NATIONAL ENERGY BOARD
PROBABILISTIC ESTIMATE OF HYDROCARBON
VOLUMES IN THE MACKENZIE DELTA AND
BEAUFORT SEA DISCOVERIES
Introduction
This study was undertaken by the National Energy Board (Board), for the purpose
of providing a comprehensive estimate of the discovered resources in the Mackenzie
Delta-Beaufort Sea region from 69o N to 71o N. The 53 discoveries (Figure 1); 20 gas, 13
oil and 20 oil and gas were made between 1970 and 1989 and are divided roughly
equally between the Beaufort Sea and the near to onshore Mackenzie Delta. Significant
Discovery status, as defined by the Canadian Petroleum Resources Act, was given to the
field if at least one zone in the discovery well demonstrated sustainable flow. The largest
onshore gas field is Taglu, discovered in 1971, with an estimated marketable gas resource
of 58.6 109m3 (2.07 Tcf). The largest offshore field is Amauligak, discovered in 1984,
with an estimated recoverable oil resource of 37.3 106m3 (235 million bbl). The best
current estimate of the total discovered resource in the basin is; 161 106m3 (1.01 billion
bbl) of recoverable oil and 255 109m3 (9.00 Tcf) of marketable gas.At present, there is no development of the discoveries within the Mackenzie Delta-
Beaufort Sea region. However, in 1997, the Board approved a gas development plan for
the Ikhil gas field which is estimated by the Board to contain, at best current estimate,
735 106m3 (25.9 Bcf) of marketable gas. The field is currently being evaluated by the
operator. In 1989, a gas export application for the export of gas to the United States
through the Central Mackenzie Valley, by applicants, Esso Resources Canada Limited,
Gulf Canada Resources Limited and Shell Canada Limited was approved by the Board
after the Board undertook an estimate of the gas resources within the onshore and
offshore discovered gas fields; Taglu, Tuk, Niglintgak, Kumak, Mallik, Parsons, Ya Ya,
Amauligak, Hansen, Issungnak, Kadluk, Netserk, Itiyok and Arnak in order to ensure
adequate gas supply. In its Reasons for Decision in GH-10-88, the Board generally
agreed with the gas export licence applicants' estimates of gas supply, but noted that
extensive reliance was placed on the applicants' submitted geophysical data and interpretations.
The Board's estimates of gas resources for these fields, in this current study,
are lower than those stated in GH-10-88. These differences are due in large part to the
recently acquired three dimensional seismic surveys over Taglu, Niglintgak and Kumak
Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea Discoveries 1
and also to the more conservative estimate of reservoir parameters, by the Board, following
an in-depth analysis. At this time none of these fields are considered to contain
initial reserves.
This study represents the first, comprehensive, probabilistic resource estimate of
the discovered resources for the Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin. An estimate of the total
discovered resources, was reported by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1988 following
consultations with Canada Oil and Gas Lands Administration. However, since 1988
more seismic data has been acquired and publicly released. These data, along with four
new discoveries - Kingark J-54, Nipterk P-32, South Isserk I-15 and Unipkat N-12 have
been integrated into the current study. All discovered fields are therefore now included
in the overall resource volume.
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