Galveston Bay exploration successes emerging

More successful exploration is emerging in the Trinity Bay portion of Galveston Bay. EEX Corp., formerly Enserch Exploration Inc., and Vintage Petroleum Corp. disclosed the discovery of more gas and condensate in Tertiary Frio and Vicksburg zones in the northeastern portion of the bay (see map, OGJ, Aug. 11, 1997, p. 75). The latest action is part of a multiwell program the companies are conducting based on interpretation of 3D seismic data.

Feb. 16, 1998

3 min read

More successful exploration is emerging in the Trinity Bay portion of Galveston Bay.

EEX Corp., formerly Enserch Exploration Inc., and Vintage Petroleum Corp. disclosed the discovery of more gas and condensate in Tertiary Frio and Vicksburg zones in the northeastern portion of the bay (see map, OGJ, Aug. 11, 1997, p. 75). The latest action is part of a multiwell program the companies are conducting based on interpretation of 3D seismic data.

Meanwhile, Panaco Inc., Kansas City, Mo., completed a well in Umbrella Point field in Trinity Bay and plans more on properties acquired from Goldking Production Co.

EEX-Vintage reported that calculated absolute open flow is 244 MMcfd of gas from an upper zone, Anomalina (Frio), at 10,100 ft that contained 49 ft of net pay in the State Tract 65 discovery well in the White Heron North area in the Chambers County portion of the bay.

The large CAOF potential of the upper zone indicates its high quality sand and deliverability characteristics, Vintage said. That zone is expected to produce 12 MMcfd of gas and 790 b/d of condensate.

The lower zone, Vicksburg encountered at 11,530 ft, is estimated to contain 51 ft of net pay and will be produced later. TD is 11,800 ft.

The well is the two companies' fifth successful venture in the bay. The four prior wells are flowing a combined 41 MMcfd of gas and 476 b/d of condensate.

The companies are completing the State Tract 84 well at White Heron South. It cut 35 ft of net pay in Frio. TD is 10,000 ft. They are drilling the State Tract 6-7A in the Fisher's Reef area and plan to drill the State Tract 2-3A in the Fisher's Reef West area later in the first quarter. They have identified more leads in the area.

Vintage controls about 30,000 net acres in Galveston Bay and in 1997 interpreted a 180 sq mile 3D seismic survey that yielded numerous leads and prospects that form the basis for the current drilling.

Panaco and Midcon Exploration Co. completed the 10 State Tract 74 well in Umbrella Point field. It flowed 11.5 MMcfd of gas and 220 b/d of condensate on a 20/64 in. choke with 5,600 psig FTP.

The EEX-Vintage and Panaco work lies northeast of where TransTexas Gas Corp. has disclosed two high potential wells in the Eagle Point area off San Leon in the Galveston County portion of the bay (OGJ, Jan. 19, 1998, p. 60).