OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENTS IN EASTERN CANADA IN 1982.

A jurisdictional dispute by the federal government and Newfoundland over offshore rights has slowed exploration and development off Newfoundland and Labrador. In constrast, agreement between the federal government and Nova Scotia about offshore rights resulted in a doubling of industry activity around Nova Scotia. While only 1 well was drilled in the Atlantic provinces during 1982, 21 wells were drilled offshore. Exploratory work continued to delineate the oil-producing potential of the Hibernia structure as well as the gas-prone Venture area off Sable Island. Other offshore exploratory work in eastern Canada consisted of the first phase of a 5-year program to search for hydrocarbons in Hudson Bay. In Ontario, drilling activity decreased 8%, from 198 wells in 1981 to 183 wells in 1982. Of these 183 wells, offshore drilling in Lake Erie accounted for 64, a decrease of 33% from 1981. Seismic exploration onshore in eastern Canada consisted of 799 km (496 mi) in Ontario, 517 km (321 mi) in New Brunswick, and 250 km (155 mi) in Prince Edward Island. Compared with 1981l, production of oil and gas in New Brnswick in 1982 declined by 68% and 18%, respectively. In Ontario, oil production decreased 5%, whereas gas production increased 4%. Gas production increased from 167. 3 multiplied by 10**3 m**3 (5,913 mcf) to 3. 68 multiplied by 10**6 m**3 (130 mmcf) in Quebec.