Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-03-27

ing finaneiers Of Canada.
In REGINA 9 group Of public sEarited cit
liens, known as Prairie Gas Utilities, have
been endeavoring to secure q franchise for
the purpose OF bringing gas from Bowdoin.
I This project has met with considerable op-
position for the following reasons. As yet.
known structures Of southern Saskatchewan
are INFESTED, and the feeling Is that there
I is very strong probability that gas viii
be discovered on several Of these folds Civ
ing a supply much closer 70 Regina and
within the boundaries Of the province, rather
than from another country. The other reason
Is fear that the l0ng-talked OF project OF
interesting the federal government Ia plping
gas to the Iron Range and the Twin Cities,
would mean that II Regina we're at the end
Of the line from the Bowdoin field. they could
not be sure OF their source OF supply as the
Bowdoin field would be one Of the fields sup
plying this federal aid project, and that Il
might be either drained more rapidly than
would be safe for the granting Of q 2o-year
franchise, or might be reserved altogether
for the use OF this federal aid project leav-
ing the Regina citizens with a distribution
system and pipeline built, and with no gas
TO use in either.
one hundred and eighty miles west OF Moose
Jaw. and 220 miles west Of Regina, Is 3
structure in 9 similar position to that OF
the Lloydminster field. In other words, the
fold Is on both sides OF the Inter-provineial
boundary near Empress, Alberta where gas
is to be expected, one wen having found COM
mercial gaS at comparatively shallow Depth
and being in the district where fields such
have been brought IN and have been produc-
ing over a great many years. group Of
capitalists from both sides OF the line have
formulated plan OF supplying gas TO Moose
Jaw and Regina from this territory, which
would also contemplate pieking up any fur
ther gas TO be developed near Maybe Greek
or on any OF the southern Saskatchewan
structures adjacent to the proposed line. This
project, II sufficient reserves are shown and
sufficient open flow volume secured, would
be very feasible as it would have q large
T0u n
important smaller towns along the line be-
tween the fields and Moose Jaw and Regina.
In the Winnipeg territory, Natural Gas
Utilities has q great deal of acreage In po-
tential gas territory, have Hydro-Carbon
Products, Ltd. The w. M. Syndicate Ltd,
also controls a great deal Of acreage on we'll
pronounced structures in territory which has
given evidence Of being gas productive. These
structures lie from 100 to 200 miles from VIM
nipeg, and are to be developed during the
coming spring, and gas piped to various cities
Of southern Manitoba, including Greater Win
nipeg. II sufficient development is obtained
during the coming year. In case the volume
Of gas secured does not prove adequate for
all Of the points to be served, 1t is contem-
plated that this may be enhanced by produc- |
ing gas in areas to the west, such as southern |
Saskatchewan and Alberta close to feeder |
lines Of the federal aid project, mentioned |
above, and that this line be used for trans !
portation TO g point where IL could be tied |
in to the southern Manitoba system, which /
would assure SUPPLY OF gas Tor the Ca !
madam markets, It Is believed, however, that |
adequate supplies can be developed in west |
ern Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan |
to take care Of the Manitoba market without |
having recourse TO reserves further west. II |
all these markets are developed and sup I
Piled that is, both the cities Of Saskatchewan |
and Of Manitoba, It means an average con- /
sumption of $50 million cubic feet per day and |
an expenditure Of approximately $50 ,00o. 600, |
for drilling, pipelines and for distribution |
systems. It is expected that, during the !
course of-this development, an intensive ex-
ploration campaign viii be carried on for 4
new gas fields to further increase the re-
serves, and that during this exploration, sew
sral important oil fields as well as gas fields
will be found. In this regards, quote Mr..
Dorsey Hager. internationally known geo
ogist and petroleum engineer, as per letter
Of Aug. /, 1886, made after an examination
Of q number Of the structures in both Sas-
Satchewan and Manitoba, IL follows
Tn regard to testing in Canada IL Is my
candid opinion that the testing shortly to be
started in southwestern Manitoba will do
more TO stimulate oil and gas activity in
Canada than anything that has happened
% date. Testing there should encounter oil
and gas under 1000 feet in the basal Creta-
,eous and in the Devonian. The finding Of
Ill and gas in that area will open the western
part Of Manitoba and most of Saskatchewan
or development. Definite folding exists in
parts Of Manitoba, and testing should be
confined 10 such folding. The discovery Of
oil in western Manitoba will un-
ioubtedy stimulate one Of the most agrees
i've campaigns that has been known on the
Worth American continent once oil has been ,
ound there, IL seems to me, that British
apital viii initiate a tremendous campaign
o develop resources within the Empire. Amer
can capital viii also seek investment. How
yer, this activity is postulated on the dis
overy Of a new pool in western Manitoba.
my testing there is Of pioneer nature, but !
he cost is not high (s15,000 to $4,000 a test
nd such testing is well justified. Evidence
4 these possibilities Is found at the Lloyd
Minister gas field, now in production, the /
usher found In limestone series at Baker,
dontana, not far south Of the Manitoba | ,
International boundary, and
gain in the Wainwright field, where appar-
as been found in the Devonian nmestones
D the Montreai-Alberta we'll"
The financing of the new project in the ,
entral and eastern Great Plains involves
title difficulty. Capital is available from
treat Britain, Canada, and the United States. ,
he low rates Of interest In the latter country
ave caused influx Of capital into Canada,
boxing for sound investments carrying higher ,
ields. Public Utilities, such as sound gas
rejects, offer this yield with security. as !
he Public Utilities Commissions Of the va
ous provinces will not permit the issue Of
onds and debentures unless there Is q solid ,
)undation of demonstrable reserves, market, :
nd earnings behind the project, assuring Sc
lrities
The natural resources Of a growing country =
hose area is greater than that Of the con-
mental United States. offer unlimited oppor- :
mites for exploration and development, and
these opportunities nothing is considered
ore attractive than a sound gas project,
articularly In comparison with similar prof.
is in the United States. The fact that there
an average Of nine months Of cold weather
axes the consumption much greater than
other parts Of the continent, where natural