Development of Sycamore Sandstone Sholom Alechem Field, Stephens and Carter Counties, Oklahoma

Abstract

This paper covers various drilling problems and completion techniques in the 9,000-acre Sholom Alechem field of Stephens and Carter counties, Oklahoma. Oil and gas production is from the Sycamore formation at 8,000 ft deep. Although normally a limestone, this Mississippian age reservoir is a calcareous sandstone at Sholom Alechem. Introduction The cumulative crude oil production per acre or per acre-foot in Stephens and Carter counties is as great as any other sizeable area in Oklahoma. Recent Sycamore sandstone development in a previously neglected formation, the Sholom Alechem field of Stephens and Carter counties (Fig. 1), has added significantly to this cumulative production. production. The Sholom Alechem field (Fig. 2) is located in the eastern half of Township 1 South, Range 4 West, and Township 1 North, Range 4 West, Stephens County, and in the western part of Township 1 South, Range 3 West, Carter County. The Sycamore sandstone development, begun in 1972, includes 110 wells on an 80-acre spacing, involves 26 operators, and essentially has been completed. The Sycamore formation is found from 7,500 to 8,200 ft. Current daily production is 3,100 bbl and a total of 6,860,000 bbl has been produced from the Sycamore as of Oct. 31, 1976. Ultimate production is expected to range from 10 to 12 million bbl of oil and 75 million Mcf of casinghead gas. History Oil originally was found in this area by Humble Oil and Refining Co. in 1923. The discovery well was the Jennings No. 1, located in the SW SW of Section 28-T1S-R3W, Carter County. The producing formation was the Pennsylvanian Deese sand at 3,400 ft. Early development was slow because the wells were low-volume producers and remained slow in the 1930's and 1940's, producers and remained slow in the 1930's and 1940's, because of the Depression and World War II. In Aug. 1947, Stanolind Oil and Gas Co. discovered Springer sand in their Sims No. 1 located in the NE SE of Section 2-T1S-R4W, Stephens County. The well produced 118 B/D of low-gravity oil from 4,800 ft. Rapid development continued for the next 5 years, with additional Deese and Springer sands discovered and developed. Much of this development was done on a 10-acre spacing. During the next 15 years, shallow development was limited to drilling a few edge and infill wells, plus beginning several secondary recovery projects, primarily waterfloods of the Sims and Deese projects, primarily waterfloods of the Sims and Deese sands. JPT P. 35