Marathon, Wentworth to drill East Texas wells

Nov. 3, 2006
Wentworth Energy Inc., Palestine, Tex., has let a 3-year lease on a portion of its 27,557-acre mineral block in Freestone County, Tex., to Marathon Oil Co., with which it has signed a joint operating agreement.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 3 -- Wentworth Energy Inc., Palestine, Tex., has let a 3-year lease on a portion of its 27,557-acre mineral block in Freestone County, Tex., to Marathon Oil Co., with which it has signed a joint operating agreement.

The agreement allows Marathon to drill deep gas wells on about 9,000 acres along the East Texas Deep Bossier trend and to partner on a 50-50 basis with Wentworth Energy on drilling upper zones—above 8,500 ft.

As part of the agreement, Wentworth Energy will acquire a seismic license to enable access to all seismic data collected during Marathon's lease term. Plans are in place to conduct extensive seismic research, expected to provide valuable new information on potential oil and gas prospects on the mineral block, Wentworth said.

Wentworth Energy Pres. Michael Studdard said that, based on an 80 acre well spacing, for example, there could be more than 100 drilling sites on the 9,000-acre section of the block.

Barnico Drilling Inc., the drilling services subsidiary of Wentworth Energy, will be the drilling contractor for the operating agreement on any wells drilled to 8,500 ft or to the base of the Rodessa formation.