Whiting begins CO2 flood at North Ward Estes field

Sept. 6, 2007
Whiting Petroleum has begun a field-wide carbon dioxide flood project in its North Ward Estes field covering 58,000 net acres in Ward and Winkler counties in Texas.

Angel White
Associate Editor

HOUSTON, Sept. 6 -- Whiting Petroleum Corp., Denver, has begun a field-wide carbon dioxide flood project in its North Ward Estes field covering 58,000 net acres in Ward and Winkler counties in Texas.

This represents the initial phase of a five-phase development project being carried out in the field through 2012 at an estimated cost of $639 million. The project's Phase 5, which would begin in 2013, has not been finalized, a company spokesman told OGJ.

The company began injecting 1 MMcfd of CO2 in North Ward Estes field in May. Its current rate of injection is about 16 MMcfd.

By first quarter 2008, the company expects the injection rate to reach 100 MMcfd of CO2.

Whiting has increased the field's injection wells to 440 from 180 and its producing wells to 935 from 580. These additions are the result of more drilling and converting inactive wells to producers, the spokesman said.

The field currently produces a net 5,300 b/d of oil. Peak production of 13,000 b/d of oil is expected in 2014. The field holds about 127 million boe in proved reserves as of Dec. 12, 2006.

Whiting acquired the field in 2005 from Celero Energy LP, Midland, for $459 million (OGJ Online, Oct. 7, 2005).

Contact Angel White at [email protected].