--> Abstract: Update on a Sleeping Giant: Gas Exploration in the Montana Thrust Belt, by William B. Hansen; #90039 (2005)

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Update on a Sleeping Giant: Gas Exploration in the Montana Thrust Belt

William B. Hansen
Consulting Geologist, Jireh Consulting Services, Great Falls, MT

The Paleozoic Waterton-Rundle Foothills Play of Alberta extends at least as far southward as Helena, Montana. Undiscovered resource estimates for the play range from 8.6 - 12.1 TCF, depending on the methodology used. This fact has been known for some time. However, exploration has been inhibited during the last 20 years by a combination of low prices in the late 80's and 90's and a series of high profile political decisions which have created industry-wide perceptions of anti-development. This has created a situation where numerous leasing opportunities still exist on private lands within the Montana Foothills.

The price of natural gas, the discovery that the Paleozoic Exshaw/Bakken source is mature, and the realization that this source is in the natural gas-generating window throughout the Waterton-Rundle play have reignited industry interest in the area. Suncor is drilling a Paleozoic test beneath thrusted Precambrian on private lands north of Helena in 2005. Other companies have been actively leasing and shooting new seismic in the Helena Salient of the Montana Thrust Belt the last three years, where up to three source rocks and an abundance of private lands "sweeten" the exploration package. Even the Helena National Forest has reinstituted oil and gas leasing, albeit with severe restrictions. South of Glacier Park, the U.S. government is finalizing plans for a deep Paleozoic exploratory test on 100,000 acres of existing Federal leases in the heart of the play.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005