Workers lay 20-in. pipeline as part of Delhi's second-phase expansion. (Photo courtesy of Delhi Gas Pipeline Corp.)
Operators continue to develop infrastructure in the upper Jurassic Cotton Valley pinnacle reef play in East Texas. Delhi Gas Pipeline Corp., Dallas, a member of USX-Delhi Group, a USX Corp. unit, has completed its second-phase system expansion (OGJ, Mar. 10, 1997, p. 34). Delhi said this phase adds more than 275 MMcfd of incremental gas gathering and treating capacity. Meanwhile, Sonat Exploration Co., a unit of Sonat Inc., drilled its fourth pinnacle reef discovery in Leon County. The 3 Cook, drilled to 15,840 ft total depth, encountered a gross thickness of 607 ft of reefal limestone in an interval at 15,133-15,740 ft. Completion operations are planned after first production test results become available in about 3 weeks, Sonat said.
Delhi's plans
Delhi already has a third-phase expansion on the drawing board, based on anticipated volumes of future pinnacle reef production. "Current reef production has increased to approximately 200 MMcfd, up from a December 1996 average of about 133 MMcfd," said David M. Kihneman, president. "Based on expected drilling activity, volumes gathered and treated by Delhi could increase to as high as 300 MMcfd by the end of this year." Phase two, which began in December 1995, involved 92 miles of 20-in. pipeline, increased inlet flow capacity at its Aker and Teague treating plants, and installation of 8,000 hp of compression.
Active drilling program
Including the 3 Cook, Sonat is drilling five wells targeting pinnacle reef objectives, and it plans to spud the 1 Ryon in the Tri-Cities area of Henderson County in about 2 weeks. Sonat said if the 1 Ryon is successful, it will extend Cotton Valley pinnacle reef production about 45 miles northeast (see map, OGJ, Mar. 3, 1997, p. 25). Sonat has a 50% working interest in the well. Additional wells drilling include 2 Fountain and 2 Blanton, 1 Morris Lazy K, and 2 Moore. The 1 Morris Lazy K, a joint well with Amoco, is the first reef exploratory test in the Marquez area of Leon County. The 2 Moore is the first Sonat well to be drilled in the Donie area of Limestone County. Sonat currently holds about 315,000 acres of leases in the trend as operator. Its working interest ranges from 50% and 100%, and averages about 65%.
Seismic action proceeding
Sonat has completed 3D seismic acquisition and data processing on about 15% of its leasehold and has identified 35 3D seismic-supported reef anomalies on this acreage. Five prospects have been drilled, resulting in four discoveries. The fifth well, 4 Blazek, will be reentered and sidetracked later this year after additional 3D seismic evaluation, the company said. Seismic field operations are under way on another 15% of the company's acreage, and it anticipates that during the next 12 months, 3D seismic data will be available on 75% of the acreage now leased.
