Transwestern Operating Co. is developing a shallow Pennsylvanian Lower Gunsight (Cisco) oil discovery on the Red River uplift in Clay County, Tex.
The calibre of production at such a depth makes the area one of the most interesting shallow oil finds in North Texas in several decades.
Transwestern had drilled 17 wells in the field by mid-August in Transwestern Redstone field, discovered by the company in March 1991. The rig is still drilling, and seven wells were being completed.
The three wells on production by early July had produced a combined 2,200 bbl of 38-39 gravity oil, with one of the wells producing for only about 15 days. The three wells produced a combined 3,400 bbl through July 31.
The discovery well, 2 Boddy, flowed 117 b/d of oil with 100 Mcfd of gas through a 16/64 in. choke with 100 psi flowing tubing pressure from perforations at 1,286-90 ft.
The Texas Railroad Commission granted a discovery allowable of 98 b/d of oil, but the wells in the new field settle after about 3 months to pump 20 b/d/well, said John N. Ehrman, Transwestern president. Transwestern plans at least 50 wells on the property.
The operator, which plans to move offices to Fort Worth from Houston shortly, completed the discovery on about 800 acres on the Boddy and Henderson leases previously held by the former Texas Co.
The leases have produced a few barrels per day per well from zones as shallow as 180 ft and 430 ft, but main objectives are the Thomas and Gunsight sands of Cisco, Ehrman said. Spacing is 2.6 acres, and Thomas is the source of most of the previous production.
A geologist's report said the leases are on strike with an east-west oil trend that runs along the Wichita River. Fields in the trend produce mostly oil from Thomas sand just below 1,000 ft.
Many old dry holes in the area that had shows in Thomas and Gunsight could have produced oil if they had been higher structurally or fracture stimulated, the report said.
The wells can be drilled in 11-12 hr and completed through tanks for $45,000/well, including acid treatment with a surfactant and a 10,000 lb sand frac.
The leases are astride the Wichita River about 4-3/4 miles northwest of Petrolia, 13 miles east-northeast of Wichita Falls, and within 5 miles south of the Red River.
One geologist postulates the area as an extension of Burkburnett field to the northwest in Wichita County.
One other company, Owen Operating Co., Dallas, has begun drilling in the area.
Copyright 1991 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
