Christopher Lara
Humble, TX (USA)
Role(s):
VP/SVP/Dept Head
Ensanada Energy Enterprise Inc
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Startup
Location:
Humble
Industry:
Energy
Year Founded:
2007
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Description:
GEOLOGICAL SUMMARY
Mr. George Jackson, of Wheeler Operating Corporation, a proven oil and gas finder for over twenty years, has identified a shallow gas trend that runs parallel to the Texas coastline. The currently drilled Test Well and Examination of well logs in the Bedias Creek Prospect area indicate confirmation to Mr. Jackson of the likelihood of gas to be produced along this trend. The Test Well confirms gas shows, and this well is already drilled, and completed, and is awaiting the drilling of the water disposal well, electric power to be provided to the site, and the installation of a sales line for the commencement of production and the selling of gas.
The trend noted by Mr. Jackson is present in the appearance of the Wilcox Formation as it winds through East Texas to the southwest in a more or less parallel path with the Texas Coastline all the way to Mexico. The depth of the base of the Wilcox under the Bedias Creek Prospect is approximately 4000 to 4500 feet below the surface. These striated shallow sands have not often been the target of oil and gas operators to any extent through the years, however, when produced, they yield gas for a relatively lengthy period with a minimum of operating expense. Economics of the gas market and current prices make these targeted sands viable to say the least.
Mr. Jackson currently operates several shallow gas wells in Walker and Montgomery Counties that further confirm his theory that shallow gas is present along the trend that he has identified. Additionally, Mr. Jackson has confirmed through several water well drillers from Angelina County all the way through Houston, Madison, Trinity and Walker Counties that shallow gas shows have occurred repeatedly in their water well drilling through depths going down to the Wilcox formation.
The proposed strategy of exploring the Bedias Creek Prospect for shallow formation natural gas, and coupling this exploration with a salt water disposal well is Mr. Jackson’s plan for drilling multiple locations on the 500, plus or minus acre, leasehold comprising the Prospect. As part of his plan, and in consideration that the already completed test well shall make more water than can economically be trucked from the property, a disposal well be drilled on this leasehold for disposition of the water produced during production of oil, and in this instance, natural gas. This disposal well will meet the need for disposal of water from all of the producing wells on the lease.
The gas producing sands that Mr. Jackson has identified generally run up dip toward the Northwest at a rate of 50 feet or so each mile. Therefore, there is a pinching out effect to these sands. Location for the Prospect appears to be in an optimum position taking into consideration this geological fact.
The identified gas is produced from coal beds that striate the depths down to the depth that the test well has been drilled and to which the additional producing wells will be drilled. Coal bed methane wells do not operate the same way conventional wells do. Conventional wells initially produce large volumes of gas and little water. Coal bed methane wells on the other hand, start with mediocre production of gas and large quantities of water. With the utilization of submersible pumps and above ground pump jacks, gas production will increase during the dewatering phases. From that point statistical production numbers level off and operation run at peak for sometimes five or six years with little or no fluctuation in flow rate, and thereafter at a decline over many years. With coal’s excellent porosity and permeability this gas actually becomes migratory. There is a direct correlation between coal seam thickness and the volume of gas present. The target production zone in the Test Well shows 60 feet of thickness, and that along with other striated coal formations on the prospect, indicates that gas production could very well be present for 15 or more years.
As all are aware there is a great deal of risk in oil and gas exploration, but this strategy appears to hedge the risk, and make heretofore uneconomical opportunities much more feasible.