--> Abstract: Finding New Long-Life Natural Gas Reserves in the Foothills of the Mature Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, by Andrew C. Newson; #90039 (2005)

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Finding New Long-Life Natural Gas Reserves in the Foothills of the Mature Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin

Andrew C. Newson
Moose Oils Ltd, Calgary, AB

The Canadian Gas Potential Committee considers that the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin is a mature basin from the point of view of the exploration and discovery process model. However, they have also predicted that there are several Tcf sized gas fields yet to be discovered in the Foothills of this basin. Because of the history and manor of exploration of the Foothills there is a good chance that these discoveries have all ready been made, but due to the lack of a coherent structural model they have yet to be exploited.

In this paper we will illustrate this concept by looking at a Foothills oil and gas field, Moose Mountain. This field is a good example of a field which had initial reserves that were understated. Over the years the in place reserves have consistently been increased as the cumulative production has grown. This was due to a poor understanding of the overall structure model and its impact on the nature and distribution of the reserves. As a result of some recent work on this field, 10 additional wells were drilled. These wells have confirmed the presence of at least two additional pools. The two pools have added additional oil and gas reserves equal in amount to the initial discovery.

By building a coherent structural model we have gained an important understanding of this Foothill structure. This model can now be used in other parts of the Foothills where similar structures have yet to be properly evaluated.

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