Natural Gas In Alberta

By C. O. Nickle

Let's take a brief look at the present known Natural Gas resources in Alberta. Best known is that famed Southern Foothills oil and gas field, Turner Valley. As at the beginning of 1945, the remaining recoverable gas reserves were estimated at 345.3 Billion cu ft (the average of several expert estimates). To the end of 1944 it had produced 1,329 Billion cu ft, of which some 1,080 Billion was wasted - a mistake unlikely to be repeated in this province.

Potentially a "Turner Valley" (from both the oil and gas viewpoint) is Jumping Pound, whose recent discovery well shows a potential of some 18 Million cu ft daily of gas plus considerable light oil. That well, on the Gas Cap Crest of the structure, is being used to supply fuel for drilling on the anticipated oil-bearing Flanks.

Elsewhere in the Alberta Foothills - where there in good reason to expect additional "Turner Valleys" - gas in volume has been found in wildcat wells in the Moose Dome, Brazeau, Pekisko and Coalspur areas.

On the Southern Alberta Plains, largest developed Gas Field is at Medicine Hat. This field had produced (for local use) over 87.86 Billion cu ft by the end of 1944, is currently producing some 3.22 Billion annually. No estimate of reserves is at hand.

Largest known undeveloped Gas Reserve in this part of the province is at Princess, where estimates of the recoverable gas in the Sunburst and range from 40 to 100 Billion cu ft, with additional large recovery likely from the shallower sands and the underlying Madison and Devonian. The smaller estimate is made by authority J. B. Webb and the larger estimate by The California-Standard Company.

The Bow Island gas field produced 38 Billion cu ft to 1940; between 1930-38 had 13.2 Billion cu ft restored to the formation from Turner Valley; this year resumed its role as a reservoir for a portion of the Turner Valley surplus; and has recoverable reserves at present estimated at some 15 Billion cu ft.

The Redcliff gas field, supplying local home and industrial needs, produced 822 Million cu ft in 1944, raising total produced to 12.8 Billion cu ft. The Foremost field, with 1944 production of 38 Million cu ft, has produced 4.26 Billion, while the Brooks field, with 1944 yield of 65 Million has produced 1.5 Billion. Those two fields also supply local needs. Current Foremost reserves is estimated at 15-17 Billion on ft.

Other Southern Plains known gas sources include: Deadhorse Couloe, whose one well (Rogers Imperial) produced 1.3 Billion cu ft for market prior to exhaustion in 1939; Suffield, a now field whose unstated output is being used for military purposes; Barnwell Red Coulee; Erickson Coulee; Many Islands Lake; Pinhorn: Warner; Rainy Hills; and Fuogo.

On the Central Alberta Plains there are now two large Gas Fields which are supplying the Edmonton gas system - Viking, which produced 1.86 Billion on ft in 1944 and 57.1 Billion to the end of that year; and Kinsella, which produced 5.17 Billion in 1944 and 14.26 Billion to date. One authority (S.E. Slipper) estimates remaining recoverable Reserves of the two fields at 600 Billion on ft. Another authority (I. B. Webb) places Viking reserves at 75 Billion and Kinsella at 130 Billion.

Other Central Plains known gas sources include: Fabyen-Wainwright which produced 125 Million on ft for local use in 1944, and just over 2 Billion to date; Vermilion (better known as an oil source), which produced 152 Million on ft for local use in 1944, and 422 Million to date; Castor; Delia; Lloydminister; Poona; and Wetaskiwin.

On the Northern Alberta Plains small gas action is being taken from rolls at Athabaska and Pelican, while drilling has established presence of gas at Peace River, Pouce Coupe and Lesser Slave Lake.

TORONTO SYNDICATE No. 2, Northwest PRINCESS Area wildcats, has reached its Sunburst sand objective and is now waiting arrival of tester for drill-stem test. The Sunburst is reported at 3,247 ft, with coring continued to current depth of 3,263 ft, still in the sand. Report from the driller indicates favorable oil indications in the Sunburst cores.

RAINY HILLS No, 1, Devonian Dolomite test some 12 miles east of Princess, added 52 ft in the 24 hours ended 8 a.m. Wednesday, was then at 4,056 ft, still in the Anhydrite, but expected to confirm its Devonian objective during the next 24 hours.