New Brunswick's iconic images are of lobsters, lighthouses and stunning tides. Tourists flock to the Maritimes province to immerse themselves in whale-watching in the Bay of Fundy, canoeing down the Restigouche River, and sailing on the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Traditional industries are lumbering, fishing, mining and farming; manufacturing and services have gained prominence in recent years. Although its mining history is rich, encompassing plentiful lead, zinc and copper deposits in its northern part, and non-metals, such as potash and salt, in its southern region, New Brunswick has not been blessed with abundant oil and gas production. In the early 20th century, indications were that New Brunswick might have a rosy future in hydrocarbons. The province's first commercial oil field was discovered in 1909 at Stoney Creek, in Albert County. Stoney Creek contained 21 million barrels of in-place oil in the Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian) Albert formation at depths between 500 and 1,100 meters. Much of the field's promise went unrealized, however. Just 830,000 barrels of waxy crude and 28 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of gas were produced. Oil production ceased in the early 1970s, and gas production tailed off during the next 20 years. For more on this, see the June issue of Oil and Gas Investor. For a subscription, call 713-260-6441.

Comments