Discovery

Shifting Canadian natural gas supplies and the discovery of vast shale plays in Western Canada gave birth to NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.’s (NGTL) plans to construct and operate the 48-mile Alberta-to-British Columbia Groundbirch Pipeline, which the National Energy Board (NEB) approved on Thursday.

Shifting Canadian natural gas supplies and the discovery of vast shale plays in Western Canada gave birth to NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.’s (NGTL) plans to construct and operate the 48-mile Alberta-to-British Columbia Groundbirch Pipeline, which the National Energy Board (NEB) approved late last week.

The discovery of the Horn River Basin in northeastern British Columbia (BC) brought with it a lot of hype, but drilling results are beginning to indicate that the natural gas play may be as prolific as explorers first suggested.

The discovery of the Horn River Basin in northeastern British Columbia (BC) brought with it a lot of hype, but drilling results are beginning to indicate that the natural gas play may be as prolific as explorers first suggested.

Less than a year after its discovery, the Geauxpher Field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is producing 115 MMcf/d of natural gas from two wells, according to operator Mariner Energy Inc. The project, located in Garden Banks Block 462 more than 150 miles offshore Louisiana, was discovered in mid 2008. The development’s wells are connected via a 40-mile subsea tieback to a third party-operated platform on Garden Banks Block 72. After processing the gas is transported via pipeline to onshore facilities. Production from the wells to pressurize the flowline to the platform began in April, and sales began May 15. Geauxpher is 60% owned by Mariner; Apache Corp. owns the remaining stake. In another joint venture with Apache, Mariner is drilling an exploration well on the Arden prospect on Garden Banks Block 949. Mariner operates the Arden prospect, which is expected to reach its targeted depth over the next two to three months. The companies each hold 50% working interests in the prospect.

In a landmark discovery, high saturations of natural gas hydrates have been discovered within reservoir-quality sands in the Lower Tertiary of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) reported Thursday.

BP Exploration & Production Inc. announced a hydrocarbon discovery in an exploration well that tested its Isabela prospect in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The well is located on Mississippi Canyon Block 562 in 6,500 feet of water, about 150 miles southeast of New Orleans. Isabela was drilled to a total depth of 19,100 feet into Miocene era sands. “Isabela is an excellent addition to our portfolio of discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Dave Rainey, BP’s Vice President of GOM Exploration. “It will likely be tied back to our Na Kika production platform, helping to maximize the value of that infrastructure.” The well is operated by BP with a 67% working interest and is co-owned by Noble Energy Inc. with a 33% working interest. The lease was acquired at in March 1998.

An “enormous amount of gas” in the Rocky Mountains awaits discovery from emerging basins and recovery from legacy assets, which means a lot more money and new pipe will be needed to be poured into the region within the next few years, Questar Corp. CEO Keith Rattie said.

An “enormous amount of gas” in the Rocky Mountains awaits discovery from emerging basins and recovery from legacy assets, which means a lot more money and new pipe will be needed to be poured into the region within the next few years, Questar Corp. CEO Keith Rattie said.