Talisman notches B.C., Alberta gas strikes

Talisman Energy’s “deep gas” program in northern Alberta and British Columbia has paid off with the discovery of several high deliverability gas wells in the Foothills and nearby Deep basin.

“We are looking for big wells and we continue to find them,” said Chief Executive Officer Jim Buckee, who said the latest drilling results affirm the company’s strategy in a geologically complex region.

In the Monkman area of northeastern British Columbia, a Triassic well (50 percent owned by Talisman), a follow up to a new pool discovery, tested at a gross raw rate of 26 million cubic feet per day. It should be in commercial production by the end of 2006.

A second well (44 percent owned by Talisman) tested at 16 million cubic feet per day and should be tied in to Talisman-operated facilities early this year.

The company is also drilling or evaluating five more wells in the Monkman area and expects to have results in the current quarter.

In the Foothills area of Alberta, where 36 gross wells are planned for 2006, Talisman has tied in two wells, while a third tested at a gross rate of 12 million cubic feet per day.

The company currently has more than 60 million cubic feet per day ready to bring on stream when two pipeline projects are completed later this year.

—Gary Park