AFX Europe (Focus): Shell Canada announces large natural gas find in Alberta: “Royal Dutch/Shell unit Shell Canada announced the discovery of a large natural gas field in Alberta province, western Canada.” (ShellNews.net) 8 Dec 04

Dec 08, 2004

CALGARY, Canada (AFX) - Royal Dutch/Shell unit Shell Canada announced the discovery of a large natural gas field in Alberta province, western Canada.

The field could contain about 500-800 bln cubic feet of crude gas, composed of 60 pct methane and 35 pct hydrogen sulphur, the company said.

An exploration well of more than 5 km depth has been dug across a producing zone 140 metres in length, Shell said. Shell Canada holds 75 pct of the rights to the well, called Shell Tay River Ricinus, while Canadian group Mancal Energy holds the remaining 25 pct.

The data show that the well could produce gas at a controlled flow of 30 mln cubic feet per day via the tube currently in place which is 3.5 inches in diameter, Shell Canada said.

The well is located close to gas treatment plants, to which it can be connected and it is expected to be in production from mid-2005, Shell said.

Further digging and production data will be necessary to confirm the volume of gas in place and the rates of extraction, the statement said.

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