ABSTRACT

In 1983, petroleum industry activity in western Canada increased moderately after two successive poor years. This increase resulted from record activity in Saskatchewan, a shift from gas to oil exploration, renewed heavy oil development, and provincial government incentives. The total number of wells drilled increased by 7% to 6755. Exploratory drilling decreased by 14% to 1973 wells, but was more than offset by a 20% increase in development drilling to 4782 wells. Exploratory success rate decreased to 62% from 65% the previous year, with 757 oil discoveries and only 461 gas discoveries. The development success rate increased slightly from 89% to 90%, with 3393 oil completions and 913 gas completions. Exploratory drilling declined in all areas except Saskatchewan, while development drilling increased in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. Average well depths increased in only Alberta and Saskatchewan. Total revenue from land sales rose dramatically by 46% to $564 million. Alberta land sale bonuses totalled $429 million, Saskatchewan $108 million, British Columbia $26 million and Manitoba $1 million. Average price per hectare increased substantially in the three westernmost provinces, but decreased in Manitoba, exactly the opposite trend from 1982.

Alberta exploratory and development drilling continued to decline, but still constituted 68% of western Canadian activity. Significant Devonian reef discoveries were made in the northern half of the province at Senex, Sawn Lake, Gift Lake (Nipisi) and Sturgeon Lake South, and major activity continued at Fenn - Big Valley (Rumsey), Carrot Creek, Valhalla and Amigo-Shekilie. Two major oil-sands projects, at Wolf Lake and Cold Lake, are under way. British Columbia recorded a major Mississippian oil find at Desan, the first major oil discovery in some time from this gas-prone province hard hit by gas surplus and marketing problems. Drilling activity in Saskatchewan soared to record levels and was the prime reason for the over-all increase in 1983 western Canadian activity. Exploratory and development drilling increased and a total land sale record was established, most of which can be attributed to the Saskatchewan government's incentive program of royalty holidays. Manitoba activity continued its rejuvenation, which started at Waskada in 1980.

Frontier activity was highlighted by a major oil and gas discovery at Itiyok in the Beaufort Sea, and by continued development of the shallow Norman Wells field on the Mackenzie River. Arctic Islands results were disappointing in that a development well at Cisco recovered less oil than anticipated because of structural complications. Major farm-outs in the Beaufort Sea indicate continued activity in this area for several years to come.

DEVELOPPEMENTS PETROLIER DANS L'OUEST CANADIEN, 1983

RESUME

En 1983, l'activite petroliere reprit moderament dans l'ouest Canadien apres deux tres mauvaises annees. Cette reprise fut le resultat d'une activite record au Saskatchewan, une tendance a chercher du petrole au lieu de gaz, une reprise d'activite dans les huiles lourdes ainsi que des programmes d'encouragement des gouvernments provinciaux.

En tout 6755 puits furent fores, une augmentation de 7%. Les 1973 forages d'exploration representent une baisse de 14%, par contre les 4782 forages de developpement representent une augmentation de 20%. Les succes en exploration sont tombes de 65% l'annee precedente a 62% avec 757 decouvertes de petrole et seulement 461 decouvertes de gaz. Les succes en developpement ont augmente legerement de 89% a 90% avec 3393 completions petrolieres et 913 completions gazieres.

Le nombre de forages d'exploration baissa partout sauf au Saskatchewan, Manitoba et dans les Territoires du Nord-ouest. La profondeur moyenne des puits augmenta en Alberta et au Saskatchewan.

Le revenue de primes de ventes de terrains augmenta dramatiquement de 46% donnant un total de $564 millions.

En Alberta les primes furent de $429 millions, $108 millions au Saskatchewan, $26 millions en Colombie Britannique et $1 million au Manitoba.

Le prix moyen de l'hectare augmenta dans les trois provinces de l'ouest mais tomba au Manitoba, ceci contrairement a 1982.

Le nombre de forages en Alberta soit d'exploration ou de developpement continua de tomber mais representent quand meme 68% de l'activite de l'ouest Canadien.

Il y eut des decouvertes de recif Devonniens dans le nord de l'Alberta a Senex, Sawn Lake, Gift Lake (Nipisi) et Sturgeon Lake South; le gros de l'activite continua a Fenn Big Valley (Rumsey), Carrot Creek, Valhalla et Amigo-Shekilie.

Deux projets de sables bitumineux furent commence a Wolf Lake et Cold Lake.

Il y eut une grande decouverte petroliere dans le Mississippien de la Colombie Britannique a Desan, la premiere dans cette province gaziere qui depuis quelque temps eprouve des problemes de surplus et de ventes.

1 Also printed in American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 68, no. 10 (1984).

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L'activite de forage au Saskatchewan atteint de nouveaux records qui furent la raison principale de l'augmentation generale d'activite dans les provinces de l'ouest.

L'activite de forage au Saskatchewan ainsi que les records etablient en primes de ventes de terrains peuvent etre attribue au gouvernement provincial qui a etabli des programmes d'encouragement ainsi qu'une reduction importante d'impots.

Au Manitoba, la reprise d'activite dans la region de Waskada, commence en 1980, continua.

Dans les regions frontieres, la decouverte d'Itiyok dans la Mer de Beaufort fut la grande nouvelle ainsi que la continuation du programme de forage a faible profondeur a Norman Wells le long du Mackenzie. Malheureusement les resultats du forage de Cisco dans les iles Arctiques furent moins bonnes que prevus, ceci du a des complications structurales. De nombreux "farm-outs" dans la Mer de Beaufort indiquent une continuation d'activite pour quelques annees.

Traduit par H. Collet