Murphy hits good gas well in British Columbia

Feb. 7, 2001
Murphy Oil Corp., Calgary, has a natural gas discovery in northeastern British Columbia that flowed up to 100 MMcfd on test. The A-97-H exploratory well, about 62 miles north of Fort St. John, BC, would rank as one of the top 10 onshore discoveries in Canada, the company said.


By an OGJ Online Correspondent

CALGARY, Feb. 7�Murphy Oil Corp., Calgary, has a natural gas discovery in northeastern British Columbia that flowed up to 100 MMcfd on test.

The A-97-H exploratory well, about 62 miles north of Fort St. John, BC, would rank as one of the top 10 onshore discoveries in Canada, the company said.

The test was drilled to 9,153 ft TD and flowed at 100 MMcfd under test conditions in June. Details on productivity of the well were kept confidential.

Harvey Doerr, president of the Canadian unit of Murphy Oil Corp., El Dorado, Ark., said the discovery is a significant well. Murphy increased its interest in the play to 63% after acquiring Beau Exploration Ltd., Calgary, in November.

Doerr said gas flow is restricted by government regulations that set a ceiling of 46 MMcfd. Murphy and Apache Corp., which has the other 37%, will not decide on a daily production rate until the reservoir is further defined and approval is obtained for additional pipeline capacity.

Doerr said more wells are being drilled and field production will depend on what is found and the pipeline capacity to move the gas.

The companies have applied to the National Energy Board for regulatory approval for a 10-mile connection to the TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. system and want to complete it by Mar. 15.