Developments in Western Canada in 1970

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Western Canada includes the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan; the Yukon and Northwest Territories; the offshore areas of the Arctic and British Columbia plus that part of the Province of Manitoba lying south and west of the Hudson Bay lowlands. A total of 2,920 exploratory and development wells was drilled in 1970, a 7% decrease from 1969. Of the 1,447 exploratory tests, 26.5% were successful. In Alberta, the 1970 level of exploration drilling remained at approximately the same level as in 1969 with 984 completions. In Saskatchewan, only 288 exploratory tests were drilled, a decrease of 43%. Wildcat activity increased in British Columbia and in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. At Atkinson Point, near the Mackenzie delta, Imperial Oil made the first oil discovery in the Canadian Arctic. The Panarctic Oils consortium confirmed a gas discovery at Drake Point on Melville Island and, at year end, had found an indicated major gas discovery on King Christian Island. In Alberta, industry interest was focused on the deep Devonian reef play adjacent to the Rocky Mountain foothills. No drilling took place offshore from the British Columbia coast. Geophysical activity declined 25%. Geologic surface mapping increased 74%, wholly attributable to increased interest in northern Canada. Production of liquid hydrocarbons, marketable gas, and sulfur broke previous records, but proved remaining reserves of crude oil and natural gas liquids declined in 1970 for the first time since the modern Canadian oil boom began in 1947. Proved remaining reserves of sulfur and marketable gas improved significantly.