Successful drilling in Cambro-Ordovician zones has thrust Overton County of central Tennessee to the state's highest producing county in 1996.
Wells in Overton County yielded more than 100,000 bbl of oil.
Claiborne County, in the Cumberland Gap area, was second with 78,000 bbl.
The state's most productive well last year was the 3 Wayne Brown, in Miller Mountain field, Overton County. It yielded 65,048 bbl of oil during 1996. Cumulative output is 104,000 bbl since August 1994 from Stones River and Murfreesboro.
The 3 Brown is pumping about 200 b/d.
Recent drilling
One area of Miller Mountain field is yielding multizone production.
Tennessee Gas & Oil Inc., Nashville, reports an apparent Mississippian Fort Payne zone discovery in Miller Mountain field within 1 mile north of the 3 Brown well.
The 1 Gunnels, in 16-1s-51e, was air drilled to 1,900 ft in Knox, perforated at 228-234 ft, and acidized. Pump was being installed in late May. Fort Payne is at 220-234 ft.
The well, near Allons, Tenn., was drilled based on seismic interpretation. Jordan Exploration, Traverse City, Mich., provided financing.
Within a half mile away, Tennessee completed the 1 Smith in October 1996 for 500 b/d of oil from Stones River at 1,575-90 ft and 1,684-90 ft. Rate has fallen to 5-10 b/d. The operator plans to reacidize the lower zone.
This is the same area in which Young Oil Corp. has had Cambro-Ordovician successes (OGJ, May 12, 1997, p. 81).
Faroe Islands
Saga Petroleum AS regards the whole North Sea basin and Atlantic margin as highly interesting, says Anders Utne, executive vice-president.
The area of interest extends from north of the Arctic circle, at Lofoten, Norway, at nearly 70° N. Lat., via the Faroes continental shelf to west of the British Isles.
The whole Atlantic margin in many ways represents an extension of challenges found in the Norwegian Sea, said Terje Hagevang, project manager.
Arizona
Ridgeway Petroleum Corp., Calgary, drilled a dry hole that defines the north end of a large Holbrook basin structure in southern Apache County that contains carbon dioxide.
The dry hole is 5 miles north of and 440 ft low to the discovery well (see map, OGJ, May 5, 1997, p. 127).
The ninth well in a 10 well delineation program was being drilled in late May seven miles west of the discovery well.
Colorado
Jeda Petroleum Ltd., Calgary, staked a Paradox basin wildcat in a nonproducing township, PI/Dwights reported. The 1 Jeda-Paradox Valley, in 8-47n-18w, Montrose County, is projected to 15,000 ft just west of a 1958 Continental Oil Co. well
Florida
A law judge set a public hearing for Sept. 29 in Tallahassee on whether the state should issue a permit to Coastal Petroleum Co. to drill a 16,600 ft wildcat to Jurassic Smackover off St. George Island, Franklin County, and under what conditions.
Courts have held the state has no legal basis to deny the permit, which Coastal has been seeking for five years, but have required a further administrative hearing. The site is 17 miles southeast of Apalachicola in 43 ft of water. It is 150 miles from Florida Panhandle production. Coastal in February applied for 12 more sites on its 800,000 acre leasehold off Florida's gulf coast.
Nevada
Foreland Corp., Lakewood, Colo., is starting an agressive, multiyear 3D seismic exploration program on its Nevada properties.
The next 3D surveys will be over the Pine Creek well in Pine Valley and Forelands's North Willow Creek and Hay Ranch properties.
Foreland completed the 47-35 Ghost Ranch, in Nye County, for 182 b/d of oil and 242 b/d of water as a 3D selected north extension of Ghost Ranch field, which Foreland discovered last year between Kate Spring and Eagle Springs fields in Railroad Valley. The company is trying to hike oil production and cut water flow from the well.
Oklahoma
Marathon Oil Co. plans to start production within 3 months from Cambro-Ordovician Arbuckle at a well in Carter-Knox field of Grady County.
The 1-28 Jenna Nicole flowed more than 10 MMcfd of gas with 3,900 psi FP from 160 ft of perforations at 18,500-19,000 ft.
The well was dually completed with Sycamore, Woodford, and Hunton, from which it is producing 5 MMcfd at 1,700 psi FP. More development is planned.
Texas
East
Parker & Parsley Petroleum Co., soon to merge with Mesa Inc., took a 35% interest in 375,000 gross acres with Union Pacific Resources Co. in the Jurassic Cotton Valley pinnacle reef trend. UPR will operate.
The first well is to be drilled by yearend. Numerous 2D seismic reef anomalies are visible. The parties are acquiring and evaluating 310 sq miles of 3D seismic data.
Western Gas Resources Inc., Denver, plans to start up its Bethel treating plant in the pinnacle reef trend around July 1 at 180 MMcfd. Another 170 MMcfd of first phase capacity is to be complete by yearend, pending issuance of an air quality permit.
An estimated 14 rigs are drilling pinnacle reef wells. A Sonat well being drilled 20 miles north of the plant will, if successful, require the phase two expansion of the facility, Western said.
Copyright 1997 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
