Anadarko Petroleum Corp. affiliate Berkley Petroleum Inc., operator of the East Lost Hills Nos. 4 and 9 wells in Kern County, proposed to partners to plug the two exploratory wells in the San Joaquin basin, said participant PYR Energy Corp., Denver.
PYR said Berkley will neither propose nor participate in any more operations at ELH, OGJ Online reported Dec. 4.
Leases are expiring due to continued operating problems and inactivity, PYR said.
It continued, "Although we do not feel that we have adequately evaluated the Temblor potential at East Lost Hills, the extremely high cost of operations and the ongoing uncertainties make it very difficult to continue to participate at current levels."
PYR said it elected nonconsent with respect to completion of the AERA Energy LLC 1-22 Northwest Lost Hills well, drilled to TD 20,457 ft with production casing set. PYR will continue with a 2.81% carried working interest at the Pyramid Power prospect, where the well reached TD of 20,465 ft on July 17. Oxy Lost Hills Inc. assumed operations from Berkley and will complete and test the well.
PYR said it will focus in 2003 on shallower Temblor prospects in California and on Wyoming Overthrust prospects, all of which could serve needy California gas markets if successful.