B.C. opens deep shale gas prospect

Gary Park, Petroleum News Calgary correspondent

EnCana and Burlington Resources Canada Energy, two of Canada’s exploration pacesetters, have made work commitments covering 225,000 acres of deep shale natural gas prospects in northeastern British Columbia.

The British Columbia Ministry of Energy & Mines said the agreement covers a region near Maxhamish Lake south of the British Columbia-Northwest Territories border, about 30 miles south of the Fort Liard gas field.

The deal requires the companies to pay an annual rent of about C$320,000 for the rights. It was reached in response to a call for proposals last September when the province asked for ideas from the industry on finding and developing deep, unconventional and frontier sources of gas.