Data Locator / Northern Alberta

Alberta

Northern Alberta – Peace River Arch

This area extends from the Ladyfern/ Hamburg area in the north to the south side of the Peace River Arch and is bound by the regional triangle of Rainbow Lake, Grande Prairie and Whitecourt.

The northern half of the area is represented by regional dipping geology with shallow gas plays developing around the paleo unconformity and deeper Slave Point potential associated with carbonate reef development and regional structural tectonism associated with the Hay River suture zone. The area has well developed fields in the Ladyfern, Hamburg, Lapp and Boyer areas, while also possessing a number of under explored exploration fairways that extend away from the existing production.

The southern half of the area encompassing the Peace River Arch is prolific for its multi zone prospectivity that has resulted in many new discoveries in recent years. Seismic remains a critical tool in this area given its structural complexity.

Prospective formations recently pursued by many companies in the Peace River Arch include Triassic Doig oil and Montney gas resources, Devonian Beaverhill Lake and Granite Wash sands and Wabamun. Astonishing light oil rates of thousands boe/d have recently been obtained at Puskwaskau from under explored sands in the Beaverhill Lake Group. It is now the object of increasing industry attention, motivated by oil scarcity and high prices.

Seismic data significantly enhances the geological model here. The prospects require new high resolution 3D data to provide the risk reduction and reservoir delineation necessary to pursue the opportunities efficiently.