Did Petrolia intend to frac all along? After publicly promising for years it would not, Petrolia now says it’s planning to “artificially stimulate” Haldimand oil wells in Gaspé. “Town council cannot accept fracking near homes, near water wells,” Mayor Daniel Côté said.

Gaspé citizens concerned fracking could be on the table for Petrolia’s Haldimand oil project, Petrolia says it may have to ‘artificially stimulate’ reservoir follow tests by Glenn Wanamaker, September 16, 2016, with files from Quebec AM, CBC News

The energy firm Petrolia appears to be at a crossroads with its Haldimand oil project, located next to a residential area in Gaspé, after tests confirmed the existence of what it calls a “functional” oil reservoir at the site.

Those same tests also indicated the rock isn’t as permeable or porous as hoped. [Or publicly pretended?]

That means that in order to improve production, Petrolia says it might have to “artificially stimulate” the reservoir, leaving the door open to the possibility of fracking.

The latest production tests produced close to 1,200 barrels of “high quality” oil without artificial aid.

But in a statement, Petrolia said it and its partner, Québénergie” are working on a stimulation program that would allow for optimal production of the Haldimand reservoir.”

Fracking one possibility pneumatic

There are many ways to artificially stimulate oil production such as using heat, chemical and mechanical means as well as hydraulic fracturing — also known as fracking.

Since Petrolia drilled its first test well on the site in 2004, and a second in 2009, it has said it would not need to frack.

[What Petrolia Tells Impacted Communities vs Investors Reality Check:

2010 – A New Light Oil Unconventional Play (Eastern Québec, Canada)

… Pétrolia has drilled 5 wells in the Gaspé Block

 The last 3 wells encountered light crude oil.

Fracking of the Haldimand No 2 well and Horizontal drilling of a third well on the Haldimand structure is planned

 If successful the Company would look to future drilling with the goal of proving up a significant oil development project.

2012 09 30: TECHNICAL REVIEW OF CERTAIN P&NG HOLDINGS OF PETROLIA INC. IN QUEBEC AND NEW BRUNSWICK

… In early 2010, additional completion work was performed on both Haldimand N°1 and N°2 wells. In the Petrolia Haldimand N°1 well, additional tests were conducted on two deep zones which had been identified as water bearing in 2006 but where the possibility of deep invasion by drilling fluid had to be investigated. In final analysis, these zones proved to be water bearing, but with traces of the same oil as found higher in the well. Additional zones were perforated within the top gross producing interval of 952,0 to 1081,5 m KB and initial pressure transient analysis indicates that the additional perforated intervals present similar characteristics than those of the 22 m of formation already perforated in 2006.

The well has been on an extensive production test until June 2011.
In the Petrolia Haldimand N°2 well, two zones totaling 93 m were perforated and acid washed. The well is currently shut-in and awaits the results of subsequent appraisal work on the accumulation.

… On December 8, 2010, an agreement was signed with Québénergie, a subsidiary of Investcan Energy, by which Québénergie acquired 50% of Pétrolia’s interest in 13 permits of the Gaspé property, including the Haldimand 9km2 area.
Following this agreement, an ambitious geological study program was initiated, with a view to appraise and eventually develop the Haldimand discovery.
This program included:

 Laboratory studies of samples (plugs) from the core recovered in the Haldimand N°2 well in 2009, aiming at establishing mechanical rock properties and determining the best fluid for stimulation by hydraulic fracturing, and the best fluid for drilling future wells.

 A Magnetotelluric survey covering the 9 km2 block and beyond, aimed at confirming the structural picture, especially in those areas of the accumulation where seismic data is either lacking or difficult to interpret. The survey will also provide vital information about orientation and intensity of natural fracturing.

… These studies have allowed the identification of a third well location on the structure aimed at proving the maximum production potential of a typical horizontal well drilled in such a way as to optimize the intersection of natural open fractures.

A drilling program has been developed for this well, in cooperation with service companies. A drilling permit for a first location, called Haldimand N°3 has been obtained from the Ministry of natural resources and wildlife. After further study of the accumulation, a second and better location, called Haldimand N°4, has been picked and a permit obtained from the Ministry of natural resources and wildlife. The well will be drilled as part of a 2012-2013 drilling campaign, after the drilling of the two Bourque wells.

A work over program has also been defined with a view to repair the cement in well Haldimand N°1, and carry out a DFIT in both Haldimand N°1 and Tar Point N°1 wells. A permit for this operation has been received from the Ministry of natural resources and wildlife on 19 September, 2011. The operation has started on October 24 and was successfully completed on November 27. As a result, integrity of well Haldimand N°1 is now confirmed, and a possible stimulation programme has been outlined. Further work depends on results of the third well, Haldimand N°4..

[End What Petrolia Tells Impacted Communities vs Investors Reality Check]

Quebec’s Environment Minister David Heurtel told CBC News if Petrolia decides it wants to go that route this time, the company would have to go through a new approval process.

“Right now, I haven’t seen any request from Petrolia to do any fracking. But if there would be, that would mean a whole new series of authorizations and also public consultation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gaspé town council has asked again for a full environmental evaluation of the project, which is located within city limits.

“Town council cannot accept fracking near homes, near water wells,” Mayor Daniel Côté said in an interview on CBC’s Quebec AM.

Côté said he’s asked the government to mandate the Quebec environmental review board, known as the BAPE, to hold specific hearings on the Haldimand project.

“It’s been 16 months since we first asked the minister for this. We’re asking again. We need the BAPE right now,” he said.

Heurtel rebuffed the idea, saying the process of authorization does not require a BAPE review.

Citizens group worried

That’s not good enough for the citizens’ group, Ensemble pour l’avenir durable du Grand Gaspé, which represents residents who live within several hundred metres of the Haldimand site and who draw their water from underground wells.

“It wouldn’t be the first time there have been consultations,” said Lise Chartrand, the organization’s president. “And we’ve always participated. But this project simply has no place so close to homes. We’re against fracking, but we’re also against chemical stimulation.”

Petrolia has not responded to repeated requests for an interview from CBC.

The company’s statement notes the stimulation program will be presented to the Gaspé citizens’ committee as well as representatives from the municipality. [Emphasis added]

[Refer also to:

2016 06 17: “A New Step Forward!” Quebec introduces draconian oil & gas bill to give companies more rights than property owners, Days later authorizes Petrolia Inc to frack Anticosti: “This resounding success on the regulatory front is essentially due to the work of Petrolia, accompanied by the experts at SNC-Lavalin….”

2015 06 04: The Most Over-the-Top-Biased Frac Panel Yet? QUÉBEC Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources sold itself to the Devil. Check out this list! Check it twice!

2015 04 21: Thermogenic methane contaminating Gaspé drinking water near Petrolia’s methane leaking oil well; Citizens ask municipal representatives to take back Petrolia’s Permits

2015 03 01: Borrowed Dreams? Promises of regulations led Gaspé to drop lawsuit with Petrolia. Junex dares to dream of oil in Québec; penny stock soared 209% recently, lifted shares of peers Petrolia and Petrolympcs while $200 Billion debt looms over USA oil and gas

2014 12 16: Quebec’s Premier Declares Province-wide Shale Gas Ban after Environmental Review Board (BAPE) says Fracking Not Worth The Risk, “Too many negative consequences to the environment and society…risks to air and water quality…noise and light pollution”

2014 08 01: Governments across Canada failing to protect drinking water; Government betrays Ristigouche and 70 other Quebec municipalities that put bylaws into place to protect drinking water; Gastem attacks Ristigouche with $1.5 Million Lawsuit

2014 03 28: Methane contamination found in Gaspé water wells near Petrolia’s methane leaking oil well; Is the Quebec government deflecting the explosive risk to protect the oil and gas industry?

2014 03 07: Unanimous Decision! Municipal Council of the City of Gaspé appeals the court decision not allowing regulation to protect drinking water from the harm caused by hydraulic fracturing

2014 03 04: Government finds methane in drinking water wells in Gaspé, water wells are within 2 km of Pétrolia’s oil wells, one of them reported in 2012 to be leaking methane

2014 03 01: CUPE calls for full drinking water protection in the Gaspésie Peninsula

2014 02 14: Quebec oil and drinking water: Gaspé is getting impatient

2014 02 13: Gaspé wants Quebec government to intervene; The Quebec Superior Court agrees with Petrolia, says Gaspé municipality can’t protect its drinking water supplies from the oil and gas industry

2014 01 11: Gaspé, Quebec passes water law to stop oil drilling near its wells and homes

2013 05 19: Protection of water and drilling: the regulation would not apply for Gaspé

2013 04 25: Petrolia asks Quebec Superior Court to rule on Gaspé drilling ban put in place to protect groundwater, Do decisions of municipal councils outweigh drilling rights?

2013 01 30: Projects like Haldimand 4 will probably be banned, Gaspé obligerait Québec à trancher ]

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