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News Release

Airborne Survey Probes Ancient Seabed Near Chatham

January 08, 2009

McGuinty Government Investigates Potential For Oil And Gas Production

NEWS

The province will take to the skies next month to determine the potential for additional oil and gas production in southwestern Ontario.

The Ontario government has commissioned an airborne geophysical survey to collect magnetic data about the rocks buried in this region. The survey will start in January and run for about two months.

The survey may reveal a potential for additional oil and gas production or gas storage in a structural depression -- known as the Chatham Sag -- that was once the site of an ancient tropical sea. It will also help identify buried rock that may be suitable for the storage of carbon dioxide gas, which would aid climate change reduction efforts.

QUOTES

“Airborne geophysical surveys can be a powerful tool for economic stimulus and growth,” said Chatham-Kent-Essex MPP Pat Hoy. “Additional potential for oil and gas production could bring new opportunities to our region.”

“This airborne geophysical survey is a quick, cost-effective way to learn more about this area’s geology and its natural resource economic potential,” said Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle. "It will also contribute to our understanding of the rock's capacity to help Ontario reduce its carbon footprint by safely storing carbon dioxide."

QUICK FACTS

About 100 new oil and gas wells are drilled in southern Ontario each year. On average, 100 depleted wells are plugged every year.
North America’s oil industry began in the mid-1800s with the discovery of oil near the present town of Petrolia, Ontario. Large quantities of salt are also mined in the area.
Geoscience organizations estimate that every dollar invested in a basic geological survey triggers five dollars in exploration spending by the private sector.

LEARN MORE

About oil, gas and salt resources in Ontario.
About Ontario's petroleum industry.
View an online map of the area covered by the Chatham Sag airborne geophysical survey.

Anne-Marie Flanagan, MNDM Minister’s Office, 416-327-0655
Jack Parker, Ontario Geological Survey, 705-670-5976

ontario.ca/mines-news

Backgrounder

Airborne Geophysical Surveys

Airborne geophysical surveys help us better understand the geology of an area by collecting information from the air without disturbing the ground surface below. They are flown at low altitude using either specially modified fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters.

Surveys are flown systematically along parallel flight lines, which are typically between 100 metres and one kilometre apart. The aircraft will fly down one line, turn at the end of the line, and fly back up the next line.

There are several types of airborne geophysical surveys which measure different physical properties of rocks, such as magnetism, gravity and electrical conductivity.

Information is collected by instruments that are either mounted on the aircraft or towed below it. Data is recorded by computers onboard the aircraft. The data will later be processed to create maps and images that are used to interpret the geology of the surveyed area.

Airborne geophysics is a core function of the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) program. It provides basic infrastructure used by the mineral industry to select areas in which to explore. The OGS has completed several successful airborne geophysical surveys, including during the recently completed Far North Mapping initiative.