British Columbia replaces oil and gas output in 2000

Gary Park

British Columbia has the unique distinction among Canada’s petroleum regions of replacing both oil and natural gas production in 2000, according to the annual reserves report of the province’s Oil and Gas Commission.

Reflecting the surge of exploration in the northeastern sector, the report said established oil reserves as of Dec. 31, 2000, increased to 172.4 million barrels from 166.1 million barrels in 1999, while marketable natural gas reserves rose to 8.5 trillion cubic feet from 8.4 trillion cubic feet. Raw gas reserves were placed at 10.5 trillion cubic feet up from 10.3 trillion cubic feet in 1999.

The commission also reported marketable gas reserves not connected to delivery systems were 1.2 trillion cubic feet, while raw unconnected gas reserves were 1.6 trillion cubic feet.

Because so many gas wells came into production in 2000 — a record 449 were drilled and 120 cased — the report said some wells have not been properly analyzed to be included in the reserves.

To spread activity beyond the northeast — to include the Whitehorse Trough, Bowser Basin, Quesnel Trough and Nechako Basin in northern British Columbia — the commission is being urged to develop royalty regimes for these basins, along with coalbed methane and tight gas reserves.

The British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines estimates the Whitehorse Trough and Bowser Basin have combined potential resources of 8.3 trillion cubic feet of gas, 2.5 billion barrels of oil and 8 trillion cubic feet of coalbed methane. Estimated resources in the Quesnel Trough and Nechako Basin include 9.5 trillion cubic feet of gas, 5.1 billion barrels of oil and 1 trillion cubic feet of coalbed methane.