20,000 More Alberta Wells Will be Milestone Record in 2006
Next year will be a milestone record for Alberta drilling, predicts the Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC), in a 2006 forecast.
Canadian drilling will also see another record well count for Canada next year.
In 2006, PSAC expects a total of 25,290 wells drilled (rig released) across Canada, 20,000 of which will be in Alberta. This represents a six per cent increase in Alberta wells drilled, compared to the expected final tally for 2005 in the province.
Canada-wide, activity levels will also increase six per cent, the result of continued strong commodity prices and a growing emphasis on natural gas from coal (NGC). “In 2006, we’re expecting about 3,500 NGC wells, mostly in Alberta”, stated Roger Soucy, PSAC president. “Activity levels in the NGC areas of southeast and central Alberta will rise six to seven per cent.”
For 2006, PSAC estimates 3,430 wells drilled in Saskatchewan and 1,600 in British Columbia.
While Saskatchewan’s 2006 drilling rate is flat compared to expected final well counts for 2005, B.C. will see an activity increase of 20 per cent next year. “While the total number of wells drilled in B.C. is relatively low compared to Alberta, activity levels in that province have been climbing over the past few years,” says Soucy. “B.C. is becoming a very favourable location for oil and gas activity and with the move towards southern B.C. for NGC, we are expecting a significant elevation in activity levels there.”
