No Drilling Yet For Oil In Nechako Basin

Tuesday, November 30, 1999 12:00 AM

Prince George, BC. - The Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum, Richard Neufeld, says no exploration permits have yet been issued for any exploratory drilling for gas or oil in the Nechako basin of BC.

Neufeld, speaking to Opinion 250 following the Minerals conference in Smithers, says the province has upped the anti by introducing more incentives to encourage some drilling to take place.

Even with increased incentives, Neufeld says it is difficult to spark interest "I have said in the past and I continue to say, that it is very tough to get someone to come down into the Nechako Basin area and begin drilling on a spec basis when they know they can hit producing wells in the Northern part of the province."

With oil topping $110 dollars U.S. a barrel ($116.00 U.S. on Friday) Neufeld says, "There is little reason to take a shot in the dark, but we in government continue to hope that we will get a taker."

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Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 1999 12:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: lunarbase on April 21 2008 5:40 AM

Have you people seen what the oil industry has done to the North Eastern area of the province ? It is not pretty. Sure we got a few jobs, but most companies are registered in Alberta, drive trucks purchased in Alberta, insured in Alberta and most of the workers still live in Alberta and just commute to the camp and then leave to Alberta again.

Granted the PG area is further away from the border but please don't think that the oil industry will be some big savior without giving up the environment.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on April 21 2008 7:25 AM

Are you talking about the money environment? That's the only environment you mentioned in your post.

I spent half my working career in the outdoors in North Eastern BC and the ones that live in Alberta were the exception, most lived in BC.

Posted by: acrider54 on April 21 2008 7:34 AM

First Nations will put a kiwash on it anyway.

Posted by: Ragtop on April 21 2008 7:49 AM

INTERESTING, Politician says one thing the ministry says another.I know of a corporation that has had an application in for over a year to do exploration yet to no avail.

Posted by: Runner46 on April 21 2008 8:10 AM

give us the name, or better yet, give it to ben and elaine....

Posted by: northman on April 21 2008 9:00 AM

"no exploration permits have yet been issued for any exploratory drilling for gas or oil in the Nechako basin of BC."

-B.S! The oil and gas commision has been sniffing around here putting in test holes for years. Ever see a drill rig? probaly not.. Because they drive them through citys and towns at night..The bedrock geology in this area supports oil and gas deposits. Just because no permits have been issued that doesnt mean that they arent looking and studying the geology of the area.

http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/subwebs/Landsale/default.htm

Posted by: Palopu on April 21 2008 9:02 AM

Acrider54. I think you mean Kibosh.

Anyone making an application would have to meet certain criteria. They not going to give out big dollars for people to wander around in the bush with divining forks.

Posted by: thereasonableman on April 21 2008 10:33 AM

In addition to hitting producing wells all the time, I think it is also easier drilling up north.

Posted by: dow7500 on April 21 2008 11:00 AM

Northman

Who is the oil and gas commision that is looking for oil? The last holes drilled where done in the early 80's west of qusenel and Williams lake were done by Canadian Hunter and a few by Amoco. a few were cased , and none produced.I don't think any of these rigs where driven through town in the dead of night. Nice urban legend though.

Posted by: tinyapplecork on April 21 2008 11:59 AM

Actually, it appears the focus is on our oceans...hard to get facts from their website. The information is buried pretty good.

Here is the ocean study:
http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/DL/offshore/reports/BC_Ocean_Sector-Final_Report.pdf

and here is an interesting section for the heartlands..er..hurtlands..hehe

http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/Publicinfo/OilGasStrategySupport_Materials/oil_and_gas_strategy_default.htm
Difficult to say what is really going on here. Make up your mind.
;)

Posted by: thereasonableman on April 21 2008 1:06 PM

Maybe they are hoping that someone will start drilling and producing, but maybe they suspect that nobody will and maybe even know the reasons why.

Playing the duck ?

Posted by: northman on April 21 2008 4:21 PM

dow7500

https://www.ogc.gov.bc.ca

As far as the urban legend is concerned... I know what im looking at when i see it.

Posted by: taxinapothole on April 22 2008 2:04 AM

dow7500, I drive cab, steady night shift, they come through town at night!!! northman is right, I too, know what I am looking at!! People in this area, have to pull their heads out of the sand, and really look at what is going on!! Quit pretending everything is alright, because it isn't!!

Forestry is in the pooper, and in Prince George and area, when the forestry goes into the pooper, the last one to leave, should probably turn out the lights!! If we don't get some other industry going in this area, we all better leave, or start cutting bug killed pine to heat our homes!! We won't be able to afford gas and oil, because we will all be unemployed!!

Wake up Prince George, lets bring this city out of the dark ages!! This fall, get out and vote. WE NEED CHANGE big time!!!

Posted by: invisableman on April 22 2008 7:31 AM

It was interesting that last summer 7 differrent pick-ups with oil exploration names on the side in vanderhoof on the same day in the middle of the week.Hmmmmm

Posted by: dow7500 on April 22 2008 11:27 AM

where are these rigs drilling? There has not been any land sales in the nechako basin so no drilling there. Do you guys know what a oil rig looks like? or a service rig, or a seismic rig? I have a map from geo science BC showing previously drilled wells and seismic lines in the Nechako basin. Nothing since the early 80's has been done. So where are these midnight rig movers headed??

Posted by: taxinapothole on April 22 2008 10:47 PM

dow7500, get an updated map, it is now 2008!! If one is not available, I would suggest we are being kept in the dark!! As in, "THE DARK AGES"

And yes, I do know what these rigs look like!! You see, I do have my head out of the sand!! Try a night shift dow7500

Posted by: govsux on April 23 2008 9:22 AM

Ooooh a new conspiracy.........cool.
The government is letting people steal the provinces oil while we sleep.

Posted by: dow7500 on April 23 2008 10:18 AM

The map is from 2006 taxi and the headline of this story pretty much sums it up" no drilling yet for oil in the Nechako basin"
If you know where these "midnight" rigs are drilling, do tell. Try a night shift???
I stayed in school so I wouldn't have to drive a taxi at night.