Developments in East-Central States in 1972

Abstract

Total oil production in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee in 1972 was 51.1 million bbl, down 10.2% from 1971. Production in all the states was down. Gas production in Kentucky was 74.9 Bcf in 1972, up 3%. Gas production in the other states is not significant. Oil and gas tests drilled totaled 1,720, about the same number as in 1971. Exploratory tests totaled 569, a decrease of 4.4%. Of these, 95 (16.7%) were successful, but did not add significantly to reserves. Kentucky led in both exploratory and development drilling. Tennessee had a total of 94 oil and gas tests in 1972, down 45% from 1971. Exploratory drilling was down 40%, from 112 tests to 67. The exploratory success in 1972 was 16.4%, down from 24.1% in 1971. The most significant discovery was the Fort Payne pay in Honey Creek South field, Scott County. Initial production from the discovery well was 240 BOPD; 5 wells were completed in the field by the end of the year. A scheduled basement test was started in Smith County late in the year. Seismic crews were reported to be active in the Cumberland Plateau area late in 1972, and most drilling activity in 1973 is expected to be in the northern part of the plateau area in east-central Tennessee. Total oil and gas tests in Illinois were 603, up 6.9% from 1971. Exploratory drilling declined 8.5%, from 165 wells to 151. Exploratory success declined from 17.0 to 15.2%. None of the discoveries add significantly to reserves. An upsurge of leasing and geophysical activity occurred in Illinois. More than 2,500,000 acres have been leased since the leasing activity started in the latter half of 1971, with heavy concentration in a band that extends from Randolph and St. Clair Counties to Jasper and Richland Counties. Extensive seismic surveys have been made. Silurian reef production and deeper possibilities such as the Trenton and Knox are suspected objectives. Four deep confidential tests, not included in the tables or statistics of this report, were drilled. In Lawrence County, Arco drilled a test that was scheduled to Precambrian at a projected depth of 11,000 ft, but stopped short of this goal at about 9,200 ft. Amoco drilled 2 tests scheduled to the Trenton, one each in Marion and Clay Counties. Both were dry. C. E. Brehm Drilling and Producing drilled an unsuccessful 8,500-ft test in Williamson County. Indiana had a total of 267 oil and gas tests in 1972, up 23% from 1971. Exploratory tests numbered 131, up 13%. Exploratory success declined from 13.8% in 1971 to 9.9% in 1972. Discovery of Elnora Central field in Daviess County was the most significant exploratory success. Production in the field is from the Ste. Genevieve Formation and Aux Vases Limestone. Average depth to the top of pay is just over 600 ft. By the end of the year 15 wells had been completed, with average initial production of 190 BOPD. Evidence points to oil accumulation due to doming over a Silurian pinnacle reef. Silurian reefs in southwest Indiana, deeper beds along the Cincinnati arch, and production along the Mt. Carmel fault are expected to be targets of exploration in 1973. Kentucky had a total of 756 oil and gas tests, about the same as in 1971. Exploratory drilling was up 9%, from 202 to 220. Exploratory success in 1972 was 21.8%, up from 17.3% in 1971. A successful St. Peter and Tomstown gas well in Elliott County and an apparent Cambrian discovery that was being completed at the end of the year in Johnson County at a depth of more than 14,000 ft should stimulate Cambrian and Cambro-Ordovician exploration despite deep exploratory failures in Carter, Garrard, Clark, Clinton, and Rowan Counties. A Cambrian Rome test on the Paint Creek uplift in Johnson County's Redbush area was being readied to start at year end.