Bowser and Sustut
Basins
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Bowser and Sustut Basins
Part of BC Ministry of Energy and Mines
strategy to evaluate Intermontane basins
of BC
Petroleum Geology Section of the New
Ventures Branch is entrusted with
hydrocarbon assessment of sedimentary
basins in BC
Work cooperatively with Geological
Survey of Canada
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Old Ideas
Dease Lk
Takla Ldg
Alice Arm
Smithers
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Terrace
Prior to 2002, Bowser
Basin rocks were
believed to be mature to
overmature
This was based on
limited surface thermal
maturation data in
Klappan-Groundhog coal
fields
This data was
extrapolated across the
entire basin
GSC 1995, 8.3 TCF and
2.5 BBO
All oil potential in Sustut
and Skeena rocks
Effective basement Triassic
Where are we
Now?
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
New Realities
New surface thermal maturation data
indicates that large portions of the Bowser
and Sustut basins are in the oil and/or gas
windows
Oil staining on surface and downhole
samples indicates several petroleum
systems
Supported by possible missed gas pay in
one well???
New lithofacies mapping and stratigraphic
framework
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
New Realities
New structural history and interpreted
triangle zone
Work progressing on basinwide
understanding of petroleum geology
Upcoming resource reassessment for the
Bowser and Nechako basins
Industry partnerships assessing the
hydrocarbon potential of the
Intermontane basins
Flexible government
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Current Activity
GSC/MEM Partnership
4 year joint program examining the
geology and hydrocarbon potential of
the central and southern Bowser and
Sustut basins. This will eventually lead
to a basin analysis and atlas publication
FN/Community meetings and dialogue
Active MEM promotion
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Stewart – Omineca Road
Improved allweather access
Partnership in
development FN, Industry,
MEM
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
P&NG Tenure
Current Options
Exploration by Permit, Licence or
Lease
Competitive bid process
May not be reflective of frontier
risk
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Where are we
Heading?
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Frontier P&NG
The Future - New way of doing
business??
Frontier royalty structure analysis
New tenure system??
FN involvement??
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Partnerships?
Potential to explore via
partnership
MEM is willing to take a lead in
organization
What will work for industry?
Your ideas – Call for proposals
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Royalties
Ability to adjust royalties to match the
resource
Examples –
*CBM Royalty
*Marginal
*Deep gas
MEM will be working on Frontier Royalty
Structures
*What works in other jurisdictions?
*Recognize infrastructure & other
unique costs
* Ideas? - Net profit
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
P&NG Tenure
Competitive bid –
*no optic of subsidies
*fair
*ensures maximum benefit to BC
New class of permit for frontier areas? –
*Requires legislative change
*Ability to recognize frontier risks
Order In Council – creation of tenure?
*Unique solution
*Still may require many months
*Must ensure fairness
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
First Nations
Initiating discussion and planning
FN community information
sessions
Interested FN stakeholders
New opportunities for FN
participation in oil and gas
exploration and development
activities
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Industry Field Trip
Leaders Carol Evenchick, Kirk Osadetz,
Fil Ferri
3rd week of August, 2003
Start from Smithers 3 days in the field
3 nights Bell II Lodge
$4000/person
Contact Fil Ferri, 250-952-0377
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
MEM - Contacts
Fil Ferri, 952-0377
Sr. Geologist Interior Basins, NVB
Barry Ryan, 952-0418
Dr. Coal/CBM, NVB
Mark Hayes, 952-0364
Manager, Petroleum Geology NVB
Steve Roberts, 952-0115
Acting Assistant Deputy Minister
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
New References
Ministry of Energy and Mines, Petroleum Geology Open File 2002-1
Vitrinite and bitumen reflectance data and preliminary organic maturity
model for the northern two thirds of the Bowser and Sustut basins, northcentral British Columbia;
by C.A. Evenchick, M.C. Hayes, K.A. Buddell and K.G. Osadetz.
Ministry of Energy and Mines, Petroleum Geology Special Paper 2002-3
Petroleum Exploration Potential of the Nechako Basin, British Columbia;
Prepared by Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd.
Ministry of Energy and Mines, Petroleum Geology Open File 2003-1
Rock-Eval/TOC Results from 11 northern British Columbia boreholes;
by K.G. Osadetz, L.R. Snowdon and M. Obermajer
Ministry of Energy and Mines, Paper 2003-1
Early to Middle Jurassic Sedimentation, Deformation and a Preliminary
Assessment of Hydrocarbon Potential in the Central Whitehorse Trough
and Northern Cache Creek Terrane
by J.M. English, M.G. Mihalynuk, S.T. Johnston, M.J. Orchard,M. Fowler
and L.J. Leonard
Ministry of Energy and Mines, Paper 2003-1
Indications for Effective Petroleum Systems in Bowser and Sustut
Basins, North-Central British Columbia
K.G. Osadetz, C.A. Evenchick, F. Ferri, L.D. Stasiuk and N.S F. Wilson.
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Information
Presentation will be available on
CD
Please leave your business card in
the basket and we will mail you a
copy
Ministry of
Energy & Mines
Thank you for
coming!
Ministry of
Energy & Mines