Over-all exploration activities (as reflected by expenditures) in Western Canada during 1961 continued to decline from the peak year of 1957, with most of the reduction due to decreased wildcat drilling in Saskatchewan and the Territories, and lower Crown land bonuses in Alberta. Seismic work increased slightly (principally in northeastern British Columbia) for the first time since 1953, and surface mapping declined for the second consecutive year. Alberta continued to lead other provinces by a substantial margin in all phases except surface mapping. The Arctic Islands, which began drilling its first wildcat, showed a sharp increase in exploration. Comparisons below are with 1960.

I. DRILLING. Exploratory tests down 49 (6%) to 769
Discoveries--oil 50 (down 4). Gas 77 (down 10)
Extensions--oil 76 (up 28). Gas 82 (up 22)
Development wells up 15 (1%) to 1,689
Main areas--Beaverhill Lake and Cardium oil fields, Mississippian oil and gas fields of Alberta; Mississippian and Viking oil fields of Saskatchewan; and Triassic oil and gas fields of British Columbia

II. EXPLORATORY METHODS. Expenditures down $30 million (10%) to $260 MM
Seismic up 45 mos. (8%) to 613 mos.
Gravity up 13 mos. (130%) to 23 mos.
Surface Mapping down 30 mos. (10%) to 260 mos.

III. PRODUCTION. Crude up 89 MBPD (17%) to 611 MBPD
Liquids up 100 MBPD (18%) to 640 MBPD
Gas Sales up 315 MMCFPD (27%) to 1,509 MMCFPD
Sulphur up 260 long tons/day (23%) to 1,370 long tons/day
EXPORTS. Crude up 66 MPBD (60%) to 180 MBPD
Gas up 169 MMCFPD (55%) to 476 MMCFPD

IV. RESERVES (Proved remaining). Crude up 496 MM bbls. (14%) to 4,166 MM bbls.
N.G.L.'s up 37 MM bbls. (7%) to 576 MM bbls.
Gas up 2.9 TCF (9%) to 33.3 TCF
Sulphur up 2.8 MM long tons (5%) to 58 MM long tons

V. LAND. Holdings down 2 MM acres (1%) to 255 MM acres
Sales down $10 MM (16%) to $57 MM