NEW REGULATIONS FOR OIL SANDS AND OIL SHALE RESOURCES
http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=1f85d9 ... a006ff2831
News Release - May 7, 2007
New regulations come into effect today that will encourage more exploration of Saskatchewan’s oil sands and oil shale resources.
The new regulations have been developed after consultation with the industry and other jurisdictions, and are an update of regulations approved over 40 years ago. Under The Petroleum and Natural Gas Amendment Regulations 2007 oil sands and oil shale mineral rights will be available under the competitive bid and work commitment bid processes, respectively. Crown oil sands, oil shale rights and work commitment bid processes will be available for purchasers in the August 2007 land sale. The first ever bid process for crown oil sands and shale rights will occur along with the August 2007 land sale.
“We are optimistic about the potential for an oil sands and oil shale industry in the province,” Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. “The regulations approved by the government today are competitive with Alberta, but are tailor-made to fit a Saskatchewan model in terms of land dispositions and what we consider a careful yet moderate approach to development of this resource.”
Previously issued oil sands and oil shale dispositions will continue to be administered under amended provisions to The Oil Shale Regulations, 1964 that have also been updated to today’s technical and economic realities.
Oil sands were identified in the province in the 1970s in an area north of the Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range but there has been limited interest until the last few years. One company has been drilling in the area north of the Clearwater River, and has reported encouraging results from the exploration. Exploration for oil shales in the Hudson Bay area of the province was conducted 40 years ago, and the area has seen renewed exploration by industry to evaluate the extent of the resource.
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For more information, contact:
Bob Ellis
Industry and Resources
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1691
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Temptation was too great….
Published in Wadena News on May 16, 2007
Dear Editor,
Starting in August 2007, (according to a recent Government Press Release New Regulations for Oil Sands and Oil Shale Resources), the Crown oil sands, oil shale rights, and work commitment bid process will be available for purchase, along with more land sales.
According to Minister Cline, after consultation with the industry and other jurisdictions, the new regulations are “…what we consider a careful yet moderate approach to development of this resource.”
Is that how the current environmental nightmare taking place in Fort McMurray started out, ….as a moderate development? Today, thanks to NAFTA and human greed, not only is this so-called ‘development’ out of control, it is Canada’s biggest polluter, and will, under continued pressure from our oil-thirsty neighbour to the south, only get worse. And, while a few people make the money, other people and nature for miles around will continue to be harmed from dirty air, dirty water, with sick and dying lakes and forests, and sick and dying people …
What areas in our own beautiful province will this latest feeding frenzy affect?
We can say goodbye to the clean air, clean water, and clean environment of the as-yet pristine area in the Clearwater River Provincial Park (that’s right - IN the park!) north of La Loche. . .and of the as-yet pristine Hudson Bay area of northeastern Saskatchewan!
The temptation was too great…it was just a matter of time!
Elaine Hughes
Archerwill, SK
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Letter was also published by the Saskatoon Star Phoenix on May 16, 2007 under the title: Saskatchewan set to repeat Alberta's environmental folly.
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PROVINCE DELIVERS FUNDS TO PRIMROSE LAKE COMMUNITIES TRUST FUND
http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=b14c49 ... 20c19598ec
News Release - July 31, 2007
The provincial government today delivered $4.5 million to the Community Development Fund of four northwest communities affected years ago by the creation of the Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range.
The money fulfils the province's commitment to the fund, which will be held in trust for the communities of Beauval, Ile-a-la-Crosse, Cole Bay and Jans Bay. The fund will enable the communities to pursue development opportunities and to capitalize on the North's strong economic potential.
"The province has delivered on its promise to assist the communities and families whose lives were affected by the creation of the weapons range," Northern Affairs Minister Joan Beatty said. "It took years of work with community leaders and our federal colleagues, but now we believe these northwest communities are well-positioned to play a greater role in a Saskatchewan economy that is the most prosperous in recent memory."
The province's money forms part of a larger package worth $19.5 million, which also includes funds from the federal government. The money will be held in a trust managed by a board of directors appointed by the four communities. The communities will be able to draw upon dividends earned by the fund to invest in worthwhile projects that further the local economy.
In addition, some of the provincial money will be used to make direct one-time payments of up to $10,000 to the few remaining Métis elders negatively affected by the range, or to their surviving families.
"I am very proud that the province has seen fit to acknowledge the important role of our elders, a longstanding request from the communities," Beatty said. "Community representatives have agreed on a list of approximately 185 eligible elders and families."
"This is directed, in part, to the elders," Highways and Transportation Minister and Athabasca MLA Buckley Belanger said. "We need to show respect for the leadership and perseverance they have demonstrated through the years."
"We're very happy that the Province has recognized the historical position of our elders and the current needs of our families," Beauval Mayor Alex Maurice said on behalf of the four communities. "We look forward to using the funds from our senior governments to better the lives of our people today, and for future generations."
The Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range was formed after the Province agreed in 1953 to give the federal government a lease in perpetuity to use the land for military purposes. However, several Métis families have long said that the creation of the range hindered their pursuit of traditional activities such as hunting and fishing.
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For more information, contact:
Scott Boyes
Northern Affairs
La Ronge
Phone: 306-425-6669
Email:
sboyes@sna.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-425-8869
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Petrobank also has oilsands plans
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/ ... d1a60b94e7
Bruce Johnstone, The Leader-Post November 07, 2007
Move over, Oilsands Quest. Another Calgary-based oil and gas company has plans to develop oilsands in Saskatchewan, too.
Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. purchased the rights to explore 23,000 acres of land in the Clearwater River area of northwestern Saskatchewan in the October land sale, smack dab in the middle of Oilsands Quest's 58-square-kilometre exploration area.
"We're the hole in Oilsands Quest's doughnut," said Chris Bloomer, vice-president of heavy oil for Petrobank. Bloomer added that while Petrobank's township-sized land base is a fraction of Oilsands Quest's extensive land position, Petrobank has licences, rather than more restrictive permits.
And he said the geology of Petrobank's exploration area is similar to that of Oilsands Quest. "If you look along the Clearwater River, there's bitumen outcrop ... Geologically, it's prospective (for bitumen).''
More importantly, Petrobank believes it has the technology to recover a large proportion of the bitumen in place.
Oilsands Quest recently announced that it has an independent report estimating reserves ranging from 1.1 billion to 1.5 billion barrels of original bitumen in place.
"You can have all the resources you want, but how do you get it out?" Bloomer said.
"Even using SAGD (steam-assisted gravity drainage), with these type of resources, it may not be all that feasible. So you need alternative technology.''
That's where Petrobank's THAI (toe-to-heel air injection) technology comes into play.
Developed by the University of Bath in the United Kingdom and licensed by Petrobank subsidiary Archon Technologies, THAI is an "in-situ combustion process'' that injects air into the oil-bearing formation, Bloomer said.
"We actually gasify a portion of the oil in place -- the bad part of it, the asphaltenes -- to create very, very high temperature that mobilizes a lot of oil, which drains into the horizontal well and is brought to surface,'' Bloomer said.
Petrobank has been testing its THAI technology at its Whitesands oilsands project in northern Alberta.
"We've been in operation for a year and we're getting very good results,'' he said.
"Since it's a low-pressure process, it doesn't involve the burning of natural gas or the use of water and is a very efficient process. We expect to get very high recoveries -- 70 to 80 per cent of the oil in place.''
While used initially in heavy oil projects, THAI can be adapted to recover bitumen from oilsands deposits using vertical injection and horizontal production wells, he added.
Bloomer believes other companies, including Oilsands Quest, should be using THAI technology to recover heavy oil and bitumen in Saskatchewan and elsewhere.
"It's our chip in the game. They (Oilsands Quest) should be interested.''
Meanwhile, Petrobank is busy drilling the 17,000 hectares of land in Saskatchewan it acquired earlier this year. The company paid $59.4 million, or 85 per cent, of the total $70.2 million in bonus bids in the April sale.
This year, Petrobank drilled about 60 wells in southeastern Saskatchewan, primarily in the deeper Bakken formation, and plans to drill another 80 wells next year.
Petrobank is also using new technology to increase production and recovery rates from its Bakken wells.
"We had a unique way of completing wells ... where we were able to get a much better initial production rate, which means a higher recovery rate."
At about $2 million per well, that's a lot of money being invested in Saskatchewan.
"It's good news for Saskatchewan. Because of the policies they've put in place, we've created a whole new business,'' Bloomer said.
Unlike Alberta, which has announced a 20-per-cent increase in royalty rates by 2009, Saskatchewan's new government -- whatever party wins the election -- should leave its royalty regime alone.
"Why mess with a good thing?"
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007
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Related topic:
The Beginning of an Oil Sands Industry in Saskatchewan
Updated August 6, 2007
Oilsands Quest:
http://www.oilsandsquest.com/our_projects/axe_lake.html