Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to an oil exploration game.
Oil and other exploration games have been in exlstence
for some time. In fact, a large number of such games are described
in the patent literature. Examples of patents relating to oil
board games include Canadian Patent No. 1,185,998, which issued
to J.R. Anthony et al on April 23, 1985, and U.S. Patents Nos.
; 2,299,803, which issued to C.U. Deaton on October 27, 1942;
3,061,313, which issued to S. Greene on October 30, 1962; 3,206,211,
which issued to H. Koplin on September 14, 1965; 3,729,198,
which issued to D.H. Shaffer on April 24, 1973; 3,801,104, which
issued to R.G. Potts on April 2, 1974; 3,811,681, which issued
to D.H. Sprouse et al on May 21, 1974; 3,844,567, which issued
to R.L. Marker on October 29, 1974 and 4,025,075, which issued
to M.T. Priska et al on May 24, 1977.
In general, the patented games are unnecessarily complicated
and consequently expensive to produce, or somewhat unimaginative
and consequently not capable of holding the users attention.
Thus, in spite of the existence of large numbers of games of
the type in question, there still exists a need for a simple,
yet interesting oil exploration game.
The object of the present invention is to meet the above
defined need by providing a relatively simple oil exploration
game, which can be inexpensively produced, and which is relatively
interesting to play.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an oil
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exploration game comprising hollow, rectangular casing means;
top panel means closing the open top end of said casing means
and defining a playing surface; a plurality of first, contiguous
play areas around the periphery of sa.id playing surface; indicia
in each said play area, said indicia defining (a) a starting
point, (b) various land purchase and drilling options, (c) rewards
and (d) punishments for landing on the area; a plurality of
second contiguous play areas occupying the area of the playing
surface surrounded by the first play areas; a plurality of spaced
apart holes in each said second play area of the panel means;
a plurality of block means movably mounted in said casing means
for indicating successful well locations and the quality thereof;
magnet means carried by at least some of said block means; magnetic-
ally actuated indicator means for movement on the playing surface
to provide an approximate location of said magnet means and
consequently of said block means beneath said playing surface;
simulated oil derrick means for insertion into said holes one
at a time; play money for use by the players; and score sheet
means for keeping score and other records during the course
of each game.
The invention will be described in greater detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings which illsutrate a preferred
embodiment of the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic, exploded perspective view
of an oil exploration game in accordance with the present invention.
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Figure 2 is a plan view of one end of a game board
used in the game of Fig. l; and
Figure 3 is a plan view of a score sheet used in the
game of Fig. 1.
With reference to Fig. 1, the oil exploration game
of the present invention includes a rectangular casing generally
indicated at 1. The casing 1 is defined by a box 2 including
a bottom wall 4, side walls 5, end walls 6, and an open top
end 7, which is normally closed by a rectangular panel 8. A
rectangular ledge 9 extends around the interior of the periphery
of the box 2 for supporting the panel 8. The box 2, the panel
8 and the ledge 9 can all be formed of cardboard which simplifies
production and reduces the cost of the basic components of the
game.
A plurality of blocks 10 are placed in the box 2 for
free movement on the bottom wall 4 thereof. Each of the blocks
10 is defined by irregularly shaped bottom and top layers 12
and 13, respectively which are formed of plastic or another
inexpensive material. The blocks 10 may have an additional
layer (not shown). A magnet 14 is mounted in some of the top
layers 13. The blocks 10 are intended to provide an indication
of successful wells and the quality thereof, i.e. the presence
of oil or gas.
The panel 8 normally rests on the shoulder 9 above
the blocks 10. A simulated seismic exploration device 16 can
be moved around thP top, playing surface 18 of the panel 8 for
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determining the approximate locations of the blocks 10. The
device 16 is defined by a small, parallelopipedic casing 19
with a transparent cover 20 on the top thereof and iron filings
21 or another material which reacts to a magnetic field in the
casing. In use, the iron filings 21 or other material should
initially be more or less uniformly distributed to ensure the
most accurate indication of the locations of blocks 10 beneath
the panel 8.
The other elements of the game include a simulated oil
derrick 23 defined by a derrick shaped body 24 and a pin 25
slidably mounted in the body, a plurality of counters 27 for
marking the progress of each player around the periphery of the
playing surface 18, a plurality of disc-shaped property markers
28, play money 30, reward and penalty cards 31 and 32, respectively,
a pad of score sheets 34, a plurality of pins (not shown) with
black, red, blue and yellow plastic heads, and a conventional
die (not shown).
Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the playing surface
: 18 of the panel 8 is divided by longitudinally and transversely
extending lines into a plurality of rectangular play areas 35
~ and 36. Each of the large areas 35 on the central area of the
I playing surface 18 contain a map of a position of the world,
and is subdivided into nine smaller areas 37. The maps illustrate
and are labelled 'IAustralia'', "South America", "Midwest/USA/Gulf
Coast", "Middle East", "Western Canada" and "United Kingdom/North
Sea". Each area 37 includes five small holes 39 spaced equidistance
apart for receiving the pin 25 of the derrick 23, and subsequently
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one of the pins with a coloured head. Each o~ the areas 36 on
the periphery of the playing surface 18 contains indicia setking
out exploration or drilling options, or instructing the player
to pick one of the reward or punishment cards 31 or 32, respectively
which are entitled "Windfall" and "Hazard", respectively.
A square 40 at one corner of the playing surface 18
is entitled "Year End". This square represents the starting
point. Going around the playing surface in a clockwise direction,
the next corner 41 is entitled "Hazard", which instructs the
player landing on this square to pick up a ha~ard card 32. The
intervening areas 37 between the corners 40 and 41 read as follows:
1st Quarter Budget
May spend up to $2,000,000; Maximum 2 wells; $1,000,000/well;
Maximum seismic 2 parcels; $500,000/parcel.
Seismic O~tion
May seismic 1 parcel of land; Cost $1,000,000; May purchase same
parcel; Cost $2,000,000.
Windfall
Seismic
20 May seismic up to 4 parcels of land; Cost .~500,000/parcel.
Drilling
May drill up to 4 wells; Cost $1,500,000/well.
Crown Land Sale
May post 1 parcel of land for bid.
The next corner 42 (Fig. 1) in the clockwise direction
reads as follows:
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Wildcat
May drill 2 wells on any unowned land; Cost $3,500,000; Retain
parcel & points when disclosed at year end if well is successful.
The intervening areas 37 read as follows:
2nd Quarter Budget
May spend up to $3,000,000; Maximum 3 wells; $1,000,000/well;
Maximum seismic ~ parcels; $500,000/parcel.
Wildcat
May drill 1 well; Cost $4,000,000.
Windfall
Triple Option
Drill 1 well; Cost $1,000,000 or seismic 2 parcels; Cost $500,000/
parcel or post 1 parcel for bid.
Freehold
15 May purchase up to 2 parcels of land; Cost $1,000,000/parcel.
Drilling
J
May drill up to 4 wellsi Cost $1,000,000/well.
Hazard
Crown Land Sale
May post up to 2 parcels of land for bid.
Seismic
May seismic up to 2 parcels of land; Cost $500,000/parcel.
The next corner 43 (Fig. 1) in -the clockwise direction
reads "Windfall", and the areas 37 between the corner squares
42 and 43 read as follows:
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3rd Quarter Budqet
May spend up to $4,000,000; Maximum 2 wells; $1,500,000/well;
Maximum seismic 4 parcels of land; $500,000/parcel.
Lease Expiry
Player must forfeit 1 parcel of land unless every parcel has
a producing well.
Windfall
Drilling
May drill up to 3 wells; Cost $1,500,000/well.
Crown Land Sales
May post up to 2 parcels of land for bid.
Seismic
May seismic up to 3 parcels of land; Cost ~500,000/parcel.
The areas 37 between the "Windfall" corner square 43
and the "Year End" corner 39 read as follows:
4th Quarter Budget
May spend up to $4,000,000; Maximum 2 wells; $1,500,000/well;
Maximum seismic 4 parcels of land; $500,000/parcel.
Drilling
20 May drill up to 6 wells; Cost $1,000,000/well.
Hazard
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Freehold
:
May purchase up to 2 parcels of land; Cost $1,500,000/parcel.
Wildcat
25 May drill 1 well; Cost $5,000,000.
Windfall
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Crown Land Sale
May post up to 3 parcels of land for bid.
Drilling
May drill up to 3 wells; Cost $1,500,000/well.
Lease Expiry
Player must forfeit 1 parcel of land unless every parcel of
player's land has a successful well.
A player whose counter 27 lands on one of the windfall
areas must take a windfall card 31 from the stack of such cards.
The windfall cards contain the following instructions:
. U.S. Freehold land allocation, select any unowned
land and parcel in Midwest U.S.A. free.
. Seismic bonus - May run seismic on up to 2 parcels
for $500,000/parcel and may run seismic on 2 additional parcels
free.
. Large scale drilling program results in reduced costs.
May drill 1 free well (with no undrilled location between it
and an already drilled location) in the Middle East.
. United Kingdom government announced a reduction in
20 petroleum revenue tax. Collect $1,500,000 if you have wells
in the U.K.
. Canadian royalties have been reduced. Collect $1,000,000
for each super oil well in Western Canada.
. Investors are impressed by your track record. Collect
25 $10,000,000.
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. Low aetivity & competitive bidding in the U.S. has
reduced drilling costs. You may drill 2 wells in the Midwest
U.S. Cost $100,000twell.
. This winter was extremely severe and fuel consumption
was high. Colleet double your annual income at year end. (Retain
card until year end.)
. The Australian government has announeed a frontier
lands ineentive program. You may drill 1 free wildeat well on
any unowned and unseismiced parcel in Australia.
.
. The Canadian government has announeed a job creating
program. You may reduce your next drilling costs to $500,000/
well. (Retain card until you drill.)
. It is your option! You may purehase 1 pareel or
drill 1 well or conduct seismic on 2 parcels in the Middle East.
Cost $1,000,000.
. You have successfully stimulated a well. You may
double the points for an average oil or gas well.
. The U.K. government is giving tax credits for e~ploration.
Colleet $500,000 for every dry hole you have drilled in the
United Kingdom.
. The South American government is promoting your in
vestment. Drill 1 free wildeat in South America.
. South Ameriean erown land alloeation - select any
unowned land pareel in South America at no cost.
. Short term inerease in produetion quotas - eollect
$100,000 for eaeh oil well and $200,000 for each gas well.
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. Are you running shor-t of time? Roll again or drill
l free well.
. A recent increase in Middle East tension has caused
an increase in oil price. Collect $200,000 for each oil point
you have attained.
Similarly, when a player's counter 27 lands on a hazard
play area, the player is required to take a hazard card 32. The
instructions on the hazard cards are as follows:
. All productive wells require servicing. Pay $100,000
per well.
. A junior engineer gets pipe cemented in a gas well.
Pay $100,000 & remove l gas well. (This well may be redrilled
later.)
. Your company is subject to a takeover bid. You may
15 not spend more than $3,000,000 during your next 2 turns. (Retain
card for 2 turns.)
. Your entire seismic crew has ended up with food poison-
ing. You may not conduct seismic for 3 turns. (Retain card for
i~ 3 turns.)
. Your best gas well has started to produce significant
quantities of oil. If you have a "super" gas well, change it
to an average oil well and adjust points accordingly.
. Two of your super oil wells have started to produce
a large amount of water. Change 2 super oil wells to dry holes.
. An earthquake destroys 2 wells in South America.
Remove any 2 wells from South America & reduce points accordingly.
(These wells may be redrilled later.)
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. You have over extended your budget. Transfer ownership
of 1 land parcel (with at least 1 successful well on it) to other
player with fewest to~al polnts. (In a tie, player with lowest
cash on hand.)
` 5 . Due to a shortage of seismic crews you are not allowed
to run seismic far 2 turns. (Retain card for 2 turns.)
. U.S. government announces new energy policy which
contains new excise tax, pay $200,000 per producing well in Western
United States.
. Due to a shortage of drilling rigs you may not drill
for 1 turn. tRetain card for 1 turn.)
. A pipeline company which you depend upon has had a
pipeline failure. Pay $2,000,000 at year end for additional
transportation expenses. (Retain card until year end.)
. You have an oil spill in the Canadian north. Pay
$2,000,000 for damages if you own land in Western Canada.
. Two of your best wells were destroyed in the Middle
East war. Remove two super (oil or gas) wells. If you have too
few super wells, remove average wells.
. OPEC is flooding market with excess oil & the price
is collapsing. Receive only 50~ of your calculated income at
year end. tRetain card until year end.)
. You have been audited by government & your books are
not up to par. Pay $4,000,000 in back taxes.
. Excessive rain prohibits transportation of your drilling
rig. You may not drill for 2 turns. (Retain card for 2 turns.)
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. A typhoon in Australia destroys a production platform.
Remove 4 offshore wells in Australia.
. You have had a blowout in the United Kingdom/North
Sea. Remove 1 gas well from this area. (Well may be redrilled
later.)
The remaining elements of the game include small crowns
~4 ~Fig. l) for indicating parcels of land posted for sale during
a government land sale.
With reference to Figure 3, each score sheet 34 includes
a main title 45 at the top centre of the sheet, and instructions
46 for calculating scoring. Columns 48 and 49 are provided beneath
the instructions 46 for maintaining a record of points and bids
made on land, i.e. play areas 36 on the central` area of the playing
surface 18. The right hand side of the score sheet 34 includes
a title "Calculation of Annual Income", instructions for calcu-
lating income, and columns of squares 52 for maintaining seismic
records. The number and arrangement of the squares 52 are equal
or similar to the number and arrangement of the play areas 36
to facilitate the accurate keeping of records.
The rules of play for the game are generally as follows:
The game is a model of the daily events in the exploration
department of an oil and gas company. No previous knowledge of
the oil and gas industry is required, and players of twelve years
of age and older can easily learn the game. The game is intended
2S for from two to eight players. The player who first obtainstwenty-five points for successful oil wells and twenty-five points
for successful gas wells is the winner. The manner of obtaining
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points is described hereinafter and on the score sheet 34. Success
in the game requires good financial management, timely land purchases,
good use of confidential information and an occasional misleading
bluff to side track opponents.
As described hereinbefore, the areas 37 in the middle
of the playing surface 18 of the panel 8 define fifty-four parcels,
each of which includes five drillable locations defined by the
holes 39. The middle hole 39 is designated as a potential gas
well, while the four corner holes 39 in each parcel are designated
as potential oil wells. Each player indicates ownership by placing
markers 28 of the same colour as their counter 27 on the parcel
which they own. The areas 36 on the perimeter of the board dictate
when land can be purchased. The two methods of purchasing land
are set out in the play areas 36, and include government land
sales and freehold land sales. During government land salds,sales,
a player may post a parcel or parcels of land for bidding. Posted
parcels are designated by placing a crown 44 on them. All players
may bid by recording a bid on their score sheet. The bids are
in multiples of $100,000, and in the event of a tie the tied
players bid again. The highest bidder obtains the right to drill
(mineral rights) and indicates ownership of the parcel. If more
than one parcel of land is posted, bids are recorded for each
parcel before any bids are declared. The price of the various
parcels of land are specified on the board for freehold land
sales.
When using the so-called seismic exploration device
16, it is important to ensure that the filings in the device
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are well distributed, so that no indications of oil and gas pools
are missed. It is important to note that the seismic device
merely provides an indication of the general location of three
quarters of the pools, and that drilling is required to locate
the remaining pools and to determine the size, shape and orienta-
tion of such pools. The square 52 on the score sheet 34 enable
each player to maintain a record of which player surveys which
parcel of land. This information is invaluable when making land
bids. Each player should at-tempt to obtain the land surrounding
10 several discoveries. Seismic exploration is essential, because
most of the well locations on the entire playing surface 18 would
be unsuccessful.
A player can drill on his or her own land only, unless
drilling a wildcat well. A simulated derrick or drilling rig
24 is placed over one of the openings 39, and the pin 25 is slid
downwardly through the opening to determine whether any of the
blocks 10 is located beneath the playing surface. If the pin
can be inserted fully into the derrick, then the well is dry.
If the pin stops before full insertion, i.e. if the bottom of
the pin strikes the bottom layer 12 of a block 10, than an
"average" well has been drilled. If the pin cannot be inserted
beyond the bottom of a hole 39, i.e. if the pin encounters a
top layer 13 of a block 10, than a "super" well has been drilled.
Successful drilling is rewarded as follows:
Oilwell Gaswell
Super 2 7 (marked by a red pin)
Average 1 3 (marked by a blue pinl
; Dry 0 0 (marked by a yellow pin)
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As per instructions found in the play areas 36, a player may
drill confidential wells (wildcats). Such wells are useful when
making land bids or purchases. Confidential wells are drilled
by shielding the rig and/or the rig pin with a hand. When drilling
a confidential well, the player marks the position of the well
on the playing surface using a black pin and must declare the
result and ohtain any points when passing the square 40 "year
end" at the starting position of the game. A wildcat is drilled
on unowned land and, if the well is successful, the land is retained.
Other players may not drill on a parcel with a wildcat well until
the well has been declared unsuccessful and the parcel is forfeited.
Each player receives an annual income at the "year end"
square 40 which increases as oil well and gas well points are
obtained. A player's annual income is determined as follows:
15 Annual Income = $1,000,000 + (oil points + gas points) x $500,000.
If more than two players are involved in a game, partner-
ships may be formed. If more than four players are involved,
partnerships are necessary. A partnership takes the turn of
a single player. Partnerships add a dimension of discussion,
sharing of confidential information and enjoyment to the game.
Before a game is started, all players should be familiar
with the blocks 10, and test or be familiar with the operation
of the seismic exploration de~ice 16. It is preferable that
a non-participant randomly place the blocks 10 in the casing
1. Alternatively, the game can be placed on a flat surface and
moved rapidly to randomly locate the blocks 10. Each player
starts the game with $25,000,000. ~he player with the highest
roll of the die begins the game by choosing one land parcel free,
and by conducting a seismic survey of one land parcel free. When
each player has completed the first turn, play proceeds clockwise
around the board starting with the first player. A winner is
declared when it is confirmed that a player has obtained twenty-five
points for oil wells and twenty-five points for gas wells.
Each player starts with limited resources and finite
opportunities. The challenge of the game is managing financial
resources such that the player can capitalize on wildcat and
seismic information. Land purchases and bids should be based
on such information. Players should also use their intuition
in assessing the activities and bids of other players. With
certain land posting and wildcats, players will find that they
may bluff other players.
General rules of play include that a player may not
borrow from the bank or other players, and may go into debt
only if forced to do so by a "Hazard" card 32. Except with a
partner, players may not combine, trade, sPll or share land parcels
36 or wells with other players. A player must decide and declare
what he or she intends to do at the beginning of each turn. E'or
example, if permitted to drill up to six wells, the player must
decide how many to drill before proceeding.
