The Horseshoe Canyon Coalbed Methane Play in Southern Alberta: Turns Out It's Not All Dry

Andrew McWilliams, Mike Finn, Julius Den Haan, and Craig Johns
Trident Exploration Corp, Calgary, AB

Economic production from the Horseshoe Canyon coal bed methane fairway began in Late 2001 with the Joint Venture between MGV Energy and Encana (formerly PanCanadian). Initial results indicated that the Horseshoe Canyon Formation was capable of dry coalbed methane gas production. In the following 3 years testing of the Horsehose Trend has expanded from the initial Palliser block northward to Edmonton and southward approaching the US border. With new drilling and testing operators have learned that northern portions of the trend are not dry and are saturated to some degree with potable water in the 3000 to 4000 tds range.

Determination of the boundary between the wet and dry areas required non-traditional data sources, including analyzing water well data from Alberta Environment. To date publications have not yet defined the geographic position of the wet-dry boundary nor have they advanced the reasons for position of the boundary. This presentation will document the geographic and stratigraphic distribution of the formation waters in the northern portion of the trend.

Water chemistry of the Horseshoe Canyon indicates that active recharge occurs mainly in the northern portions. Preliminary data suggests that areas of recharge are controlled by stratigraphy, mineralogy and structural position.

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