A Net Present Value Model of Natural Gas Exploitation in Northern Alberta: An Analysis of Land Values in Woodland Caribou Ranges

Abstract

This report was prepared for the purpose of providing background documentation of inputs to be used in mathematical programming models and papers, which are being prepared for our research project: Ecological and economic tradeoff analysis of conservation strategies for woodland caribou. The report presents a simple net present value model of resource and land value for natural gas in northern Alberta. The variables in the model include costs (drilling, seismic, operating and capital); geological variables (stratigraphic intervals, booked reserves, future reserves); drilling variables (well densities, drilling success rates, and drilling depths); production data and prices. Each variable is described in detail and methods of derivation are provided. A map of net present values for natural gas at a spatial resolution of 250ha sections is provided and overlaid on top of caribou ranges to provide a spatial representation of where the most valuable reserves are in relation to caribou ranges.