Argentina
Gran Tierra Energy Inc., Calgary, said a horizontal well in the Neuquen basin of Argentina is flowing light oil naturally from the Lower Cretaceous Loma Montosa tight reservoir after a multistage frac job.
Gran Tierra is operator with 100% working interest in the Puesto Morales block, on which the PMN-1117 well went to 2,130 m measured depth, 1,408 m true vertical depth.
After the fracs, the 483-m horizontal section flow-tested at 840 b/d of oil in the first 24 hr, starting Dec. 2, and is now flowing on choke at 212 b/d of 33.8° gravity oil, natural.
Iowa-Minnesota
The US Geological Survey has let a contract to Bell Geospace to assist in a comprehensive, high-resolution airborne survey to assess minerals and water potential in northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota.
In the project, to run through January, USGS scientists will use state-of-the-art 3D subsurface maps to help determine if nickel, copper, and platinum group elements exist as in the Midcontinent Rift region. Secondary to this mission, an evaluation will be made of the geologic structure as it relates to water resources.
USGS Director Marcia McNutt said Bell Geospace will fly the 3D-full tensor gravity gradient survey 100-500 ft above the ground using a turbo-powered DC-3 aircraft.
McNutt said, "USGS uses the latest technology to find new sources of the valuable commodities, even when buried deep beneath the Earth—s surface."
California
North American Oil & Gas, formerly Lani LLC, has spudded the Pass Exploration 77-20 exploratory well in California—s San Joaquin basin in Kern County 30 miles southwest of Bakersfield.
The first of two planned wildcats, the well is to go to 7,500 ft to test a prospective oil area between Tejon and Tejon North oil fields.
Primary objective is the Lower Miocene Olcese sand that is productive in the vicinity, said East West Petroleum Corp., Vancouver, BC, whose Avere Energy Corp. subsidiary controls a 25% interest in the prospect.
Tennessee
Miller Energy Resources Inc., Huntsville, Tenn., said its first horizontal well in the Mississippian Fort Pay lime formation in Tennessee exposed 2,300 ft of pay section.
Miller will run a multiple packer system to stimulate and test the CPP H-1, Permit 12404, on the firm—s Cumberland Plateau Partners LLC lease in Scott County. The lateral is at 1,600 ft true vertical depth and had strong oil and gas shows throughout.
Miller said the well is the first phase of drilling the undeveloped portion of existing vertically drilled Fort Payne oil fields in Tennessee in which it has controlling interest. Miller has designated and is permitting the next three horizontal well locations. The second is to be drilled in January.
Miller Energy has 40,000 acres under lease or held by production in Tennessee.
Washington
Comet Ridge Ltd., Brisbane, said its Comet Ridge Resources LLC unit drilled its Yeti-1 exploratory well in Grays Harbor County, Washington, to a total depth of 1,381 m in September 2012, ran logs, and plugged and abandoned the well.
CRR is evaluating technical data from the well and assessing the merits of further drilling on its large acreage position in the Grays Harbor area (OGJ Online, June 18, 2012).
