Abstract: A coal/CBM database was implemented by the Alberta Geological Survey to capture and manage information related to coalbed methane (CBM). The database is a compilation of data from many different sources and contains information on 7923 wells (15,200 formation picks; 37,357 coal picks; 495 coal analyses; and 363 vitrinite reflectance measurements).
Metadata:
File identifier:
DIG_2003_0001.xml
Language:
eng; CAN
Character set:
Character set code:
utf8
Hierarchy level:
Scope code:
dataset
Metadata author:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Geological Survey
Position name:
AGS Information Manager
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
(780) 638-4491
Facsimile:
(780) 422-1918
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
Alberta Energy Regulator
Delivery point:
4th Floor, Twin Atria Building
Delivery point:
4999-98 Avenue NW
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T6B 2X3
Country:
Canada
Electronic mail address:
AGS-Info@aer.ca
Hours of service:
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Role:
Role code:
pointOfContact
Date stamp:
2003-09-19
Metadata standard name:
North American Profile of ISO 19115:2003 - Geographic information - Metadata (NAP-Metadata)
Metadata standard version:
ISO 19115-1.1
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Vector spatial representation:
Geometric objects:
Geometric objects:
Geometric object type:
Geometric object type code:
point
Geometric object count:
7923
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Grid spatial representation:
Number of dimensions:
2
Axis Dimension Properties:
Dimension:
Dimension name:
Dimension name type code:
column
Dimension size:
unknown
Resolution:
uom: decimalDegrees
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Axis Dimension Properties:
Dimension:
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Dimension name type code:
row
Dimension size:
unknown
Resolution:
uom: decimalDegrees
0.00001
Cell geometry:
Cell geometry code:
Transformation parameter availability:
false
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Reference system:
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Reference system:
Reference system identifier:
RS Identifier:
Code:
EPSG:4269
Code Space:
http://www.epsg-registry.org/
Version:
8.4.1
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xlink: https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/docucomp/32c8e7d0-95ed-11e0-aa80-0800200c9a66 title: North American Datum 1927
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xlink: https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/docucomp/a75c0b90-95ed-11e0-aa80-0800200c9a66 title: Clarke 1866
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Data identification:
Citation:
Citation:
Title:
CBM - Coal Database for the Alberta Plains Area
Date:
Date:
Date:
2003-01-01
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Identifier:
Identifier:
Code:
DIG 0001
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Energy and Utilities Board
Role:
Role code:
originator
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Geological Survey
Role:
Role code:
originator
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Wynne, D.A.
Role:
Role code:
originator
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Beaton, A.P.
Role:
Role code:
originator
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Geological Survey
Contact info:
Contact:
Address:
Address:
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta, Canada
Role:
Role code:
publisher
Presentation form:
Presentation form code:
documentDigital
Series:
Series:
Name:
Digital Data
Issue identification:
DIG 2003-0001
Abstract:
A coal/CBM database was implemented by the Alberta Geological Survey to capture and manage information related
to coalbed methane (CBM). The database is a compilation of data from many different sources and contains
information on 7923 wells (15,200 formation picks; 37,357 coal picks; 495 coal analyses; and 363 vitrinite
reflectance measurements).
Purpose:
The database was designed to facilitate the evaluation of the coalbed methane potential in the plains area of
Alberta and to provide a public dataset to government and industry for any further coal/CBM relates studies.
Status:
Progress code:
completed
Point of contact:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Geological Survey
Position name:
AGS Information Manager
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
(780) 638-4491
Facsimile:
(780) 422-1918
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
Alberta Energy Regulator
Delivery point:
4th Floor, Twin Atria Building
Delivery point:
4999-98 Avenue NW
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T6B 2X3
Country:
Canada
Electronic mail address:
AGS-Info@aer.ca
Hours of service:
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Role:
Role code:
pointOfContact
Resource maintenance:
Maintenance information:
Maintenance and update frequency:
Maintenance frequency code:
irregular
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords:
Keyword:
cbm
Keyword:
coal
Keyword:
coalbed methane
Type:
Keyword type code:
theme
Thesaurus name:
Citation:
Title:
none
Date:
unknown
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords:
Keyword:
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Keyword:
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Keyword:
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Keyword:
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Keyword:
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Keyword:
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Keyword:
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Keyword:
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Keyword:
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Keyword:
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Keyword:
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Keyword:
alberta
Keyword:
alberta plains
Keyword:
canada
Type:
Keyword type code:
place
Thesaurus name:
Citation:
Title:
Date:
unknown
Resource constraints:
Legal constraints:
Access constraints:
Restriction code:
otherRestrictions
Use constraints:
Restriction code:
otherRestrictions
Other constraints:
Access Constraints: Public Use Constraints: Acknowledgement of the Alberta Energy Regulator/Alberta
Geological Survey as the originator/source of this information is required as described in the Open
Government License - Alberta. Distribution Liability: The Alberta Energy Regulator/Alberta Geological
Survey (AER/AGS) licenses this information under the Open Government License - Alberta. Any references
to proprietary software in our documentation, and/or any use of proprietary data formats in our
releases, do not constitute endorsement by the AER/AGS of any manufacturer's product.
Spatial representation type:
Spatial representation type code:
vector
Language:
eng; CAN
Topic category:
Topic category code:
geoscientificInformation
Extent:
Extent:
Geographic element:
Geographic bounding box:
West bound longitude:
-120
East bound longitude:
-110
South bound latitude:
49
North bound latitude:
57.2
Temporal element:
Temporal extent:
Extent:
Time instant:
Description:
publication date
Time position:
2002-10-01
Supplemental Information:
In English.
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Feature catalogue description:
Included with dataset:
false
Feature catalogue citation:
Citation:
Title:
Entity and Attribute Information
Date:
Other citation details:
Detailed Entity and Attribute information is provided with the dataset, formatted as Federal Geographic
Data Committee (FGDC) Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata.
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Distribution:
Distribution format:
Format:
Name:
MDB, XLS, TXT
Version:
MDB - Microsoft Access 2000 (9.0.3821 SR-1); XLS - Microsoft Excel 2000 (9.0.3821 SR-1); ASCII text file
Distributor:
Distributor:
Distributor contact:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Geological Survey
Position name:
AGS Information Manager
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
(780) 638-4491
Facsimile:
(780) 422-1918
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
Alberta Energy Regulator
Delivery point:
4th Floor, Twin Atria Building
Delivery point:
4999-98 Avenue NW
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T6B 2X3
Country:
Canada
Electronic mail address:
AGS-Info@aer.ca
Hours of service:
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Role:
Role code:
distributor
Distribution Order Process:
Standard order process:
Fees:
C$20
Transfer options:
Digital transfer options:
Online:
Online Resource:
Linkage:
URL:
https://static.ags.aer.ca/files/document/DIG/DIG_2003_0001.zip
Name:
Non-GIS Data
Transfer options:
Digital transfer options:
Offline:
Medium:
Name:
Medium name code:
cdRom
Medium format:
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Data quality:
Scope:
Scope:
Hierarchy level:
Scope code:
dataset
Report:
Completeness commission:
Result:
unknown
Report:
Completeness omission:
Evaluation method description:
Only wells that were part of the compilation were considered. Many other wells throughout the province
contain information related to coal and CBM potential. Some of the studies in the compilation only
examined coals from particular zones. Wells used for these studies may contain information for other
coal zones which is not part of this database. Wells in the foothills area of Alberta are not included
in this compilation.
Result:
unknown
Report:
Conceptual consistency:
Measure description:
As with any compilation, significant effort was made to identify duplicates or inconsistent data. All
identified duplicates or inconsistent data were eliminated or corrected. Stratigraphic picks from the
various studies were mapped extensively. All anomalies were identified, checked individually and
corrected. Stratigraphic picks that were impossible to check were eliminated from the dataset.<p>The
coal quality data and vitrinite reflectance measurements were not checked in any way</p><p>Since the
data was released, some inconsistencies have been found. It would appear that in some wells coal seams
may not be correctly classified by coal zone. It is not clear if the problem is with the classification
of the coal seams or with the identification of stratigraphic units for these wells.</p>
Result:
unknown
Lineage:
Lineage:
Statement:
Only wells that were part of the compilation were considered. Many other wells throughout the province
contain information related to coal and CBM potential. Some of the studies in the compilation only
examined coals from particular zones. Wells used for these studies may contain information for other
coal zones which is not part of this database. Wells in the foothills area of Alberta are not included
in this compilation.
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Preliminary Investigation <p>A database to capture and manage information related to coalbed methane
(CBM) potential and CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration was designed and implemented. The CBM Database was
constructed based on collections of previous digital data from coal and CBM related
studies.</p><p>Prior to 1989, the Alberta Geological Survey conducted an extensive program to study
and map the coals in both the foothills and plains areas of Alberta. From 1989 to 1991, a regional
evaluation of coal resources related to the CBM potential in the foothills and plains areas of
Alberta was undertaken. These studies were carried out while the Alberta Geological Survey was a
part of the Alberta Research Council.</p><p>During 1998 and 1999 the Alberta Geological Survey, in
collaboration with the Geological Survey of Canada, studied the Ardley coal zone in Alberta for CBM
potential and CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration. Since then, the Alberta Geological Survey has carried
out detailed, local-scale studies related to CBM potential and CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration in both
the Buck Lake (Ardley coal zone) and Alix (Drumheller coal zone) areas of Alberta. New digital data
were collected as part of a concurrent regional-scale study to evaluate the CBM potential of the
Upper Cretaceous - Tertiary strata of the Alberta Plains. The data are from wells for eight new
cross-sections which were generated to refine the geology of the coal bearing zones in the plains
area of Alberta, and, also, to act as a framework for the integration of the earlier digital data
into a single database. The CBM database contains information only for the coal zones of the Upper
Cretaceous - Tertiary and Mannville strata.</p><p>The CBM Database includes digital information from
all of the above mentioned sources except for the Buck Lake and Alix studies. Most of the data were
obtained by interpretation of existing information collected during exploration by the oil and gas
industry, mainly from geophysical logs. Some data were obtained from information collected during
exploration by the coal industry. The source of most of the information was the Energy Resources
Conservation Board (ERCB), now the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB). Some information was
obtained directly from coal exploration companies. Data were also obtained from a drilling program
run by the Alberta Geological Survey while still part of the Alberta Research Council.</p><p>The
areas covered by the datasets overlap and, as a result, data from the same well may be present in
more than one dataset. The quality of the data is variable between datasets. A general assumption
was that data from the more recent studies, 1998 to the present, are based on better-defined and
documented protocols. In cases where there was a difference of interpretation between earlier and
more recent data, the more recent data were selected initially for checking.</p><p>In order to build
the Alberta Geological Survey CBM Database it was important to document what was known about the
existing datasets and, if possible, estimate the quality of the data and what protocols were used
during data collection and analysis. The first step in the process was to build a master list of
wells and then cross-reference the wells in the other datasets to the master list.</p>
Date and time:
2001-03-01T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Well Identification - Location and KB Elevation <p>More than 9,000 well locations were examined while
building the database. The earliest datasets contained information from oil and gas wells where the
unique well identifier (UWI) was incomplete. Generally, the location of these wells was known only
to the nearest legal sub-division (LSD). At the scale used for mapping in earlier regional studies,
it was not necessary to distinguish between wells within an LSD. Such wells were plotted at the
centre of the LSD. As a result, the location exception, the part of the UWI used to distinguish
between different wells within an LSD, was missing for some wells. In such cases, the event
sequence, the part of the UWI used to identify different completions of a well, was also missing for
these wells.</p><p>The general approach used to identify wells from earlier studies with incomplete
unique well identifiers was to list all possible candidates and then narrow the choice down based on
other available data. In some cases the final choice was made based on ground elevation, Kelly
Bushing elevation, surface casing depth, date drilled, etc. In other cases it was necessary to
examine stratigraphic and lithologic picks for agreement with geophysical data for the well before a
choice could be made. Oil and gas wells that could not be uniquely identified were eliminated from
the dataset.</p><p>Another issue associated with well identification is the KB elevation. An initial
comparison of the KB elevations reported in the first dataset with those obtained from the EUB, as
recorded on geophysical log headers, or from the International Datashare Corporation (iDc)
identified about 150 wells with discrepancies, some with serious discrepancies (31 wells where the
difference is greater than 30 m). A digital elevation model (DEM) at a scale of 1:20,000 was used to
estimate the ground elevation for these wells; the KB elevation is usually between 3 m and 5 m above
the ground elevation. In most cases, where the discrepancy was greater than 10 m, the DEM was used
to identify the most likely value. In cases where the discrepancy was less than 10 m, the value most
frequently reported as the KB elevation was used.</p>
Date and time:
2001-04-01T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Formation Picks and Markers <p>More than 29,000 stratigraphic picks were examined while building the
CBM database. Most datasets contained information on marker and formation picks that can be
correlated over extensive regions of the study area. Stratigraphic picks from the 1988 dataset were
incorporated without change into the 1991 dataset. Due to different approaches to picking (e.g.
litho-stratigraphy vs. sequences stratigraphy), marker and formation picks for a well may differ
between studies in regions of overlap. Most differences were found when comparing picks from the
more recent studies to the corresponding picks in the older studies.</p><p>At various stages in the
evaluation of the stratigraphic picks it was necessary to distinguish between duplicate data and
different interpretations. Within a dataset, stratigraphic picks were considered as duplicates if
two or more were identical for the same well and horizon. Duplicate picks were eliminated
automatically. Stratigraphic picks were considered as different interpretations if two picks were
different for the same well and horizon. Normally the sources were also different in such cases;
however, there were about twenty cases where the sources were the same and the picks were different.
These were identified automatically and corrected manually.</p><p>To get a better understanding of
some datasets, it was necessary to examine the various subsets of data that were used to assemble
the final dataset. The stratigraphic picks of the different studies and substudies that make up a
dataset were evaluated by using ARC/Info to plot pseudo-structure and isopach maps of the different
horizons/formations.</p><p>These maps consisted of well postings whereby a colour scale was used to
represent the z-value (elevation or thickness). On such maps, overall trends are seen as a gradual
change from one colour to another. Questionable picks were identified as wells where the
representation colour did not match the colour of the surrounding wells. All questionable picks
(about 150) were identified and checked individually. The checking was done by examining the picks
for these wells on geophysical logs and comparing them to picks on logs from nearby wells on
reference cross-sections. Corrections to the picks were entered into the database and the maps were
regenerated. Picks that could not be verified were eliminated from the database.</p><p>For each
horizon, stratigraphic picks from the different datasets were then merged by selecting the pick from
the most recent dataset where choices existed. Care was taken to ensure that the final dataset did
not contain duplicates or different interpretations.</p>
Date and time:
2001-06-01T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Coal Picks <p>More than 39,000 coal picks were examined while building the CBM database. The procedure
for dealing with coal picks was similar to that used for stratigraphic picks. Most coal picks can be
classified as belonging to a particular coal zone. This is the meaning associated with 'correlated'
when applied to coal picks. Summary calculations can be performed by zone such as number of seams,
cumulative coal thickness, zone top and base etc. These calculations can be based on the zone
identifier or on any interval defined by the stratigraphic picks.</p><p>The protocol used for
picking coals in the more recent studies was based on the protocol used by the GSC (Langenberg et
al., 2000a). The protocol used for picking coals in the earlier studies was similar but not
identical and was not well documented. Before the different datasets could be integrated, it was
necessary to document, where possible, the differences in how coals were picked. It was also
necessary to develop a ranking by data source, based on the degree of agreement between the
interpretation in the earlier studies and an interpretation based on the current
protocol.</p><p>This ranking by substudy was used to select coal picks for wells where multiple
interpretations were available. The substudy number was carried into the current database as the
data source. The substudy number can be used as an indication of data quality.</p><p>As the coal
picks from different datasets were merged, duplicated picks were identified and eliminated
automatically. Coal picks were considered duplicate if, for the same well, two or more coal seams
overlap in any way. Duplicate coal picks can arise during data entry or when data sets are merged.</p>
Date and time:
2001-08-01T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Coal Quality and Vitrinite Reflectance Data <p>Coal quality and vitrinite reflectance data were
available only for the datasets collected prior to 1991 and only for a limited number of wells in
each dataset. The coal quality data and vitrinite reflectance measurements were not checked in any
way before they were added to the database.</p>
Date and time:
2001-10-01T00:00:00
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
Mannville Coals <p>Data on Mannvile coals were added to the database after basic verification. The
cumulative thickness of the Mannville coal zones were mapped. Anomalies were identified and checked.
All gross errors were corrected. Coal picks that could not be verified were eliminated from the
database.</p>
Date and time:
2002-08-01T00:00:00
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Maintenance information:
Maintenance and update frequency:
unknown
Maintenance note:
This metadata was automatically generated from the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial
Metadatastandard version FGDC-STD-001-1998 using the January 2013 version of the FGDC CSDGM to ISO 19115-2
transform.
Metadata author:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Geological Survey
Position name:
AGS Information Manager
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
(780) 638-4491
Facsimile:
(780) 422-1918
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
Alberta Energy Regulator
Delivery point:
4th Floor, Twin Atria Building
Delivery point:
4999-98 Avenue NW
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T6B 2X3
Country:
Canada
Electronic mail address:
AGS-Info@aer.ca
Hours of service:
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Role:
Role code:
custodian
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