Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 16/01) - Conoco Canada, formerly Gulf, is planning to conduct a 3D seismic exploration program in the Delta.

The program will involve about 586 square kilometres of land surrounding Parsons Lake, on Crown and private Inuvialuit 7(1)(b) lands within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

The program is to begin late this year and finish by April 2002.

Western Geco has been contracted to do the seismic work. One 60-person sleigh camp will be used. A 225-person weatherhaven camp will be set up on the west side of Parsons Lake.

Conoco representatives attended a community consultation meeting in Tuktoyaktuk recently on the proposed program. A few days later, representative Ray Prudholme explained the program is being done in conjunction with 3D seismic work being conducted by Petro-Canada.

Prudholme explained that in Conoco's case, the program is really to help define natural gas reserves located by Gulf back in the 1970s. He said the aim is to pinpoint the best location to drill wells.

Makes donation

While in Inuvik, Brian Plesuk, team leader, community and aboriginal relations, made a $15,000 donation on behalf of Conoco to Aurora College, to help pay for the oil rig floorhand and service rig training programs it conducted earlier this year.

"We've got to pony up," Plesuk said of oil and gas firms.

He said the programs were beneficial to those who enroled, and the industry as a whole.

"We're thrilled to support it, 'cause that's what we need," Plesuk said. "There's a responsibility for us after the fact to come forward and say, okay, we were short, what can we do?"

Campus director Miki O'Kane said final costs aren't in yet, but that the college did overspend on the programs.

"We have learned from this experience. We're better prepared for other programs that would come up," O'Kane said. "It's a good investment."