Area Drilling

Western Geophysical claimed a world record for marine seismic streamer length with an 8,800 m unit towed by its R/V Western Spirit vessel. The streamer, deployed during parameter testing for a 3D speculative survey of 925 deepwater blocks in the Gulf of Mexico, exceeded by 1,200 m the previous record for far-offset recording from a single vessel. A long offset, or distance between source and receiver, improves imaging of features beneath salt and at great depth and enhances analysis of

Aug. 12, 1996

3 min read

Gulf of Mexico

Western Geophysical claimed a world record for marine seismic streamer length with an 8,800 m unit towed by its R/V Western Spirit vessel.

The streamer, deployed during parameter testing for a 3D speculative survey of 925 deepwater blocks in the Gulf of Mexico, exceeded by 1,200 m the previous record for far-offset recording from a single vessel.

A long offset, or distance between source and receiver, improves imaging of features beneath salt and at great depth and enhances analysis of amplitude variation with offset (AVO).

Nevada

Foreland Corp., Lakewood, Colo., recovered 12-15° gravity oil and a small amount of gas on a drillstem test of a Devonian carbonate section at a well between Eagle Springs and Kate Spring fields in Railroad Valley.

It planned to case the 48-35 Ghost Ranch, in 35-9n-57e, Nye County. TD is 4,500 ft.

Kate Spring field, 1/2 mile south, produces from the same horizons that tested oil in the Ghost Ranch well, and the Devonian section is about 100 ft higher in the new well.

Foreland said use of 3D seismic data has resulted in eight successes of eight development wells drilled in Eagle Springs field, which produces from Oligocene and Eocene zones. Ghost Ranch is Foreland's first exploratory location picked from 3D data.

Working interests in the well are Foreland 60% and Barrett Resources Inc., Denver, 40%.

Texas

West

Collins & Ware Inc., Midland, Tex., completed a Cambro-Ordovician Ellenburger discovery in Irion County.

The 1 Sparks, 15 miles northwest of Barnhart, produced 169 b/d of 42.5° gravity oil from 9,414-27 ft. The well cut 58 ft of gross pay in Silurian Fusselman, which yielded a favorable drillstem test.

The discovery is the first well drilled on the basis of a 93 sq mile 3D seismic survey in Irion and Reagan counties.

Working interests in the new field are Collins & Ware and Box Energy Corp., Dallas, 20% each and Energy Development Corp., Houston, 40%.

Gulf Coast

Parallel Petroleum Corp., Midland, Tex., plans to complete four more 3D seismic surveys by yearend covering about 75,000 gross acres in the Yegua/Frio gas trend. The surveys are expected to yield drilling locations for 1997-98.

The most recent discovery based on 3D seismic imaging is the Cox & Perkins Exploration Inc., Houston, 1 Swanson-Meek in Wharton County.

Sales began July 19 and were being increased to 6-8 MMcfd of gas and 150-200 b/d of condensate from Eocene Yegua perforations at 10,543-609 ft. CAOF is 124 MMcfd.

Working interests are Cox & Perkins 10%, Parallel 20%, Seitel Inc.'s DDD Energy Inc. 50%, Tenneco Ventures 10%, and individuals the other 10%.

Parallel will participate in six more Yegua and 12 Frio wells through yearend. Of the 42 wells in which it has participated the past 18 months, 37 are commercial.

The 12 Yegua and 25 Frio wells have gross combined production of 56 MMcfd of gas and 2,300 b/d of condensate.