Developments in Western Canada in 1951

Abstract

Exploration and development activity in Western Canada continued to increase in 1951 with Alberta as the main center of interest. The total number of wells drilled in 1951 was 1,270, and 485 of these were exploratory tests. At the end of the year 218 rigs were operating. Of 153 geophysical parties, 140 were operating seismic surveys. The discovery picture for 1951 is similar to that in other reef-oil provinces. Most of the new pools in Alberta are extensions on the trend of previous discoveries. Interest is increasing in the northern part of the Williston basin area in Saskatchewan and Manitoba owing to the discoveries in North Dakota, at Virden in Manitoba, and, at the beginning of 1952, at Fosterton in western Saskatchewan. At the end of the year there were signs of renewed interest in several areas of the Rocky Mountain foothills. The export of gas from Alberta, except for defence needs, is still banned, but new regulations to stimulate the search for increased gas reserves resulted in considerable increases in the 1950 reserves and the lifting of the export ban is in consequence anticipated. Permission was given, subject to certain controlling conditions, to export natural gas for the use of Montana metal mining and smelting defence projects. Estimates of oil reserves in Western Canada vary, but a conservative estimate indicates an increase to nearly 1,300 million barrels, and available gas reserves have been given as 8 trillion cubic feet on January 1, 1952. A new pipeline outlet to the West Coast has been approved and plans for its construction are going ahead. The Alberta Government stimulated interest in the Athabaska tar sands as a potential oil source by sponsoring a well attended technical conference at Edmonton in September. The Saskatchewan Government in consultation with oil operators has prepared new oil and gas regulations which probably will be enacted in 1952.