The Role of Quaternary Geology in Development of Shale Gas in NEBC Adrian S. Hickin MSc. P.Geo. Quaternary Geologist British Columbia Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources Adrian S. Hickin MSc. P.Geo. Quaternary Geologist British Columbia Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program:

Outline RDGB Quaternary Geoscience Projects: Surficial Geology Mapping Aggregate Program Paleovalley Mapping and Quaternary Stratigraphy RDGB Quaternary Geoscience Projects: Surficial Geology Mapping Aggregate Program Paleovalley Mapping and Quaternary Stratigraphy British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program:

Fort Nelson Approximate outline of the HRB

Glacial Map of Canada (Wilson, 1958)

Till Glaciolacustrine Glaciofluvial 130m Thick Quaternary Sediments

Surficial Geology Mapping British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: Surficial geology maps: 1.Displays character and distribution of surface units 2.Land use planning and development tool 3.Guide for road and pipeline routing 4.Provides context and targets for detailed studies Bioterrain and habitat mapping Aggregate mapping Surficial geology maps: 1.Displays character and distribution of surface units 2.Land use planning and development tool 3.Guide for road and pipeline routing 4.Provides context and targets for detailed studies Bioterrain and habitat mapping Aggregate mapping

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

British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: Surficial geology map of Etset Lake 094P/11 Surficial geology map of Etset Lake 094P/11 4km

Surficial Geology Mapping British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: Geological Survey of Canada New Mapping 1: scale 94O/09 & 94O/10 Geological Survey of Canada New Mapping 1: scale 94O/09 & 94O/10 Proposed Partnership:

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

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: 1.Regional assessment of aggregate resources and Quaternary geology in areas of oil and gas development. 2.Identify and evaluate, local, area specific aggregate resources. e.g. Sierra-Yoyo-Desan Road, Royalty Credit Roads, etc. 1.Regional assessment of aggregate resources and Quaternary geology in areas of oil and gas development. 2.Identify and evaluate, local, area specific aggregate resources. e.g. Sierra-Yoyo-Desan Road, Royalty Credit Roads, etc.

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: >15 million m 3 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 >15 million m 3 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 Success

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: 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 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 Success

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: The Key to Success: Collaboration Partnerships with industry, academia, and other provincial and federal government agencies. Data & resource sharing. Partnerships with industry, academia, and other provincial and federal government agencies. Data & resource sharing. Quaternary Expertise Priorities, Data, Logistics Government Industry New Discoveries, Great Partnerships

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: 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. 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. What do we do?

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: LiDAR – The most successful tool for aggregate exploration

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: Frequency domain airborne resistivity survey (helicopter). Ground based capacitively coupled resistivity. Frequency domain airborne resistivity survey (helicopter). Ground based capacitively coupled resistivity. 1km

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: Ground Penetrating Radar Reprocessed 2D Seismic Ground Penetrating Radar Reprocessed 2D Seismic Oil and gas 2D seismicReprocessed for gravel 5m 0m

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program:

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: 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 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

Aggregate British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: 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 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

Paleovalleys British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: Quaternary Geology and Paleovalleys Ultra-shallow gas Casing depth Seismic interpretation Frac Water Quaternary Geology and Paleovalleys Ultra-shallow gas Casing depth Seismic interpretation Frac Water

Fort Nelson

NTS 94I, British Columbia Modern Topography Bedrock Topography Hickin et al., 2008 Paleovalleys British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program:

Sand, Silt, and Clay Silt and Clay Till Gravel Till Gravel Aquitard Aquifer 30 m Paleovalleys British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program:

Fine Grained Coarse Grained Aquitard Aquifer Valley-Fill Gamma Log Response behind casing Paleovalleys British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program:

Zama-Hay, Alberta Borneuf and Pretula, 1980 “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 m 2 /day to about 2240 m 2 /day with 20-year safe yields varying from about 15 L/s to 450 L/s." Paleovalleys British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program:

Hickin et al WellDepthFlow Rate D-075-C/094-I-1689 m350 L/s D-093-J/094-I m283 L/s D-052-B/094-I m83 L/s D-001-D/094-I m17 L/s A-094-L/094-I m16 to 67 L/s Paleovalleys British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program:

? ? ? ? Paleovalleys British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program:

Limitation: 1.Need high density of wells 2.Need wide distribution of wells Limitation: 1.Need high density of wells 2.Need wide distribution of wells HRB

Paleovalleys British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: 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 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

1.Quaternary Geology has an important role in the development of NEBC unconventional gas resources 1.Surficial Geology Mapping 2.Aggregate Mapping 3.Paleovalley Mapping and Stratigraphy 2.Quaternary Program at RDGB is dedicated to working with industry to provide public information to assist the responsible development 3.The key to the success of the Quaternary Program has been industry collaboration and partnerships 1.Quaternary Geology has an important role in the development of NEBC unconventional gas resources 1.Surficial Geology Mapping 2.Aggregate Mapping 3.Paleovalley Mapping and Stratigraphy 2.Quaternary Program at RDGB is dedicated to working with industry to provide public information to assist the responsible development 3.The key to the success of the Quaternary Program has been industry collaboration and partnerships Conclusion British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program:

Partnership and Collaborative opportunities Adrian Hickin Surficial Geology and Aggregate Program Partnership and Collaborative opportunities Adrian Hickin Surficial Geology and Aggregate Program British Columbia Surficial Geology and Aggregate Mapping Program: