Gulf of Mexico
Unocal Corp.'s Spirit Energy 76 unit started production from its Muni gas find on Ship Shoal Block 295 under budget and in less than 10 months after discovery.
The December 1999 discovery well in 240 ft of water logged more than 450 ft of pay in three zones. Production is to exceed 120 MMcfd of gas by yearend.
Muni, one of the largest shelf gas discoveries in recent years, has a gross resource potential of 100-160 bcf. Unocal's interest is 100%.
The company acquired the lease in March 1999 and made the development decision in March 2000. Costs through 2000 are expected to be less than $50 million.
Oklahoma
Gas production in the Potato Hills area of Pushmataha and Latimer counties may be related to the structural geology and depositional environment of proposed astrobleme models for the Gulf of Mexico, a University of Oklahoma research associate said.
GHK Co., Oklahoma City, has produced more than 20 bcf of gas from Pennsylvanian Jackfork at 4,600-6,765 ft the past 18 months and on Sept. 1 spudded a 21,000-ft wildcat in 7-2n-20e.
Public data from completed wells suggest that pay zones are enhanced by frac-induced connections with natural fractures, some of which may be extensive, said Richard Donofrio, a researcher with OU's Exploration and Development Geoscience (EDGE) institute said.
In an article to be published shortly on the EDGE website, Donofrio noted that GHK well reports indicate a fault at less than 6,000 ft in the area. This fault and the turbidite nature of the Jackfork need further study because some turbidites elsewhere have been linked to certain terrestrial impact sites, he said.
Tennessee
Miller Petroleum Inc., Huntsville, Tenn., extended Swan Creek field in Hancock County.
The 1 Dewey Sutton, on a farmout from Tengasco Inc., Knoxville, produced 100 bo/d, natural, from Ordovician Trenton at 3,093 ft.
Young Oil Corp., Knob Lick, Ky., re-established production at the 1 Roger Wright well in Pickett County.
It initially flowed 130 bo/d from Ordovician Upper Sunnybrook at 540 ft in January 2000. Production dropped off, and Young deepened to 750 ft in February and soon installed a pump.
The most recent deepening, to 1,150 ft, resulted in production of 102 bo/d from Ordovician Stones River.
Young and Ohio Kentucky Oil Corp., Lexington, Ky., plan to drill more wells on more than 2,000 acres of checkerboard leases. Overall drilling is active and increasing in the area, the companies said.
Texas
East
Clayton Williams Energy Inc., Midland, Tex., planned a completion attempt at the 1 Muse, a Cotton Valley pinnacle reef well drilled to 16,785 ft in Robertson County.
Formation permeability and porosity are lower in this well than in other reef wells the company has drilled, and success is not assured. The well has the potential for an uphole completion in indicated gas-bearing sands at 12,300-13,000 ft.
Clayton Williams spudded the 1 Lee Fazzino, a Cotton Valley reef test well projected to 17,000 ft in Robertson County 5,700 ft northwest of the 2 J.C. Fazzino Unit producing pinnacle reef gas well.
The rig from the 1 Muse will be moved around the end of October to the 1 McGrew Unit to attempt to repair tubing and complete two zones in the upper part of that reef.