Area Drilling

Sept. 20, 1999
ENI units and Enterprise Oil plc look toward eventual gross production of more than 100,000 b/d of oil from the Val d'Agri development in the southern Appenines.

Italy

ENI units and Enterprise Oil plc look toward eventual gross production of more than 100,000 b/d of oil from the Val d'Agri development in the southern Appenines.

The participants concluded a pre-unit agreement for Monte Alpi and Monte Enoc fields. That followed June formalization of consents with the Basilicata Region to build the Val d'Agri oil center, construction of which had begun. The center will handle its first oil in early 2001.

Monte Alpi production of 9,800 b/d of oil equivalent is to climb to 45,000 b/d excluding associated gas as of early 2001.

Kazakhstan

Offshore Kazakhstan International Operating Co. spudded its first well Sept. 4 in the northeast Caspian Sea 75 km south of Atyrau using the world's only arctic class barge rig.

Projected to 5,000 m, the Kashagan East well is to take 120 days to drill. The operating group consists of Agip SpA, BG International, BP Amoco plc, Mobil Oil Corp., Phillips Petroleum Co., Royal/Dutch Shell, TotalFina SA, and Inpex.

Parker Drilling Co., Tulsa, Okla., is using Rig 257, which it calls the world's largest and more technologically advanced barge rig. Extensively modified in Astrakhan, Russia, the rig is built to cope with shallow water, open sea conditions, extreme temperature fluctuations, ice, and the expected presence of hydrogen sulfide.

Trinidad

Cometra Energy (Canada) Ltd., Calgary, and Petrotrin will explore the 100 sq km Central Block onshore in the Trinidad southern basin fold and fault belt.

Main objectives are structural and stratigraphic traps at 2,000-10,000 ft Middle Miocene and Pliocene and deeper Eocene and Cretaceous. The area is part of the Maturin basin of northeastern Venezuela.

Minimum work program is 40 sq km of 3D seismic and three wells during 31/2 years.

Gulf of Mexico

Cockrell Oil and Gas LP, Houston, and CNG Producing Co., New Orleans, launched a 5 well exploratory well program on Cockrell-generated prospects in Matagorda Bay off Texas, the federal Brazos area off Texas, and Eugene Island federal and state waters off Louisiana.

The first three prospects are to be drilled in 1999, starting with Brazos 541. The other two will be drilled next year. Cockrell will operate.

California

Hallador Production Co., Denver, plans to acquire 3D seismic data this fall over South Cuyama field, Santa Barbara County, in the Salinas basin.

Hallador and Trio Petroleum Corp., Bakersfield, Calif., completed two wells in the field, where 3D interpretations could lead to more drilling next spring.

The 25M-31 well, in 31-10n-26w, pumped 102 b/d of 33° gravity oil from the Lower Dibblee zone of Miocene Vaqueros at 4,554-84 ft. The 25-36 Hibberd, in 36-10n-27w, pumped 126 b/d of 23° gravity oil and 5 b/d of water from Colgrove sand (Vaqueros) perforations at 4,606-25 ft.

Berkley Petroleum Corp., Calgary, spudded in mid-June at a deep test to Miocene Temblor in Cal Canal field in the San Joaquin basin.

The 1 Berkley Cal Canal, in 32-28s-22e, Kern County, 10 miles north of McKittrick, is projected to 18,500 ft. This site is about 15 miles south-southeast of the Elk Point Resources Inc. 1 Bellevue, which blew out for about 6 months in late 1998-early 1999 (OGJ, Apr. 12, 1999, p. 75).

ABA Energy Corp., Bakersfield, and Solana Petroleum Corp., Calgary, signed a letter agreement under which Solana can earn a substantial interest in 40 acres held by ABA 1,500 ft north of the Berkley well by drilling a well and establishing production from Temblor. ABA would be operator.

Montana

Rangeland Petroleum Corp., Midland, Tex., is pursuing plans to drill a remote wildcat on the Big Snowy uplift.

The 1 Durfee-Federal, in 24-12n-22e, Fergus County, is projected to 3,500 ft or Precambrian. IHS Energy Group reports primary objective is Devonian Duperow/Jefferson. Site is 10 miles north-northeast of idle Devil's Pocket oil field.

Nevada

Cleary Exploration Inc., Oklahoma City, sought permits for a wildcat in Pine Valley.

The 1-14 Bruffey-Federal, in 14-27n-52e, Eureka County, presumably targets Devonian Chainman and Nevada, IHS reported. Site is 3 miles east-southeast of Blackburn oil field.

New Mexico

Mallon Resources Corp., Denver, launched an aggressive San Juan basin gas development program on its East Blanco and La Jara Canyon acreage, where it has identified more than 300 bcf of reserve potential.

The company also signed an alliance agreement with Universal Compression Inc., Houston, relating to future expansion of Mallon's East Blanco gas processing plant.

Oklahoma

Energas Corp., Oklahoma City, planned to place on production late this month a new field discovery 2 miles east of Stigler gas field in the Arkoma basin.

The 1 Wells, in 28-9n-21e, Haskell County, is to go on line at more than 1 MMcfd of gas from Pennsylvanian Spiro A. TD is 5,300 ft.

The well cut four prospective but unperforated zones: Spiro B, Cromwell, Hunton, and Viola, said Kismet Energy Corp., Bakersfield, Calif., with 70% working interest in the Lake Wells Prospect.

Utah

Texakoma Oil & Gas Corp., Dallas, staked two offsets to a gas discovery off the west side of large Natural Buttes gas field in the Uinta basin.

The Northeast Rockhouse area discovery, 14-30 Federal H, in 30-10s-24e, Uintah County, flowed 1.235 MMcfd of gas on a 15/64 in. choke with 960 psi FTP from Eocene Lower Wasatch sand perforations at 4,328-38 ft. CAOF is 2.01 MMcfd. Three other potential gas zones remain to be tested.

Another new field wildcat, Texakoma's 12-21 Federal V, in 21-13s-21e, Uinta County, was awaiting completion. It is a 7,500 ft Mesaverde test northwest of Seep Ridge field.

Horseshoe Energy LLC, Littleton, Colo., staked a wildcat on the Utah Hingeline.

The 1 Christiansen, in 22-15s-3e, in Sanpete County just south of Moroni, is projected to 12,500 ft. IHS reports it is to evaluate Cretaceous Star Point, Emery, Ferron, Tununk, and Dakota.