Oil and Gas
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M-KMA Well Site at Night
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Importance
Oil and gas resource demand and value are increasingly significantly in global, national, provincial, regional and local economies. Exploration, development and extraction of these resources in north-eastern British Columbia is increasing in response to demand, and provincial revenue is growing. The M-KMA borders the potentially richest area in BC for oil and gas reserves.
More detailed information on Oil and Gas statistics may be accessed through the Oil and Gas Commission as well as through the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.
Oil and Gas Resources
Oil and gas was discovered in north-eastern BC during the 1950's in the north-eastern BC portion of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. Pre-Tenure Plans (4.6MB PDF) outline the conditions of oil and gas development and include a description of the potential for oil and gas resource in the M-KMA:
"The eastern parts of the M-KMA overlap the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and have potential for natural gas discoveries. Conventional gas resources are predicted to occur in three distinct ages of rock formations, each with different gas pool sizes and resource estimates... future discoveries in older rocks further west may lead to interest in exploring these areas."
Oil and Gas Practices in the M-KMA
Oil and gas activity in the M-KMA is relatively new and raises a varity of concerns due to the quantity and density of activity and potential impacts on the land. In anticipation of this intensive activity, companies are being asked to conduct their business in a much more sustainable manner. Oil and gas companies are working towards a far higher standard of sustainability in the M-KMA than in other areas, facilitated particularly through increased planning and coordination. Companies must take into account cumulative effects of activities in an area to ensure that impact to the land remains relatively low.
Methods used to reduce impacts include building winter ice and snow roads that will be deactivated once the activity at well sites has been completed, conducting heliportable exploration drilling, timing of activities coordinated with other resource users such as guide outfitters, and coordinating resource road development with other industry companies. Well site design can also affect the landscape in terms of visual quality, for example a rounded or shaped well site is far more natural in appearance than a square well site.
Pre-Tenure Plans for the M-KMA are integral to the successful management of oil and gas resources and extraction in the M-KMA. In May 2004, the last of the current series of Pre-Tenure Plans document were approved. As well, Geophysical Guidelines provide guidance to companies who are exploring the area for evidence of oil and gas formations and reserves.
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