By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 11 – An unspecified large exploration and production company with a considerable California operations presence took a farmout from Gasco Energy Inc., Denver, on the Willow Springs prospect in Kern County, Calif., on the west side of the San Joaquin basin.

The company paid a prospect fee and will carry Gasco Energy for a 20% working interest. The farmee, which becomes operator, has an option to drill a second well.

The prospect’s three reservoir targets are the Oligocene Phacoides sandstone member of the Temblor formation and the Eocene First and Second Point of Rocks sandstones.

Belgian Anticline and giant McKittrick and Cymric oil and gas fields nearly surround the prospect, but no well has tested these formations at higher structural positions near the beds’ intersection with the McKittrick fault.