Positive well results in the West Duvernay play in the Willesden Green area have operators firming up land positions and laying out long-term development plans.
These positive well results in the West Duvernay play, in the Willesden Green area, are up against the west side of the Homeglen-Rimbey-Meadowbrook Leduc Reef Complex and operators have been acquiring all of the Crown and freehold land that is still available to grow their position.
More than 518 sections of Duvernay rights have been sold in this area over the last five years. Prices that have been paid to capture a position reached an average price of $1,258/ha in 2024.
Three producers are most active:
- Baytex Energy Corp. accumulated 140 net sections in the West Shale Basin. First quarter production averaged 5,700 boe/d (81 per cent liquids).
- Spartan Delta Corp. has approximately 550 net sections in the Willesden Green and Pembina Duvernay. First quarter production averaged 5,000 boe/d (70 per cent liquids).
- Paramount Resources Ltd. has approximately 410 net sections at Willesden Green. First quarter production averaged 7,900 boe/d.
Recent land sale activity
Q1 2025 saw 69.5 sections of deep rights posted at two sales, trending SW-NE from Willesden Green to Pembina.
Operators have been drilling the Duvernay formation along the western edge of the Homeglen-Rimbey-Meadowbrook Leduc Reef complex. The most recent land sale parcels are predominantly on the western side of the Snowbird Tectonic Shear Zone. The bulk of activity, both from land sales and drilling, is concentrated on the east side of this structural feature.
Snowbird risk
The risk has always been the influence of the Snowbird Shear Zone and how it will affect the stresses and the ability to get a good frac away. Baytex has been the most active operator, drilling 20 wells over the past five years, followed by Paramount (12 wells) and Spartan Delta (seven wells).
The Duvernay net shale map below (see image) highlights where most of the drilling activity has been concentrated, in the thickest portions of the Duvernay isopach, within the 30-metre contour interval. Several sections of the posted lands fall within this contour, especially the April 16, 2025, land sale. The Feb. 5 sale saw half of its posting fall within that 30-metre contour, which sold for $651.72/ha and a total bonus of $2.7 million. Two sections in Twp 41 Rge 03W5 sold for $4,312.55/ha. All lands were acquired by a broker.
Spartan Delta targets liquids
Spartan Delta is accumulating a land position in a deliberate attempt to increase liquids production. It drilled an impressive Duvernay well at 100/03-26-042-04W5/00 in September 2024, coming on strong at nearly 1,049 bbls/d of oil in its first month of production. This well is twice as productive as the previously drilled offset to the south at 100/13-02-042-04W5/02.
There are still lots of Duvernay open crown rights available offsetting the February and April land sale parcels.
Operators pursue different completion strategies
Examining well results over the past three years on the Duvernay operations in the Willesden Green area of the West Shale Basin is of interest. Each operator used different lateral lengths, fluids, and proppant concentration parameters.
Baytex and Spartan Delta both average just over 3,000 m lateral length. Paramount has drilled the longest laterals, with most being over 4,000 m. Paramount also pumps the smallest fracs out of the three operators.
The different well designs can be explained by the different fluid composition characteristics of each operator’s land position and where they are within the maturity windows.
Positive well results across operators
Paramount’s production has a significantly higher GOR, with gas driving the production. It is worth noting that there are strong liquids rates associated with Paramount’s gas wells, much of which is extracted downstream at facilities.
Baytex has the least mature production, with the highest oil production and the lowest expected gas rates due to the fact it is more in the oil maturity window.
Spartan Delta’s production falls in the middle, with wells achieving strong liquid rates but often having increased gas production as well.
Future development plans taking shape
Baytex intends to drill nine wells in 2025, touting a 21 per cent improvement in drilling time and a 10 per cent reduction in well costs from 2023.
Spartan Delta plans to accelerate capital spending in the Duvernay and has a goal to increase current production of 5,000 boe/d to 25,000 boe/d. Spartan Delta also plans to increase its proppant density to 2.5 T/m, increase the number of frac stages, and reduce the water intensity to 15-20 m3/m.
Paramount is accelerating development, building a second gas plant in the area (phase 1 to be completed by Q4 2025) and has plans to grow production to 50,000 boe/d.
Bruce Hancock, technical lead at geoLOGIC systems ltd., as well as geoXPLORER’s technical team — Maureen Stonehouse, Mark Schlenker and Darin McBeath — provide vital insights for companies looking to identify and evaluate future land and drilling opportunities in the WCSB. Full analysis of the land sale intel is available in geoXPLORER, geoLOGIC’s quarterly competitive intelligence report.
