Saratoga developing Vermilion 16 area

Dec. 16, 2008
Saratoga Resources Inc., Houston, chasing untapped potential in Vermilion 16 field in state waters off Louisiana, acquired four tracts adjacent to the field and has commissioned a full-field study.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 16 -- Saratoga Resources Inc., Houston, chasing untapped potential in Vermilion 16 field in state waters off Louisiana, acquired four tracts adjacent to the field and has commissioned a full-field study.

Vermilion 16, discovered in 1961, has produced from 30 stacked sands at 10,500-16,200 ft. Saratoga has identified five existing proved developed nonproducing opportunities in three wellbores and four proved undeveloped opportunities. Only two wells are drilled deeper than 17,000 ft.

Surrounding Vermilion 16 are several fields that each produced more than 3 tcf of gas. The newly acquired tracts either contain extensions to proved reserves or provide access to surface locations for proposed directional development wells.

NuTech Energy Alliance is using 25 sq miles of licensed 3D seismic from Fairfield Industries Inc. to identify unswept areas for infill drilling, identify and confirm directional development drilling opportunities, identify shallower bypassed gas pay, and identify low resistivity bypassed gas pay.

The recompleted S.L. 3762-1 well flowed 1.2 MMcfd of gas and 45 b/d of condensate on a 13/64-in. choke with 3,050 psi flowing tubing pressure from Rob 54-F sand perforations at 13,004-014 ft, adding 34,000 bbl and 1.1 bcf of net reserves.

This plugback was identified by a pulsed neutron log that was run in the well in June 2007. Enough proved developed nonproducing reserves are recognized on that log to justify an acceleration well, Saratoga said. The data will be used to help accelerate the drilling of over 37 bcf and 400,000 bbl of proved undeveloped reserves.

The state recently approved a voluntary unit covering 600 acres on S.L. 3762 and 3763, which will insure that the lease area covered by these reservoirs is protected.

Saratoga's subsidiary The Harvest Group LLC also acquired 66 acres in Main Pass Block 53 with 100% working interest.