ABSTRACT

Over the past few years, estimates of western Canada's hydrocarbon potential have varied widely, depending on data used and techniques applied. However, the current general consensus is that significant potentials of oil and gas remain in the western provinces. Explorationists are now asking such questions as: "Where are the yet-undiscovered reserves to be found?" and "Are there underexplored areas with hydrocarbon potential in western Canada?"

Section Potential Maps are a graphic mechanism for answering these two questions. These maps are produced from a computer data base of well status and completions together with drill-stem data for selected stratigraphic intervals. For a defined interval, a symbol is assigned to each section in western Canada. This symbol indicates 1) interval penetration, 2) production of oil and gas, and 3) types and volumes of recovered fluids.

The Upper Cretaceous, Viking and Beaverhill Lake intervals selected from the area situated north and east of Edmonton are used to demonstrate the usefulness of these maps. Three of the major results obtained from Section Potential maps are reported here: 1) the Upper Cretaceous interval, although heavily drilled, has areas not thoroughly tested; 2) good gas potential in the Viking interval surrounded by undrilled acreages occurs in the southeast portion of the area studied; 3) the Beaverhill Lake interval in this area is virtually untested.