for aggregate
exploration
Aggregate
19British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate
- Frequency domain airborne resistivity survey
(helicopter). - Ground based capacitively coupled resistivity.
1km
20British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate
- Ground Penetrating Radar
- Reprocessed 2D Seismic
0m
5m
Oil and gas 2D seismic
Reprocessed for gravel
21British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Aggregate
22British 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
23British 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
24British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
- Quaternary Geology and Paleovalleys
- Ultra-shallow gas
- Casing depth
- Seismic interpretation
- Frac Water
25Fort Nelson
26NTS 94I, British Columbia
British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
Hickin et al., 2008
Modern Topography
Bedrock Topography
27British 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
28British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
Gamma Log Response behind casing
Valley-Fill
Fine Grained
Coarse Grained
Aquitard
Aquifer
29British 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
30British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
Hickin et al. 2008
31British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate
Mapping Program
Paleovalleys
32- Limitation
- Need high density of wells
- Need wide distribution of wells
33British 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
34British 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
35British 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