ARKOMA EXPLORATION HEATS, PRODUCTION BUILDS

G. Alan Petzet
Exploration Editor

Exploration in the onshore U.S. does not get much hotter than it has been lately in the Arkoma-Ouachita area of Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Exploratory drilling continues with fervor to CambroOrdovician Arbuckle targets, especially in Arkansas, even though ARCO Exploration Co.'s stunning Arbuckle success at Oklahoma's Wilburton field in 1987 has not been repeated.

Pennsylvanian zones continue to yield significant gas discoveries.

Gas reduction from Arkoma basin counties in both states has been rising and stands to climb even further with startup of several new pipelines, assuming gas prices and takes hold up (see table).

PANOLA DISCOVERIES

Most recent of the new field discoveries is Amoco Production Co.'s 1 Cindy, in 21-5n-20e, Latimer County, about 6 miles east of Wilburton and 3 miles south of Panola gas field.

It flowed gas at the rate of 10.9 MMcfd through a 32/64 in. choke with 1,750 psi flowing tubing pressure from Pennsylvanian Spiro-Wapanucka perforations at 13,584-616 ft. Total depth is 18,730 ft.

Amoco acidized and fractured the well, Amoco is gathering the gas and selling it by way of its Panola Gas Gathering system.

The 1 Cindy is 19 miles east of Amoco's 1 Zipperer, the first of seven Amoco discoveries along the Ouachita thrust belt that date to December 1988. Production from the seven wells is a combined 96 MMcfd of gas.

Amoco has a 96% working interest in the well. Partners include An-Son Co., Northern Michigan Exploration Co., H&H Star Energy Inc., and James M. Clark Jr.

The well is a southeast offset to a discovery well completed by An-Son in late 1990, and the two wells seem likely to be combined under the name South Panola field.

An-Son's 1 Hardcastle, in 20-5n-20e, flowed 6 MMcfd of gas through a 16/64 in. choke with 2,500 psi flowing tubing pressure from Spiro-Wapanucka perforations at 13,988-14,053 ft. Total depth is 14,300 ft.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Exploration and development drilling are proceeding at a fast clip in both states (see map, OGJ, Oct. 1, 1990, p. 34).

Amoco's 1 Zipperer, which opened South Hartshorne field in Pittsburg County, had produced more than 11.9 bcf of gas through August 1990. The field, with nine wells through December 1990 and still expanding, had produced more than 26.2 bcf of gas through last September, Petroleum Information reports.

Farther west in Atoka County, Texinia Oil & Gas Co., Dallas, spudded in early December 1990 at 1 Brisco, in 13-2s-11e, a 14,000 ft Arbuckle wildcat 2 miles southwest of East Atoka Townsite field.

In Arkansas, Plains Petroleum Operating Co., Denver, and Synergy Consultants Inc. signed a consulting agreement to conduct exploration in the Arkansas portion of the Arkoma basin.

Pennzoil Exploration & Production Co. has drilled to 13,250 ft TD at 30-33 Mitchell, in 30-7n-18w, Pope County, an Arbuckle wildcat, and plugged back to test Pennsylvanian Hale sand.

Yates Petroleum Co., Artesia, N.M., is near target depth at 1 Charton-Overcup, in 26-7n-1 6w, a projected 11,000 ft Arbuckle wildcat in Conway County 10 miles southeast of one well Blick field.

The Blick field discovery well, completed in 1968, has produced about 17 MMcf of gas from Pennsylvanian Barton sand at 2,300 ft since going on line in mid-1989, PI reports.

Coastal Oil & Gas Corp. is drilling 1X Thompson, in 2-5n-31w, a planned 14,800 ft Cambrian Reagan wildcat in Witcherville field, Sebastian County. It is a twin to a well projected to the same depth and junked at 9,400 ft, PI reports.

OXY USA Inc. is below 4,000 ft at 1 Danville, in 33-5n-22w, Yell County, Ark., a planned 21,000 ft Arbuckle wildcat.

Copyright 1991 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.