CAODC commends the Alberta Government for lifting curtailment limits on new oil production.

For Immediate Release: November 8, 2019
 
CAODC commends the Alberta Government for lifting curtailment limits on new oil production.
 
Today, the government of Alberta announced it will remove production limits on new conventional oil wells effective immediately. This measure, along with curtailment relief for production shipped by new rail capacity, is an important step forward in improving overall activity levels for drilling and well servicing contractors.
 
“Today’s announcement is excellent news for the industry,” says CAODC President and CEO Mark Scholz. “2019 was another difficult year, and our activity levels were moving toward the historical lows of 2016. These efforts by the provincial government should encourage new production, and help get women and men in our industry back to work.”
 
Through Q3 2019, there were just over 3,600 wells drilled, and the total well count for the year is expected to be 4,896, far short of CAODC’s forecasted total of 6,962. Since February 2017, 29 high-spec and deep drilling rigs have left Canada for the United States, as well as several well servicing rigs and crews. Lower operating costs, the US dollar exchange rate, and year-round drilling opportunities are an attractive incentive to Canadian oil and gas companies.
 
“Canada’s reputation as a good place to do business for oil and gas producers has been seriously damaged in recent years. Announcements such as this one today, that incentivize investment and encourage production, are needed if Alberta and western Canada are going to compete with other oil and gas producing jurisdictions,” says Scholz. “More importantly though, these measures to stimulate new drilling are a welcome sign of hope for communities and businesses in rural Alberta, and for oil and gas families.”
 

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The Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) represents Canada’s drilling and service rig industry.
 
For more information, contact:
 
John Bayko – Vice President, Communications
Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors
Phone: (403) 264-4311 ext. 120
Email: jbayko@caodc.ca