HIGH OIL RATES GAUGED FROM HAYNESVILLE IN ALABAMA

Aug. 24, 1992
Oil wells with among the highest flowing capacities in the onshore U.S. are being completed in Alabama as operators press development of North Frisco City field. Five wells have been completed in the Monroe County field. A sixth well will be drilled in September, and four more locations have been identified on the 2,100 acre leasehold. The area is 4 miles west of Monroeville, Ala. Nuevo Energy Co., Houston, completed the field's most recent well earlier this month.

Oil wells with among the highest flowing capacities in the onshore U.S. are being completed in Alabama as operators press development of North Frisco City field.

Five wells have been completed in the Monroe County field. A sixth well will be drilled in September, and four more locations have been identified on the 2,100 acre leasehold. The area is 4 miles west of Monroeville, Ala.

Nuevo Energy Co., Houston, completed the field's most recent well earlier this month.

The 1 Paramount-McCall 30-13, in 30-6n-7e, flowed at the rate of 3,060 b/d of oil and 3.9 MMcfd of gas through a 34/64 in. choke with 1,555 psi flowing tubing pressure.

The flow came through Jurassic Haynesville sand perforations at 12,050-085 ft. The well contains 82 ft of net pay.

In late July, the 1 Paramount-McCall 25-9, in 25-6n-6e, flowed at the maximum rate of 3,559 b/d of oil and 3.4 MMcfd of gas through a 32/64 in. choke with 1,695 psi flowing tubing pressure from Haynesville sand perforations at 12,008-069 ft. The well contains 77 ft of net pay.

TWO CLOSURES PRODUCE

The North Frisco City field discovery well, 1 Paramount-Sigler 25-6, was completed in March 1991 on a prospect generated by Paramount, which later became a Nuevo subsidiary.

The companies then ran a 3-D seismic survey over the field.

The first development well, 1 McCall 25-7, encountered 150 ft of net pay in a 200 ft thick Haynesville sand in March 1992.

The well was successfully located for maximum pay thickness using data from the 3-D survey.

The 1 Paramount-Sigler 25-6, 1 Paramount-McCall 25-7, 1 Paramount-Lancaster 30-5, and 1 Paramount-McCall 25-9 are located around a structural closure on the north side of the field. The fifth well, 1 McCall 30-13, is the first to confirm productivity of a southeastern closure in the field.

Both areas exhibit excellent reservoir characteristics of as much as 28% porosity, 2,000 md permeability, and a strong water drive. Average net pay thickness is about 90 ft.

The wells cost about $450,000 each to drill and $300,000 each to complete.

PRODUCING OPERATIONS

The field's first two wells, completed earlier this year, are producing to a dedicated processing plant.

North Frisco City field's first two wells, 25-6 Sigler and 25.7 McCall, are producing a combined 2,000 b/d of oil and 2.5 MMcfd of gas, and plant output is 1,500 b/d of oil, 1.7 MMcfd of gas, and 15,000 gal/day of natural gas liquids.

Another plant capable of processing production from the succeeding three wells is expected to be on stream in October. Inlet capacity will be 3,000 b/d of oil.

Torch Operating Co., Houston, is the field operator.

Nuevo and Howell Petroleum Corp., Houston, each hold 30% interests in the well, and Rimco Exploration Partners, Houston, holds 20%.

Other working interest partners are GEDD Inc., Corpus Christi, and Shore Oil, Houston.

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