Apache Corp. reported encouraging results after drilling the most recent of four development wells in the Dunvegan oil reservoir in the Kaybob development area in Alberta. Kaybob, an area 310 miles northwest of Calgary, contains 16 known productive horizons of which the Dunvegan play is one.
The 1-35 development well flowed on test at 300 b/d. It was drilled to a vertical depth of 5,700 ft with a 4,300-ft lateral and a 13-stage fracture stimulation completion.
The Dunvegan is a widespread Upper Cretaceous sandstone reservoir. Longer term, the Dunvegan represents a good candidate for additional production by means of secondary recovery, Apache said.
Apache’s first well in the Dunvegan, the 1-9 well, tested at a peak rate of 280 b/d. It was drilled to a vertical depth of 5,500 ft with a 4,900-ft lateral and 13 fracture stages.
“These wells were drilled in areas which have been producing for over 40 years, but which have the potential to be completely rejuvenated through the application of horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing,” said Tim Wall, president of Apache Canada.
Apache has identified more than 2,000 potential horizontal drilling locations across its 238,000-acre gross (179,000-acre net) leasehold.
The Dunvegan, in the Northwest Alberta Deep basin, has been described by other oil companies as a pervasive package of stacked marine and fluvial sands ranging in thickness from 1-m units to more than 25 m of reservoir (OGJ Online, Aug. 12, 2011).
