FRASER DELTA WILDCAT DRY; MORE DRILLING EYED

A consortium that came up dry with its first wildcat in British Columbia's Fraser River delta plans to try again next year. Conoco Canada Ltd., Calgary, drilled the first well to 5,580 ft before plugging it. Other interest owners are Dynamic Oil Ltd. and BC Gas Inc. The dry hole was the first of what the consortium had proposed as a three well program and was the first well drilled in the delta in 30 years. Earlier exploratory wells, chiefly seeking oil, had been drilled as early as 1904.

Oct. 21, 1991

2 min read

A consortium that came up dry with its first wildcat in British Columbia's Fraser River delta plans to try again next year.

Conoco Canada Ltd., Calgary, drilled the first well to 5,580 ft before plugging it. Other interest owners are Dynamic Oil Ltd. and BC Gas Inc.

The dry hole was the first of what the consortium had proposed as a three well program and was the first well drilled in the delta in 30 years. Earlier exploratory wells, chiefly seeking oil, had been drilled as early as 1904.

The group plans to seek approval from the provincial Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum for two more wells, at Murray Creek and Campbell River, in the Langley-Aldergrove area, late this year or early in 1992.

No significant quantities of gas were found, but the partners gained information that enhanced optimism toward other exploratory prospects in the basin, said Wayne L. Babcock, president of Dynamic. Conoco supported Babcock's opinion as to the findings.

The second and third wells are each to be drilled to 10,499 ft, one after the other, to cut drilling expense.

The interest of U.S. exploration companies in the developments in the Fraser River delta reflects the possibility that any oil or gas fields in the Canadian area could extend across the international boundary into Washington state. The site of the first well is only 6-7 miles north of Blaine, Wash.

For BC Gas, a commercial discovery would reduce gas delivery costs. The utility now purchases gas from fields about 800 miles away in northeastern British Columbia.