CAMBRIAN TEST, OTHER EXPLORATORY DRILLING LIGHT UP PARADOX BASIN

Jan. 28, 1991
G. Alan Petzet Exploration Editor The Paradox basin is alive with exploratory drilling, with operators busy not only in Southeast Utah but the lightly drilled northeastern area of Southwest Colorado. New drilling in the area includes a new field wildcat to Cambrian Lynch dolomite in San Miguel County, Colo. That wildcat, others in both states, and multiwell programs by Chuska Energy Co., Farmington, N.M., and Ampolex (Texas) Inc., Denver, will make it an exciting winter in the remote basin.
G. Alan Petzet
Exploration Editor

The Paradox basin is alive with exploratory drilling, with operators busy not only in Southeast Utah but the lightly drilled northeastern area of Southwest Colorado.

New drilling in the area includes a new field wildcat to Cambrian Lynch dolomite in San Miguel County, Colo.

That wildcat, others in both states, and multiwell programs by Chuska Energy Co., Farmington, N.M., and Ampolex (Texas) Inc., Denver, will make it an exciting winter in the remote basin.

COLORADO WILDCATS

American Hunter Exploration Ltd., Calgary, has received a permit to drill 44-24 Federal, SE SE 24-44n-18w, in San Miguel County, Colo., 17 miles southwest of Naturita. Projected depth is 8,900 ft or Lynch.

The wildcat is about 10 miles east of shut-in Southeast Lisbon field, which has produced nearly 14 bcf of gas from Mississippian Leadville, notes Petroleum Information.

Hunter's wildcat is also about 5 miles south-southeast of one well Hamm Canyon field, a Pennsylvanian Hermosa gas discovery well. And it is 8 miles west of Hermosa and Permian Cutler pay in Andy's Mesa field.

Meanwhile, Ampolex staked 1 Canyon, SE NE 23-38n-20w, a 6,250 ft Pennsylvanian Desert Creek wildcat in Dolores County.

The wildcat, 16 miles south-southwest of Dove Creek, Colo., is 2 miles southwest of development drilling that took place last year by Ampolex and Celsius Energy Co. on the southern flank of Papoose Canyon field, Pi notes.

UTAH ACTIVITY

Chuska is proceeding with its multiwell development algal reef mound program in Southeast Utah.

The company's most recent staking is 1 Lark 19G, NW 20-42s-24e, in San Juan County on Navajo Indian lands 17 miles southeast of Bluff, Utah. Objective of the planned directional hole is at 6,320 ft true vertical depth.

The well site is about 3 miles south of Desert Creek oil and gas producers on the southern edge of Aneth field (see map, OGJ, Apr. 16, 1990, p. 84).

Chuska is also active at 1 Sterling 36L, in NW SW 36-41s-23w, San Juan County.

The 5,503 ft Pennsylvanian Paradox test offsets the only active producer in Desert Creek field. That well, pumping 13 b/d of oil, has produced about 28,000 bbl of oil from Hermosa at 5,244-5,320 ft.

Desert Creek field, discovered in 1954, has produced 618,000 bbl of oil and 476 MMcf of gas.

Chuska has drilled 1 North Village 20-1, NE SE 20-42s-24e, a Desert Creek test 1 mile southeast of the 1 Lark 19G.

The operator's most recent discovery, 2 Runway 10E, SW NW 10-40s-25e, San Juan County, flowed 821 b/d of oil and 1.143 MMcfd of gas from Desert Creek. Total depth is 6,038 ft.

Copyright 1991 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.