Drilling and Completion in Jay-Little Escambia Creek

Abstract

American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. Abstract Since discovery of the Jay Florida - Little Escambia Creek Alabama Field in June 1970, Exxon Company, U. S. A. has had a successful and rapid development drilling program in an H2S environment. Fifty-one wells with 45 completions have been drilled by Exxon (100 for all participants) with no H2S related drilling participants) with no H2S related drilling problems. Available sour gas drilling problems. Available sour gas drilling technology has been applied while average rig days to drill and complete the 16,000-foot wells has been reduced from 68 to 46. Extensive safety and contingency plans developed initially have been plans developed initially have been followed throughout the development program. Blowout preventers and well head program. Blowout preventers and well head equipment are fabricated or modified for H2S service. Temperature effect on hydrogen embrittlement for various grades of tubulars is considered in casing and tubing design to minimize cost. However, drill pipe grade is limited to 95,000 psi or lower grades. The Smackover psi or lower grades. The Smackover formation pressure is slightly abnormal but causes no appreciable drilling problems. More drilling fluid precautions are required to drill a 150–200 foot Haynesville Salt section at approximately 15,300 feet than are required to drill the H2S bearing Smackover. Production was initiated in time to utilize production experience in completing or working over subsequent wells in Jay - Little Escambia Creek and surrounding fields. Wellbore problems experienced resulted from elastomers seizing in the packer bore. Introduction In June, 1970, Exxon Company, U.S.A. discovered Jurassic oil production at 15,550 feet in the Smackover Limestone in the Jay Field, Santa Rosa County, Florida. Development drilling extended the field into Escambia County, Alabama which was designated as Little Escambia Creek Field. From the outset it was apparent that the sour crude discovery was significant. Subsequent drilling defined the reservoir limits as seven miles in length and three miles in width. Geographically, the field is located 35 miles north of Pensacola, Florida and 60 miles east of Mobile, Alabama. (Figure 1)