The Crowsnest Coalfield Deposit of Southeast British Columbia
     -Area: 10-20 km wide and 60 km long
     -Total Area: 148,000 acres (60, 0000 ha)
     -Total Coal Resource 27.7 billion tones of world class metallurgical coal
     -Total Coalbed Methane Resource: 12 Tcf (trillion cubic feet)

July, 04 Tenure Sale
     -Total Area of Tenure Blocks: 49,000 acres
     -Southern Block (almost entirely in the Flathead Drainage): ~ 22,000 acres
     -Northern Block (in Elk Drainage): ~ 27,000 acres

Coalbed Methane Exploration in the Crowsnest Coalfield
     -1990?s: Three companies drilled a total of 8 test holes
     -2003: Chevron Texaco drilled 3 test wells
     -2004-2005: Shell drilled 2 test wells with plans for 2 more in spring 2005 ? cancelled these

The Province has clearly stated their intentions to develop the Crowsnest Coalfield for both coal and coalbed methane.

The Province is claiming ownership to the petroleum and natural gas rights (including coalbed methane rights) in the entire coalfield, with the exception of ~ 5-10,000 acres owned by Shell Canada.
Click on images to enlarge.