In Eastern Canada 245 wells, not including 10 lost holes, were drilled for oil and gas during 1979. Of this total, 90 wells were classed as exploratory, 144 as development, and 11 were drilled for various service and storage purposes. The total meterage drilled in Eastern Canada amounted to 177,623.3.

The production of natural gas in Eastern Canada increased 29.4% in 1979, whereas oil production dropped 1.2%. A total of approximately 399,353,200 cu m of natural gas and 96,118.6 cu m of oil was produced from southwestern Ontario and New Brunswick. Additional production from Lake Erie, coming on stream, accounted for the rise in natural gas production figures.

All phases of exploration increased in Quebec, the Maritimes, and Atlantic offshore during 1979; 23 exploratory wells were completed, 2 of which had been suspended in 1978. Of this total, 3 dry holes were drilled in Nova Scotia; 9 wells were drilled in Quebec, which resulted in 8 dry holes and 1 suspended well; 11 wells were drilled in the Atlantic offshore, which resulted in 1 gas well, 5 dry holes, 4 suspended wells, and 1 well testing at year end. This represents a 61.5% increase in exploratory drilling for the area.

In southwestern Ontario, 67 exploratory and 144 development wells, not including 10 lost holes, were drilled in 1979; 15 of the 67 exploratory wells were completed as producers (3 oil, 12 gas) for an exploratory success rate of 21.4% (including 3 lost holes). Of the 144 development wells, 78 were completed as producers (5 oil, 73 gas) for a development success rate of 51.7% (including 7 lost holes). The overall success rate for southwestern Ontario for 1979 was 42.1%, down 5.2% from 1978. An increase in development drilling in Lake Erie (up 63.8%), accompanied by an even greater percentage of offshore development dry holes, accounted for the decline in the overall success ratio. This trend may continue, as it is anticipated that the 1980 drilling season in Ontario will surmount that o 1979.