Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 13/00) - The largest holder of exploration permits in the Canadian Arctic is making long-term plans to invest in the Delta communities.

More than 30 people attended a community meeting at Ingamo Hall last week to hear details of a proposed seismic program worth up to $15 million.

Fact File Based in Calgary Currently fifth largest gas producer in Canada The company has about 960 employees. Seismic program: 2D and 3D exploration (150 lines) to take place on 1,690 kilometres of line within 260 square kilometres of land Northern boundary is located 1.5 kilometres south of Paaraluk Bay, and southern boundary is about 14 kilometres south of Peninsula Point Trail construction to be based primarily on lakes and river channels to minimize environmental impact Commitment on one block of land to complete seismic program within three years, drill at least two wells within next 10 Commitment on second block to complete seismic program within four years, drill at least one well within six.

Pending approval, Anderson Exploration Ltd. intends to have Schlumberger Oilfield Services conduct a 2D and 3D seismic program on two tracts of land near Tuktoyaktuk. Anderson picked up a large block at a land sale by the Inuvialuit in April, and Petro-Canada picked up a smaller parcel adjoining it.

Anderson will operate both blocks. Alex Bolton, head of the company's health and safety program, told those present that in the past year his company has been "fairly aggressive" at buying exploration acreage areas to explore.

"We're now the largest holder of exploration acreage in the Canadian Arctic," Bolton said. "We expect to be here for a number of years."

Bolton said that in order to conduct the program, Anderson will need to sign a benefits agreement with the Inuvialuit, as the lands lie within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. He said such an agreement ties in with the company's desire not to repeat mistakes made by oil companies in the North in the past.

"We recognize that things are different in the North than they are south of 60, and to be successful in today's North requires partnership between industry and Northern communities," Bolton said.

He said Anderson Resources will attempt to maximize local benefits, and, whenever possible, will give "first preference to qualified Inuvialuit people and businesses on a competitive basis."

As well, he said, "there will be training provided in the various communities for those who want to work on the programs. As we get into the other stages (like) drilling, there will be similar types of training provided."

If approved, the seismic program could begin as early as December and would run to April or May. More than 30 people will be employed and will be based at the former Canmar base camp in Tuk.

Seismic programs

"What a seismic program does is give you a picture of what the Earth looks like underneath, so you can see or try to see where you think there may be oil and gas beneath the surface," Bolton said.

"How we do that is create some kind of a shock wave on the surface, but a small one, where we vibrate the Earth. Those vibrations kind of go into the Earth and bounce off different layers and come back to the surface."

Bolton said there's two ways to start those vibrations, one of them being a vibrator on the surface.

"The other way of doing it is to drill a hole 15-20 metres in depth, put a small charge of dynamite in the bottom, fill the hole back up with dirt, and then detonate," he said. "Because there's a lot of lakes in the Tuk area, it's very difficult to get good pictures here (with a vibrator)."

Casing used

Bolton said an advantage with dynamite is that it can be detonated beneath lakes. He explained that sediment will not be churned up by this drilling. Instead, casing will be lowered through a hole drilled in ice to the bottom of the lake, and a drill will be placed inside the casing. Or else a Vibra-ram, which pushes sediments out of the way, will be used.

Bolton said that after dynamite is placed, the hole will be given time to fill in before the charge is detonated. He said local residents will be consulted on the company's plans.