NW Alberta gas resource play adds momentum

Sept. 25, 2006
EnCana Corp. is building gas production at a resource play in the deep basin of west-central Alberta to which it attributes 2 tcf of unbooked resource potential.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Sept. 25 -- EnCana Corp. is building gas production at a resource play in the deep basin of west-central Alberta to which it attributes 2 tcf of unbooked resource potential.

The company drilled 20 wells in the play in 2004, 51 in 2005, and 38 in the first half of 2006. Gas production averaged 95 MMcfd in the second quarter of 2006 compared with 55 MMcfd in 2005 and 42 MMcfd in 2004.

The company holds 448,000 net acres and is running eight rigs in the play, which produces from a deep basin Cretaceous reservoir. EnCana estimates original gas in place at 20 to 40 bcf/sq mile. It expects to drill two to four wells per square mile with the average well initially producing at the rate of 2 to 5 MMcfd and ultimately recovering 2 to 5 bcf of gas.

Bighorn is one of nine gas resource plays in the company's portfolio.