Junex has two complementary projects on the Bécancour/Champlain property, such as the natural brine production as well as the development of an underground storage for natural gas. The many production tests performed these last years on several natural brine wells in addition to the exploration drillings which have met natural gas and permeable zones have incited Junex to believe that the structures located on the Bécancour/Champlain properties could be favourable to the development of underground storage for natural gas.
A technical prefeasibility study was therefore carried out by the French firm Géostock, an international engineering group specialised notably in the conception, realisation and exploitation of all types of underground storages for liquid, liquified or gasified hydrocarbons.
The Géostock report on the storage of Bécancour was received during summer of 2003 and was favourably concluding on three major characteristics vital to the development of the underground storage of natural gas, which are:

• the probable existence of closed structures in the Ordovician Sandstones of the St. Lawrence (base of the Trenton);
• the existence of an efficient containment;
• the existence of reservoir units with good petrophysical characteristics.

On the other hand, the report also concludes that because of extreme artesian condition encountered in the different structures, «the feasibility of a conversion project would be greatly facilitated by the presence of a significant gas cap which would permit the beginning of gas flow and therefore a progressive development of the gas bubble from an existing stock (…). Regardless of this advantage, the gas in place would limit the investment of the gas cap» indicated the report.

Following receipt of the Géostock» report, Junex had completed, since 2003, six new drillings in the area. All those drillings had two objectives: increasing the natural brine production capacity as well as demonstrating the presence of a gas cap linked to the aquifer. Some of these wells have intersected reservoir zones showing excellent permeability but none has yet to meet a gas cap. Junex has now acquired a very advanced geological knowledge of the area which will help in pursuing its effort in developing its underground storage for natural gas project. There is at least one new drilling to be completed in Champlain in 2007 and a seismic campaign could also be carried out in the area.