Coalbed methane drilling northwest of the airport could open up a whole new industry in Campbell River.

"If the coalbed methane is there in the volumes we believe it is, it will be good for everyone," said Quinsam Coal president David Slater.

 "Obviously we wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't positive. It's something that we're very excited about. We've been working on it for a very long time and we're very confident it's going to be a wonderful investment for us and for our partners."

The coal mine is involved in a project with its partner PCV Texas Canadian Ventures, who would be extracting the gas in co-operation with the owner of the undersurface rights, Quinsam Coal.

Councillors are excited about the possibilities coalbed methane holds for the local economy, from jobs to a budding oil and gas industry based in town, and is prepared to support the project, pending a formal vote.

"Within limitations, the city would be prepared to back them in their exploration process," said Coun. Roy Grant, who holds the economic development portfolio.

Grant said the benefit to the surrounding area could be big, from a growing industry to new jobs.

"It just means more employment in our community," he said.

However, he said, the city will have to carefully consider the implications of exploration for coalbed methane before it formally approves anything.

"There are certain environmental guidelines that have to be met and certain things the city would want to see before they were able to just jump in there and drill," he said. "We want to make sure it's safe for the environment."

Slater said the project has been in the works for several years but has always hit roadblocks when it comes to questions of ownership of undersurface rights.

"We're a long way along the road in planning for it, we have been probably for three years or so, but the whole question of ownership has always been the troublesome one. You don't want to spend a whole bunch of money if you end up not owning it," he said.

Slater is happy to see new legislation that will clarify ownership rights currently going through the provincial government's approval process.

"That will clarify all of those issues, and I'm thinking we'll be ready to drill probably by early summer," he said.

Slater stressed the five wells that will be drilled northwest of the airport are just exploratory.

"These are just test wells, we don't know if there's anything there," he said. "All of the conditions are ripe for there to be coalbed methane but until we put the first hole down it's a crap shoot."

Slater said the area considered for test wells fits a geological profile prime for producing coalbed methane, which has similar applications as natural gas.

"All of the geology would tend to indicate there is a substantial amount of coalbed methane on Vancouver Island generally and in the Campbell River area," he said.

The area contains a coal seam between 900-1400 feet, which could contain coalbed methane at the perfect pressure for easy extraction. Slater said the wells would have a minimal environmental impact.

"The drill holes are very unobtrusive," he said. "We're not talking about in Alberta with these huge massive structures above ground - we're talking about structures at most three to four feet high. By the time the scrub takes over again you'll never see them."

One concern Slater said has been raised about coalbed methane exploration is that compression stations can be noisy, but he drew a comparison to the large station bringing gas to Vancouver Island. Slater said he's looked all over the area where the pipeline is supposed to meet the Island from the mainland but can't find it by sound.

"I still don't know where that compression system is - it can't be that loud that I wouldn't even know where it is," he said.

Slater said there are plans for more exploration if all goes well and said there could be a great opportunity for an on-Island fuel source to meet the growing need for electricity generated on Vancouver Island.

Slater was pleased at how smoothly negotiations have been going with the city.

"It's provided an incredible amount of clarity to the whole situation," he said. "I just find it to be much more businesslike in dealing with the district."

– with files from Bruce MacInnis, Comox Valley Record

© Copyright 2003 Campbell River Mirror