Alberta Geological Survey has embarked on a project to quantify shale gas resources in the province. We collected 72 core samples and 59 outcrop samples. A series of 10 analyses were run on selective samples including isotherm, Rock Eval 6 (Rock Eval is a registered trademark of Institut Francais du Petrole), TOC, organic petrology, bulk mineralogy, clay mineralogy, permeameter, helium and mercury porosimetry, scanning electron microscope, environmental scanning electron microscope, and thin sections. Gas capacity has been calculated using a base case of 100% desorption and also a case assuming 25% free gas. A few thin sections and electron microscope descriptions are included with the remainder available when descriptions are complete.

To develop assessment units for Banff shale gas, regional stratigraphic cross-sections and maps of the Banff Formation are being generated. Two cross-sections and one map are included with the remainder of the sections and maps being released when the project is completed.

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Rokosh, C.D., Pawlowicz, J.G., Berhane, H., Anderson, S.D.A. and Beaton, A.P. (2008): Geochemical and sedimentological investigation of the Banff and Exshaw formations for shale gas potential: initial results; Energy Resources Conservation Board, ERCB/AGS Open File Report 2008-10, 46 p.