By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 22 -- Initial test results are reported to be "strongly positive" for the first underbalanced, horizontal gas well in the Sacramento basin of northern California. The well, McCormack 9, is on the west flank of Rio Vista field.
Field operator and majority interest holder Output Exploration LLC (Opex), Stafford, Tex., and partner Royale Energy Inc., San Diego, tested the well at a stabilized rate of 2.5-3 MMcfd of natural gas, reported Royale Energy. Opex declined a request for test data.
"We are waiting on hookup before releasing any production information," said Opex Chief Executive Robert Brook.
Combined underbalanced and horizontal drilling technologies, used successfully in other producing regions, had not been applied in the Sacramento basin.
Royale Energy said it had previously drilled three successful vertical wells on the McCormack property following a 3D seismic survey, prior to Opex's obtaining an interest in the field.
Royal Energy said it is analyzing the results of McCormack 9 to determine whether to use this technology on the remaining 26,600 net acres the company has under contract in California.
