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Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Heliportable Drilling Feasibility Study

Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Heliportable Drilling Feasibility Study. Randal Glaholt and Lois Pittaway TERA Environmental Consultants. in association with Brian Churchill Chillborne Environmental Services Harris Wheeler AAEA Ltd. Issues. Regulatory/Policy Environmental Technical

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Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Heliportable Drilling Feasibility Study

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  1. Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Heliportable Drilling Feasibility Study Randal Glaholt and Lois Pittaway TERA Environmental Consultants in association with Brian Churchill Chillborne Environmental Services Harris Wheeler AAEA Ltd.

  2. Issues • Regulatory/Policy • Environmental • Technical • Economic

  3. History of Heliportable Drilling • > 20 years heliportable drilling • Approximately 200 heliportable wells • South America, Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Wyoming, Mackenzie Delta

  4. Projects Industry rejection = cost and safety Government rejection = uncertainty around environmental risk associated with blow-outs and safety Previous Heliportable Evaluations in BC • Amoco Canada Petroleum Company Ltd. (Beattie Peaks, 1991) • Talisman Energy (PCP Falls, 1994) • Imperial Oil Limited (Belcourt Creek, 1995) • Murphy Oil Company Ltd. (Sikanni, 1996) • Husky Oil Operations Ltd. (Sikanni, 1996) • Murphy Oil Company Ltd. (Chicken Creek, 1999) • Ricks Nova Scotia Co. (Ladyfern, 2000) • Marathon Canada Ltd. (Koller Creek, 2001)

  5. Regulatory and Policy Review • Petroleum and Natural Gas Act • Worker’s Compensation Act • Oil and Gas Commission Act • MK Management Area Act • BC Maximum Disturbance Review Criteria • No explicit exclusion of heliportable drilling • Promote responsible development, safety, environmental protection and socio-economic benefit

  6. ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION

  7. Impact of Roads • long duration (2+years) • erosion, sedimentation • habitat removal, fragmentation • access for hunting and fishing, wildlife • wildlife displacement • animal-vehicle collisions • landscape aesthetics • weed dispersal

  8. Impact of Helicopters • short duration (e.g., months) • wildlife displacement • noise pollution • reduced large spill response • reduced potential for vehicle spills

  9. TECHNICAL EVALUATION

  10. Key Technical Issues

  11. Drilling Rig Availability and Capability • Drilling rigs with 3,400 m depth capability available in North America • Drilling rigs with 5,400 m common internationally • Heliportable service equipment is available

  12. Helicopter Availability and Capability • Drilling Rig Mobilization • heavy lift helicopters (e.g., Chinook 234, Sikorsky S-64)(10,000 kg capacity) • readily available • Routine Service • medium lift helicopters (e.g., Bell 212, A-star) • readily available

  13. Blow-outAvoidance and Control • Low probability (e.g., 0.3:1,000 wells or 1:3,333 wells) • Proper planning • Experienced and supervised crews • Stockpiling supplies and BOP equipment • Rig ignition in minutes • Relief well typically not required

  14. Safety • Many remote industrial operations without 24 hour access • Require standard OHS risk assessment, OHS Schedule 1 compliance • Road access not the first means of emergency response • Require well trained, experienced and supervised crew

  15. ECONOMIC EVALUATION

  16. Key Cost Considerations

  17. Major Direct Heliportable Cost Factors • Size of rig • Duration of drill • Contingency stockpiling and backhauling • Stand-by charges (relief rig, heavy equipment)

  18. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

  19. Key Findings • Significant environmental benefits in many cases • Heliportable rigs and support service equipment are available • Worker safety and sour gas well control concerns can be managed • Heliportable drilling will tend to be more expensive where short and/or simple access is required

  20. Critical Site Factors • Environmental Sensitivity • Availability of Low Impact Alternatives • Helicopter Site Risk • Blow-out Risk and Sour Gas

  21. Decision Making Options • Assess tradeoffs and alternatives • Assess and numerically score critical factors • Require heliportable by location • Require heliportable by circumstance • Company vs. government decision

  22. Recommendations • Include heliportable drilling as an MK management tool • Develop a Policy and Best Practices • Suitability mapping • Implement a Pilot Study • Consider financial incentives • Investigate feasibility of heliportable production and operations

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