Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-04-23
DECLINE IN
VALLEY FIELD
NEGLIGIBLE

Nationwide attention has been at
/ tracted to Turner Valley oil field,
\ in Alberta. by the recent publica-
+ ton in the Oil & Gas Journal OF
an article on the Valley by Joseph
S. Irwin. widely known Independent
geologist and a number of large
companies have recently sent scouts
to check the situation in Canada. to
determine its relation TO the in
dustry at large.
The Journal Is informed by
major company representative who
visited Turner Valley last week
that the field is showing little de-
cline and It's area is being con-
stantly increased, as wells are drill
led westward into the syncline and
northward along the flanks of the
gigantic fold.
The government is now taking
the potential Of 10 wells for pur-
pose OF comparison with pOtentials
taken in January. 1t is believed
that they will show very little de-
cline Twenty-six wells completed
in the oil area have shown an aver
age production OF 1000 barrels per
ud9 lOllo"ihR dClplSatioh.
Turner Valley wells increase an
average of 1907 over initial natur-
al production when acid shots OF
from 5000 to 10000 gallons are
applied. Whenever they drop back
to around 600 barrels they are
again acldized, increasing the per-
meability OF the lime formation.
They Immediately go back TO initial
production How long this can be
maintained is yet to be determined.
however. engineers are agreed in
recoverable reserves Of from 49,
900 to 10000 barrels per acre.
From 100 100000 to 100000
barrels OF recoverable oil is now in
dictated.
Last week another important well
was completed west OF the west
fault II is a north offset to the
COmmoil No 1. which had a 5000
barrel rating when completed three
months ago. II is still making
5000 barrels after acidizatiOn. The
north offset. drilled by Imperial
Oil Co.. is rated at 1900 barrels
natural, meaning that It too will
make 5000 barrels when acidized.
Some fear had been expressed
that wells beyond the second fault
would not produce, but these two
wells. starting west OF the fault.
crossed onto the "high" side. The
pressure increases as drilling pro-
ceeds down dip. These latest wells
show pressure OF 21OO pounds to
the square inch while the average
in the oil area is 1900 pounds.
Perhaps more important was the
1 2mlle-northward extension of the
oil pool by Imperial's No. % well.
north Of the old Model we'll. It
was completed with a production OF
between 700 and 500 barrels per
day. al $500 feet. Adding two
townships Of probable producing
area. this well serves to indicate
that the limits OF the pool are yet
Tar from final determination. None
1f the wells near the syncline have
shown any water although it is
certain that water pressure is hold
ng the oil up in the fold Westward
irilling will continue until wells are
90 deep to be commercial Western
wells are now going below 1000
'eet.
February runs from Turner
Valley were 1892 barrels per day.
lnder AZ per cent proration. This
indicates a developed production of
10000 barrels per day and this
igure will be greatly increased
probably to $4,000 barrels per
lay-by wells now drilling.
The gas portion OF the field has
Produced 959.44O 100000 feet OF
'as since 1925. Most of this has
'een burned in flares, after removal
4 the naptha content. The pro-
incial government has passed a
aw providing for the closing OF the
yet gas-naptha wells with a levy
n crude producers to compensate
be naptha producers.