Geology and Current Development Activity at Little Knife Field, North Dakota: ABSTRACT

Abstract

End_Page 843------------------------------Recent Gulf exploration efforts in the Williston basin have resulted in the discovery of a major new field, Little Knife, with multiple reservoir potential in a relatively untested area of the basin. The 70 producing wells drilled have been completed in the Mission Canyon Formation, but potential Devonian Duperow production has also been established in restricted areas of the field. The dominant factor in entrapment appears to be a north-plunging structural nose, though stratigraphic contribution to entrapment has not been fully evaluated. The Mission Canyon can be divided into five zones (A to E) based on lithologic and sonic log data. Zone B is the principal producing zone and was deposited in a wide variety of shore and nearshore environments. The depositional environments and diagenetic settings associated with zone B are responsible for an intricate pattern of carbonate deposition and porosity development. Little Knife, now 2 years old, has already produced 3,675,000 bbl of oil (January 1, 1979) even though during much of that time many wells capable of much higher production were restricted to 100 BOPD. Little Knife now vies for position as North Dakota's largest oil producer, as a gas treatment plant became operational in late 1978 and allowed daily field capacity to increase to approximately 15,000 BOPD. End_of_Article - Last_Page 844------------