UPRC COMPLETES 500TH AUSTIN CHALK WELL

Union Pacific Resources Co., Fort Worth, has completed its 500th horizontal well in the Austin chalk trend of South Texas and Louisiana. UPRC's 1 Walther OL Unit flowed 1,533 b/d of oil and 1.9 MMcfd of gas with 1,340 psi flowing tubing pressure. The well, in the Fayette County, Tex., portion of Giddings field, is a dual opposing lateral well. It has horizontal extensions of 3,536 ft in one direction and 3,104 ft in the opposite direction for a total lateral displacement of 6,640 ft.

April 5, 1993

2 min read

Union Pacific Resources Co., Fort Worth, has completed its 500th horizontal well in the Austin chalk trend of South Texas and Louisiana.

UPRC's 1 Walther OL Unit flowed 1,533 b/d of oil and 1.9 MMcfd of gas with 1,340 psi flowing tubing pressure.

The well, in the Fayette County, Tex., portion of Giddings field, is a dual opposing lateral well. It has horizontal extensions of 3,536 ft in one direction and 3,104 ft in the opposite direction for a total lateral displacement of 6,640 ft.

"This exemplifies the technological improvements which help UPRC maintain its profitability and opportunity in the Austin chalk.

"The opposing lateral can double the amount of reservoir intersected with only a 20-25% increase in well cost," said George Lindahl III, UPRC vice-president of operations.

To develop multipay zones in the chalk, UPRC drilled 14 wells with laterals in two zones in 1992 and plans more this year. Some wells have been drilled using a combination of the multiple zone and opposing lateral techniques. More are planned.

UPRC also adds to production by reentry of old vertical wells for horizontal drilling. Under a recent agreement, UPRC became a joint owner of development rights on about 175 vertical reentry candidates in Giddings field of Brazos, Burleson, Fayette, and Washington counties, Tex.

"Although reserves per well for reentries are expected to be less than that of a typical new horizontal well, the cost savings associated with reentry should maintain or improve our historical profit to investment ratio," Lindahl said.

Other recent agreements in Giddings and Brookeland fields in Texas added about 65,000 "highly prospective" net acres to the firm's land holdings. And, in a major eastward extension of UPRC's chalk play, 115,000 undeveloped acres have been added in Louisiana. These additions are expected to allow UPRC to continue its 25 rig chalk drilling program through 1993 and into 1994.

UPRC's net acreage now totals more than 750,000 acres.

Its average Austin chalk production reached a record last February-66,300 bbl of oil equivalent/day (BOE/d)-up from an annual average of 58,800 BOE/d.

UPRC is the busiest operator in the U.S. with 42 rigs working.