Area Drilling

Geophysical

Gas Research Institute, Chicago, signed an agreement with Green Mountain Geophysics Inc., Boulder, Colo., to develop advanced 3D seismic software programs and techniques.

The software will be designed mainly to help independent operators optimize acquisition parameters for land 3D seismic surveys. Applications will be in exploration and development.

The pact sets up a framework for cooperative work with GMG, Blackhawk Geometrics, Shell E&P Technology Co., and ARCO Exploration & Production Technology.

Blackhawk, of Golden, Colo., will coordinate research with Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University on advanced geophysical techniques to be incorporated into the products.

Shell and ARCO will cooperate with GMG by contributing algorithms and support staff for the development of the products.

Belize

A group led by Dover Technology Inc., Houston, will drill another well after plugging its Gladden-1 wildcat offshore in the Gladden basin (OGJ, Oct. 18, 1993, p. 100). TD is 8,000 ft.

Participants are Fina Exploration Belize BV, Magellan Petroleum (Belize) Ltd., Deminex Belize Petroleum Ltd., Mountain States Petroleum Corp., Magellan Petroleum Corp., and Mallon Production Co.

Nepal

Nepal's Petroleum Exploration Promotion Project, Department of Mines & Geology in Kathmandu invited bids by Mar. 10, 1997, for 10 tracts along the country's southern border with India.

Block size ranges from 4,800-4,900 sq km.

Paraguay

Two companies formed a joint venture to explore and develop hydrocarbons in Paraguay.

They are Spectrum Oil Corp., Bakersfield, Calif., and Abasubong Overseas Oil SA, Biarritz, France.

Spectrum will contribute its contract rights and obligations to the joint venture, and Abasubong will invest $10 million to begin exploration under the joint venture.

Gulf of Mexico

Basin Exploration Inc., Denver, was drilling toward a secondary objective after setting casing to 13,221 ft TVD at a discovery on Eugene Island Block 65.

The No. 1 well cut an estimated 111 net ft of gas/condensate pay in two primary objective Miocene sands. The secondary objective is 1,600 ft deeper.

Other participants are Ashland Exploration Inc., Forest Oil Corp., and Hall-Houston Oil Co.

Arkansas

Revel Oil & Gas Inc., Bossier City, La., staked a remote wildcat in nonproducing Chicot County in the state's southeast corner.

The 1 Smith Lease, in 36-18s-2w, is projected to 5,500 ft in Jurassic Smackover. It is 45 miles northeast of Monroe, La., gas field, nearest production.

Florida

Calumet Florida Inc., a unit of Plains Resources Inc., Houston, staked horizontal wells to Cretaceous Sunniland in West Felda field in Hendry and Lee counties and Sunniland field in Collier County, PI reported.

Indiana

Ashland Exploration Inc. staked two wildcats to Devonian New Albany gas shale in Orange County in the Illinois basin.

The wells, in 29-3n-1e, are projected to 1,300 ft. They are 6 miles north-northwest of the Syria field discovery well, nearest New Albany production, PI reported.

Louisiana

Properties that Mesa Inc., Dallas, acquired from Western Mining Corp. contain 30 million bbl of oil equivalent in proved reserves, and Mesa hopes to add 30-40 million BOE with further exploration and exploitation (OGJ, Feb. 17, p. 30).

The properties are in Louisiana inland waters, the Permian Basin, Texas Gulf Coast, and Gulf of Mexico. Existing reserves are about 40% each in Louisiana inland waters and the Permian Basin.

The three Louisiana fields are Timbalier Bay, Grand Bay, and Delta Farms. They are on the flanks of the Terrebonne trough, Louisiana's most prolific basin, which has yielded more than 24 tcf of gas and 13 billion bbl of oil. Mesa believes 3D seismic advances will enable it to identify and exploit more fault blocks in the complex fields.

Mesa has used 3D seismic to identify numerous drilling prospects in Eugene Island 208 field in federal waters.

The Texas Gulf Coast properties are Rich Ranch in Liberty County and Linscomb and Bobcat Run in Orange County. A 3D survey is in progress over Rich Ranch field.

The Permian Basin interests consist of five active waterflood units and four nonunitized leases in Lea County, N.M. and Andrews and Yoakum counties, Tex., and include potential for improving oil recovery via carbon dioxide flooding.

Michigan

Samson Hydrocarbons Co., Tulsa, expanded Devonian Antrim gas production to Mason County in western Michigan.

The county's first two Antrim discoveries are in 3-20n-17w and 27-19n-16w, PI reported. The wells, six and 19 miles south-southeast from existing Antrim production, flow small volumes of gas from the Lachine and Norwood members of Antrim.

Mississippi

Denbury Management Inc., Dallas, completed a horizontal well in Cretaceous Washita-Fredericksburg 72 sand in Davis field, Clarke County.

The 2H Kirkland, in 31-3n-16e, flowed 896 b/d of 33° gravity oil on a 12/64 in. choke with 500 psi FTP through slotted liner at 6,718-22 ft. The well has a 480 ft drain hole, reports Southeastern Oil Review, Jackson.

New Mexico

Burlington Resources Inc. budgeted about $5 million to drill two deep Pennsylvanian tests in the San Juan basin this year.

The company has been evaluating the potential of Pennsylvanian zones below 11,000 ft, PI reported. The basin produces mostly from Cretaceous Fruitland, Pictured Cliffs, Mesaverde, and Dakota at 1,500-8,000 ft. Locations and projected depths aren't disclosed.

Texas

East

Windsor Energy U.S. Corp., a unit of Windsor Energy Corp., Calgary, agreed to earn a half interest from SMK Energy Corp., Tyler, in a 9,000 acre block near Caddo Lake in Harrison County.

A planned 18-20 sq mile 3D seismic survey will cover the lightly explored block, on the northwest flank of the Sabine uplift.

The block was the federal Longhorn ammunition depot for more than 50 years until SMK leased it in the early 1990s. A low volume Cretaceous Pettit oil discovery holds the lease.

As many as five horizons could be productive: Cretaceous Pettit, Paluxy, Rodessa, and Travis Peak and Jurassic Cotton Valley sandstones and limestones. Wayne Gifford, Dallas consultant, will coordinate and interpret the 3D data.

Gulf Coast

Amerada Hess Corp. completed an Eocene Cook Mountain discovery in Wharton County.

The 1 Northington, 1 mile northeast of Egypt, Tex., flowed 4.9 MMcfd of gas, 206 b/d of 53.4° gravity condensate, and 5 b/d of water on a 14/64 in. choke with 5,065 psi FTP from perforations at 8,495-8,500 ft and 8,509-32 ft. CAOF is 89.73 MMcfd.

Amerada Hess has asked that the field be named Peach Creek, PI reported.

Utah

Gulf Canada Resources Ltd.'s GCRL Energy Ltd. unit is starting a Paradox basin wildcat.

The 1 Seismosaur-Federal, in 20-21s-20e, Grand County, is projected to 16,000 ft. The site is 10 miles southwest of the Greater Cisco gas area.

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