Area Drilling

Libya

Red Sea Oil Corp. and Lundin Oil AB plan to start production from En Naga North and West fields on NC 177 in the southern Sirte basin within 12 months after approval of a development plan.

The firms filed the plan with a management committee controlled by Libyan National Oil Co. Peak production is estimated at 22,000 b/d 24 months after start-up (OGJ, Dec. 14, 1998, p. 88).

The firms will continue exploring the block using $43.6 million (Canadian) raised in a rights offering, with C1-NC 177 to spud in August 1999 on the Haruj A prospect just south of En Naga field.

Nigeria

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Co. (Snepco) plans to spud the Kolmani River AX wildcat in the Gongola basin in northeastern Nigeria this year.

Exploratory activities started six years ago in the zone when Snepco won Oil Prospecting Leases 803, 806, and 809. Snepco, AGIP, and Exxon have funded activities thus far, including seismic in 1995 and 1997.

The well is projected as deep as 9,000 ft at a cost of $1.44 million.

Two other wells are to be drilled this year. Chevron Nigeria Ltd. is to drill about 30 km south of Kolmani River AX on one of its six concessions, and Elf Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. plans to drill elsewhere in partnership with Canadian Petroleum, Esso Exploration and Production, and Chevron Nigeria.

Russia

The Administration of Yamal-Nenets autonomous okrug opened an exploration and production data loading center in Tyumen, western Siberia.

The project involves loading and archiving data for all of the E&P companies in the region, including RAO Gazprom, Noyabrskneftegaz (Sibneft), and Purneftegaz (Rosneft).

During the next 3 years, Schlumberger/GeoQuest and the Siberian Scientific Analytical Center will continue development of the Yamal Data Bank Project, including creation of the Central Territorial Data Bank in Salekhard. Other data preparation and data access offices will be opened in the area.

Louisiana

Venus Exploration Inc., San Antonio, plans to acquire acquire 8,400 net (10,000 gross) acres of oil and gas properties from Apache Corp. for $28.5 million.

The properties, in Vernon field, Jackson Parish, have 19 wells producing more than a net 7 MMcfd of gas. Venus will operate 18 of the wells and have a 92% average working interest. The transaction, effective Mar. 1, is to close June 30.

Venus estimates that a cut in spacing to 160 acres will add 10-15 proved undeveloped locations. Its interest in the properties resulted from an in-house geological and engineering trend study of the Lower Cotton Valley formation.

Mississippi

Fina Oil & Chemical Co., Houston, proposed to re-enter and horizontally drill a deep well in Maben field, Oktibbeha County. Exxon Co., U.S.A. originally drilled the 1 Fulgham, in 33-19n-12e, to 21,376 ft in 1972-73.

Fina, which has been developing gas production in Ordovician Knox in Maben field, plans to re-enter the well at 16,000 ft and drill horizontally in the Knox, reports Southeastern Oil Review, Jackson. Fina's most recent well, 1 Georgia Pacific, in 5-18n-12e, is awaiting pipeline hookup (see map, OGJ, Dec. 21, 1998, p. 108).

New Mexico

Exploration for gas in Paleocene Ojo Alamo is spreading northwest from Mallon Resources Corp.'s East Blanco Unit and Cabresto Canyon field (OGJ, Apr. 27, 1998, p. 77).

Williams Production Co., Tulsa, Okla., and Edwards Energy Co., Denver, staked Ojo Alamo tests in 28, 29, 32, and 33-31n-4w, Rio Arriba County, IHS reported. Projected depths are around 3,000 ft.

Texas

North AFE Oil & Gas Consultants, Dallas, opened a field in northeastern Tarrant County.

The 1 Godfrey, 51/2 miles north of Arlington, flowed 1.744 MMcfd of gas on a 16/64 in. choke with 1,124 psi FTP from Mississippian Barnett shale perforations at 7,831-8,000 ft. CAOF is 13 MMcfd, IHS reported. The discovery is 10 miles southwest of the company's Sanford Dvorin (Barnett) field, opened in 1997 as the first commercial production in Dallas County.

Two wildcats that AFE has drilled 5 miles west of Arlington are awaiting pipeline connections, IHS noted.

East
Clayton Williams Energy Inc., Midland, Tex., reported increased gas flow from its 1 Fazzino Unit, a Jurassic Cotton Valley pinnacle reef discovery in Robertson County.

Flow rate as of May 31 after a minifrac treatment was 9.2 MMcfd on a 13/64 in. adjustable choke with 8,800 psig FTP. Pre-frac rate was a stabilized 8.2 MMcfd with 1,680 psig on a 30/64 in. choke. CAOF after frac was 44.3 MMcfd.

Pipeline and gas treatment facilities now limit flow to 11 MMcfd and are being modified to handle 15 MMcfd.

Gulf Coast

Maguire Oil Co., Dallas, opened a field 9 miles south of Falfurrias in Brooks County.

The 1C Sullivan Deep, flowed 3 MMcfd of gas with 651 b/d of condensate on a 14/64 in. choke with 4,625 psi average FTP after frac from Oligocene Vicksburg at an undisclosed depth. Shallower Vicksburg pay sands were being tested. Tesoro Petroleum Corp., San Antonio, holds 50% in the well and 1,065 acre block.

Enron Oil & Gas Co. hooked up a well in Duval County and might drill an offset.

The 1 Lopez Mineral Trust, in Dinn Deep field, went on line at 4.5 MMcfd of gas on a 12/64 in. choke with 7,160 psi average FTP before stimulation from an Upper Wilcox sand. A frac was under consideration, said Tesoro Petroleum Corp., San Antonio, 50% interest holder.