A Utica shale play is developing in Quebec. Denver-based Forest Oil Corp. unveiled the Utica in a recent analyst meeting. The Utica is 500 feet thick and occurs at between 2,300 and 6,000 feet in Forest’s area, which stretches from Montreal to Quebec City. The play offers several attractive features: excellent rock properties, low acreage costs and proximity to premium gas markets. According to Forest, net resource potential on its 339,000 gross acres totals 4.1 trillion cu. ft. of gas. Average gas in place is 93 billion cu. ft. per section. To date, the company has drilled two vertical wells that tested at rates up to 1 million cu. ft. per day. The gas is 88% to 97% methane, and between 1,027 and 1,136 Btu. This year, the company plans three horizontal wells with 2,000-ft. laterals, and four stimulations per well. The horizontals are budgeted at up to $4 million each. If the concept works, Forest will kick off full-scale development in 2010.