Click here to view this data in geoLOGIC’s gDC Cloud – this visualized data is instantly available free of charge to guest users. Register for a free account to get unlimited time to view the exploratory wells spudded in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in the last year and a half. This Insight and gDC Cloud are now available to be viewed on mobile and tablet devices.
Since January 2023, 241 exploratory wells have been spud in Alberta (203), Saskatchewan (37), and Manitoba (1). To search for exploratory wells in gDC Cloud, the designations on the well tickets are different in Alberta than in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Alberta uses XPL (Exploratory), while Saskatchewan and Manitoba use NPW (New Pool Wildcat), OUT (Outpost), and/or NFW (New Field Wildcat). In Alberta there were 203 XPL wells spudded, while in Saskatchewan/Manitoba there were 22 NFW, 9 OUT and 7 NFW (see gDC Cloud Insight above to see locations). Out of the 241 exploratory wells spudded, 201 were Horizontals, 22 Deviated and 18 Verticals.
In Alberta there were 203 XPL wells spudded, while in Saskatchewan/Manitoba there were 22 NFW, 9 OUT and 7 NFW (see gDC Cloud Insight above to see locations). Out of the 241 exploratory wells spudded, 201 were Horizontals, 22 Deviated and 18 Verticals.
The Top 10 operators that spudded exploratory wells since January 2023, were: Rubellite Energy Inc. (32), Spur Petroleum Ltd. (20), Highwood Asset Management Ltd. (16), Vesta Energy Ltd. (16), Cenovus Energy Inc. (14), Andrich Resources Ltd. (11), Capillary Resources Corp. (9), Persist Oil & Gas Inc. (9), Pointbreak Resources Inc. (9), and West Lake Energy Corp. (9).
While development drilling continues in the key plays of the WCSB unabated, exploratory wells enable companies to expand existing pool boundaries, test new formations on existing assets or test new ideas that will open new core areas for growth. The pure exploration wells (i.e. away from existing development) will become the next focus areas and, once drilled and tested, will lead to the posting of new land sales to capture additional land for future development.
Bruce Hancock is Director, Technical Advisory Group, at geoLOGIC systems ltd. He has over 40 years’ experience in oil and gas exploration, development, and production.
