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Over 1,750 wells are coming off confidential status in the remainder of 2024.
This information is watched very closely by industry as technical data (such as producing hours, LAS logs, tests, cores, completion details, drilling tour reports) when released provide crucial insight into operators’ performance including an assessment on how successful they have been in turning undeveloped resources into reserves or expanding existing development areas. The map above highlights the wells that are coming off confidential in Q2 (576), Q3 (566) and Q4 (612), 2024.
Wells designated as exploratory in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba come off confidential status one year after their rig release date. Well confidentiality is assigned to keep well-related information confidential to protect the well licensee’s investment.
From the plot shown we see that the top three LAHEE classifications1 for the confidential wells are Development (1,449, wells), followed by Other and Exploratory wells (103 and 92 wells, respectively).
The 1,754 wells that come off confidential status in 2024 Q2 to Q4 target numerous formations, with the Montney having the highest number of wells coming off confidentiality (443), followed by the Clearwater (355). The Sparky, Viking and Duvernay formations round out the top five, each with just under 100 wells on confidential status. A recent uptick in activity for Mannville, Ellerslie and Charlie Lake put them on the list as well.
The top operators on the confidential well list (by well count for the Q2 to Q4 period) are the Clearwater operators, as exploration and development continues. In the Clearwater, Rubellite Energy tops the list with 179 wells, followed by Spur Petroleum with 92 and Tamarack Valley Energy with 48 wells.
Generally, in North America, regulators make well data available, including producing hours, tests, completions, formations, logs, etc., after the period of confidentiality defined in the licensing agreement.
Data is functionally released from confidential status weekly in Alberta and B.C. and on the day confidential status ends in Saskatchewan.
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.
