Canadian Exploration History
This decade marked the beginning of Canada’s major exploration boom.
What are the 1940s?
These wells test new prospects and carry the highest uncertainty.
What are exploration wells?
This casing string protects freshwater aquifers and allows BOP installation.
What is surface casing?
The mast-like structure that holds pipe in the well.
What is the derrick?
This step determines expected formation pressures with depth.
What is pore-pressure analysis?
Early drilling resulted in many of these due to limited geology and no seismic data.
What are dry holes?
These wells refine reserve estimates after a discovery.
What are appraisal wells?
The final casing string set across the reservoir.
What is production casing?
This component hoists and lowers drill pipe.
What is the drawworks?
The safe drilling window exists between pore pressure and this value.
What is fracture pressure (fracture gradient)?
This basin became the primary focus of Canadian exploration growth.
What is the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB)?
Drilling creates this physical connection between the reservoir and surface facilities.
What is a wellbore?
This shorter casing string hangs from the previous string and does not extend to surface.
What is a liner?
A triple rig can stand this many joints of pipe in the derrick at once.
What are three joints?
This plan defines mud weight ranges and fluid types for each hole section.
What is the mud plan?
Dry holes helped define basin limits and improve understanding of this geological concept.
What is stratigraphy (or structure)?
These two data types combined reduce drilling uncertainty.
What are geological data and seismic data?
This function prevents unwanted migration between geological zones.
What is zonal isolation?
This operation refers to pulling pipe out of the wellbore.
What is tripping?
This step selects casing seat depths based on pressure and formation changes.
What is pipe setting-depth selection?
Early cable-tool rigs had limited depth and poor control, making this safety system unavailable.
What is modern well control/BOP systems?
This planning step influences casing size, trajectory, and early drilling decisions.
What is completion planning?
Casing must withstand these three major loads during its life.
What are burst, collapse, and tension loads?
Singles typically drill wells in this approximate depth range.
What is 1–2 kilometres?
This financial document converts the technical drilling plan into a budget forecast.
What is the AFE (Authorization for Expenditure)?