A recent report by the Yukon Geological Survey shows potential for natural gas in the Whitehorse Trough.
Brad Hayes, president of Petrel Robertson Consulting, a Calgary-based oil and gas consulting firm, prepared the report.
It found the potential for approximately 3 trillion cubic feet of gas and 107 million barrels of oil in the Whitehorse Trough. The oil and gas is spread over the trough’s 3.72 million hectares.
If taken together, the amount would be comparable to some findings in Alberta or British Columbia, Hayes said. By comparison, the Hibernia offshore oil deposit in Newfoundland has 1.2 billion barrels of oil, he said.
Exploration outfits with an appetite for risk may find the Whitehorse Trough worth exploring, said Hayes. His report identifies which areas are best to explore.
The Whitehorse Trough remains poorly studied. The most recent information came from a 2001 study by the National Energy Board. No new data was produced for the latest study.
The trough was divided into nine distinct plays, or areas with common geological characteristics.
All nine plays have potential for gas. Three plays also have potential for oil. The Tanglefoot area north of Whitehorse was seen to have the biggest potential for natural gas.