Well Completions Second Highest In Western Canada's History

More than 3,200 well completions were chalked up in 1964. This is only the second time in the history of the oil and gas industry that this figure has been exceeded. 1964's tally of 3,211 wells drilled was only 51 wells fewer than the record established in 1956. Although footage drilled figures are not yet compiled this year's total will also be close to the record tally of 15.4 million feet drilled eight years earlier.

No individual provincial records were established by the 1964 completions. According to our estimates Alberta was only ten wells off its record year of 1956 as 1,848 wells were drilled this year and 1858 in that earlier year. During the most recent period under review 926 oilwells, 254 gaswells, 652 dry holes and 16 service wells went to make up the total. In 1956 a much different tally was recorded 1,368 oilwells, 138 gaswells, and only 352 dry holes. Saskatchewan despite its very favorable drilling rates in 1964 was more than 100 well completions below its record year of 1957. 1964 shows 1,105 wells comprised of 618 oilwells 31 gassers, 445 dry holes and 11 service wells, whereas, in 1957 the tally was 1,227 made up of 853 oilwells, 16 gaswells, 358 dry holes. Manitoba and Northern Canada had a much better drilling rate in 1964 than 1963 with the first area climbing to 100 wells drilled (68 oil and 32 dry) from 57 in 1963 (40 oil and 17 dry), and the later recording 17 wells (1 gas the rest dry) in 1964 compared to just six dry holes last year. British Columbia has a sharp decline in well completions for the second straight year. Its 1964 total of 141 wells (44 oil, 36 gas, 58 dry & 3 service) w as 37 lower than its 1963 score (27 oil, 66 gas, 81 dry and 4 service) and far less than half the 332 recorded in 1962, which w as its record year.

DISCOVERY TALLY HIGHER & SEVERAL VERY SIGNIFICANT STRIKES

There were more oil and gas discoveries indicated in 1964 than in the past according to statistics compiled by the D. O. B. and some of these discoveries are of particular significance. Individual discoveries of importance are highlighted below. Alberta came up with major portion of the new finds with 102 out of the 131 discovery wells. On the oil scene it accounted for 54 out of 78 and in the gas picture its percentage was even more pronounced at 48 out of 53. Saskatchewan did well by recording 21 oil strikes but did not chalk up any new gas discoveries. In B. C. three of its seven-discovery wells indicated oil and the other four gas. The only other discovery reported in the year, a gaswell, was drilled in the Northwest Territories.