DEEP FORMATIONS DUE LOOK IN FAULTED AREA OF WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA

G. Alan Petzet Exploration Editor A West Virginia independent operator will take another stab at deep gas production in the western part of the state. Boggs Natural Gas Co., Spencer, W. Va., staked a 10,000 ft wildcat about 29 miles southeast of Parkersburg in northeastern Roane County. The 7 Harry C. Boggs, in Spencer district, Burning Springs quadrangle, is permitted to Red Medina (Juniata), an upper Ordovician interal just below Silurian Clinton (Tuscarora) sand. Depending on what is

March 11, 1991

3 min read

G. Alan Petzet
Exploration Editor

A West Virginia independent operator will take another stab at deep gas production in the western part of the state.

Boggs Natural Gas Co., Spencer, W. Va., staked a 10,000 ft wildcat about 29 miles southeast of Parkersburg in northeastern Roane County.

The 7 Harry C. Boggs, in Spencer district, Burning Springs quadrangle, is permitted to Red Medina (Juniata), an upper Ordovician interal just below Silurian Clinton (Tuscarora) sand. Depending on what is encountered, the well may go deeper than that, the company said.

The location is in Anns Run field, which produces oil and gas from shallow Big Injun and Devonian shale.

Pre-Devonian production is rare in West Virginia. Tuscarora production is limited to relatively few wells in several counties, and gas from the formation frequently has high carbon dioxide or nitrogen content.

RARE DEEP TEST

Boggs has drilled numerous Devonian shale gas wells to about 5,600 ft in the area and identified a fault it believes justifies a deeper look.

Devonian Coniferous was 200 ft higher in one of two wells drilled 2,000 ft apart than in the other. And Devonian Oriskany, usually a prolific water producer in the area, is dry in this area.

The deep location is just south of where several Silurian Newburg wells were drilled in the late 1970s-early 1980s in Wirt County.

Only one well in five produced from Newburg, but initial flows were 10-15 MMcfd of gas, and the wells are still producing, said Jeff Boggs, a petroleum engineer with the family owned company.

Boggs has taken delivery of pipe for the well. It acquired rotary rig, capable of drilling to 14,000 ft with 41/2 in. drill pipe, from West Texas and is preparing it to start the 7 Boggs in late spring or early summer.

WEST VIRGINIA DEEP DRILLING

West Virginia has no present production from formations deeper than Silurian, although operators have reported shows in Ordovician Trenton in several wells.

One well produced gas from Cambrian for a short time in the late 1970s.

Exxon Co., U.S.A.'s 1 Walter McCoy et al. in Gay field of Jackson County set the state's production depth record in 1976.

Total depth was 17,680 ft in Precambrian.

CAOF was 9.1 MMcfd of gas from Cambrian Rome at 14,358 ft, but the well went to water after a short time.

Log tops, reported by Petroleum Information, were Silurian at 5,606 ft, Newburg 6,184 ft, McKenzie 6,201 ft, Keefer sand 6,503 ft, Rose Hill 6,525 ft, Tuscarora 6,973 ft, Juniata 7,055 ft, Trenton 8,723 ft, Ordovician Rose Run 11,660 ft, Rome 14,358 ft, and Precambrian 17,625 ft. The tops are measured from a kelly bushing elevation of 947 ft.

Exxon set the state drilling depth record 20 miles southeast of the Boggs wildcat. Its 1 Gainer-Lee, completed in 1974 in southeastern Calhoun County, went to 20,222 ft. It was dry.

Log tops at that well included Tuscarora at 8,591 ft, Juniata 8,718 ft, Trenton at 10,628 ft, and Precambrian at 20,050 ft.