Oil Developments Canada During 1923

ACTIVE drilling operations for oil were carried on during the summer of 1923 in various parts of, western Canada, particularly in Alberta. During the early part of the summer, interest centered in southern Alberta, in the Coutts area, just north of the producing Kevin-Sunburst field of Montana; but on Nov. 14 a strike of oil by British Petroleums Ltd. at its well near Wainwright, 120 mi. east of Edmonton, diverted public attention to a new field. According to present estimates, this well has a possible production of from 60 to 100 bbl. a day; the oil is 15° Be. with an asphaltic base and is obtained from a sand at the depth of 2019-2036 ft. The oil stands at 1700 ft. in the casing and there is sufficient gas pressure to cause it to flow when the well is opened. The oil horizon is in a sandstone in rocks of Colorado age. It is known that there is a terrace structure of which the western edge extends in a northwesterly direction from the vicinity of Hardisty to Viking, where it probably swings more to the north. At Viking a small dome-like structure on this terrace gives rise to an important gas field. Wainwright lies directly northeast of Hardisty. The exact structure in the Wainwright field is unknown. At Fabyan, 6 mi. northwest of Wainwright, the Imperial Oil Co.1 last year brought 1n a large gas well estimated at 14,000,000 cu. ft.; the escaping gas sprayed a small amount of heavy black oil over the derrick. The gas was obtained at a depth of 2727 ft., deeper drilling encountering a water sand. The results of drilling in the Wainwright field are encouraging for future development.