Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Developments in Western Canada in 1976

1977; American Association of Petroleum Geologists; Volume: 61; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1306/c1ea4437-16c9-11d7-8645000102c1865d

1558-9153

John R. Ower,

Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics

Western Canada in 1976 enjoyed a record drilling year, with a total of 5,401 wells being drilled, an increase of 37% over 1975. Exploratory wells, totaling 2,388, represent an increase of 53.3% over 1975 and an all-time record. Development drilling was equally high--3,601 wells being drilled, an increase of 39.7% over the previous year. There were 182 oil discoveries and 1,104 gas discoveries for an exploratory success rate of 54%, and 564 development wells were completed as oil producers and 2,449 as gas producers for a development success rate of 83.9%. In Alberta, where most exploration took place, there was an extremely strong emphasis on the search for natural gas, with high prices being paid for exploratory acreage, and record numbers of wells drilled. Rapid development of the giant Keg River shallow gas trend in the northern part of the province continued. In the deep Alberta basin, many areas were being explored; the Devonian, Triassic, and Notikewin (Lower Cretaceous) were major objectives. In the Alberta foothills, 3 areas were under active development. Drilling to depths of more than 10,000 ft was common in the deep Alberta basin and foothills. In British Columbia, exploratory drilling for gas increased by 73% with an emphasis on the Devonian Slave Point Formation at moderate depths in the foreland area, and on 2 deep foothills trends. In Saskatchewan, drilling was mainly for Lower Cretaceous heavy oil in the western part of the province, but a Winnipegosis (Devonian) discovery which may hold some promise was made in the eastern part of the province. In Manitoba, there was spotty exploration for shallow Mississippian oil. Exploratory drilling in the was mainly by one operator--Panarctic Oils--who concentrated on areas where production had been found. A new gas discovery was made in the northern High Arctic gas area. Major extensions and a new deep gas zone were found in the Hecla gas field extending offshore from Melville Island. A third producer was drilled in the Bent Horn oil field on Cameron Island. In the onshore Mackenzie delta, 2 oil discoveries were made and offshore in the Beaufort Sea, there were 2 gas discoveries. Geophysical activity maintained a constant and somewhat higher level than the previous year. Production of liquid hydrocarbons was down 11.2% because of increasing government limitation on export to the United States. In contrast, natural gas production increased by 8%. Proved reserves of crude oil continued to decline, with no indication of any reversal. Reserves of natural gas liquids declined slightly. Proved natural gas reserves, after production, increased 1.28 Tcf by the addition of large reserves in Alberta and the frontier areas. Probable gas reserves increased even more (4.76 Tcf) by the addition of further large Island reserves.