世界石油

（彭博社）“加拿大石油钻探商的一个热点正在艾伯塔省东部的一个小角落出现，吸引了加拿大自然资源有限公司和 Baytex 能源公司等公司寻找更便宜、低排放的重质原油。

资料来源：世界石油

今年到目前为止，石油钻探公司已申请了 81 个 Waseca 地层钻探许可证，比 2022 年全年多了 30 个。根据监管机构的数据，这是今年该省石油和天然气地层增幅最大的一次。数据。

该地层在艾伯塔省冷湖油砂区附近土壤下方约 400 m（1,300 英尺）处蕴藏着重油。但是，与油砂不同的是，Waseca 可以使用传统的钻井设备进行开采，成本更低，排放量也更低，因为原油流动不需要蒸汽。

Baytex 加拿大重油业务总经理肯德尔·阿瑟 (Kendall Arthur) 表示：“该项目肯定会取得进展。”该公司今年已在 Waseca 钻探了两口油井，并计划到年底完成总共五口油井。

虽然油砂可能需要数十亿美元的前期投资和数年时间才能建立生产，但传统的稠油井可以在几个月内投入使用，而成本只是其一小部分。

Wood Mackenzie 驻卡尔加里研究分析师乔纳·雷斯尼克 (Jonah Resnick) 在电话中表示，“开采石油的成本要便宜得多，这就是公司对其感兴趣的原因。”

Waseca 地层与 Clearwater 地层相似，Clearwater 地层过去几年一直是该省钻探最多的区域，例如 Marten Hills 和 Nipisi 等油田。雷斯尼克说，与克利尔沃特不同，瓦塞卡还处于早期发展阶段。艾伯塔省能源监管机构的数据显示，今年迄今为止，该地层已钻探了 69 口井，而去年全年为 62 口，2021 年仅为 12 口。8 月份该地层的产量总计略高于 5,000 桶/日。

AER 数据显示，加拿大最大的石油生产商加拿大自然资源公司是最活跃的，自 2021 年初以来钻探了 64 口井。当通过电子邮件联系该公司时，该公司拒绝发表评论。数据显示，少数人持股的 Caltex Trilogy Inc. 今年已钻探了 39 口 Waseca 油井，而 Buffalo Mission Energy Corp. 则钻探了 16 口。

Arthur 表示，Baytex 仍在评估 Waseca 的潜力，但到 2024 年底可能会在该地层钻探多达 15 口井。他说，可以以与克利尔沃特河相似的成本建造油井，但油井更浅，压力更低。每口井最初产量约为 100 至 200 桶/天。

他说，瓦塞卡事件是“克利尔沃特事件的自然延伸”。

Canadian Natural 的股价今年在多伦多上涨了 19%，而 Baytex Energy 的股价则上涨了 2%。

World Oil

(Bloomberg) – A hot spot for Canadian oil drillers is emerging in a tiny corner of eastern Alberta, drawing companies including Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. and Baytex Energy Corp. in search of cheaper, lower-emissions heavy crude.

Source: World Oil

Oil drillers have applied for 81 licenses to drill into the so-called Waseca formation so far this year, 30 more than in all of 2022. That’s the biggest increase in any oil and gas formation in the province this year, according to regulatory data.

The formation holds heavy oil about 400 m (1,300 ft) beneath Alberta’s soil near the oil-sands region of Cold Lake. But, unlike the oil sands, the Waseca can be tapped with conventional drilling gear that costs less and generates lower emissions because steam isn’t needed to make the crude flow.

“The play is definitely taking off,” said Kendall Arthur, general manager of the Canadian heavy-oil business for Baytex, which has drilled two wells into the Waseca this year and plans to complete a total of five by year end.

While the oil sands can require billions of dollars of upfront investment and years to establish production, a conventional heavy-oil well can be brought online in a few months at a fraction the cost.

“It’s much cheaper oil to extract, which is why companies are attracted to it,” Jonah Resnick, a Calgary-based research analyst for Wood Mackenzie, said by phone.

The Waseca is similar to Clearwater formation, which has been the most heavily drilled play in the province for the past several years in fields such as Marten Hills and Nipisi. Unlike Clearwater, Waseca is in its early days, Resnick said. A total of 69 wells have been drilled there so far this year in the formation versus 62 in all of last year and just 12 in 2021, Alberta Energy Regulator data show. Production from the formation totaled just over 5,000 bpd in August.

Canadian Natural Resources, the country’s biggest oil producer, has been the most active, drilling 64 wells since the start of 2021, AER data show. The company declined to comment when contacted by email. Closely held Caltex Trilogy Inc. has drilled 39 Waseca wells this year, while Buffalo Mission Energy Corp. has drilled 16, the data show.

Baytex is still appraising the Waseca’s potential but could drill as many as 15 wells in the formation by the end of 2024, Arthur said. Wells can be brought on for similar costs to the Clearwater, but they are shallower, and the pressure is lower, he said. Each well produces about 100 to 200 bpd initially.

Waseca is a “natural expansion of what has happened in the Clearwater,” he said.

Shares of Canadian Natural have risen 19% this year in Toronto, while Baytex Energy is up 2%.