Exploration Acreage Research Articles

Past and Current Developments for Drilling New Albany Shale Gas in Western Kentucky: ABSTRACT

Gas from the New Albany Shale was produced in western Kentucky prior to 1890. Old fields have been abandoned with little record of production history. Current exploration for gas in the New Albany Shale began in 1976. Three fields have been discovered, and development has been progressing steadily spurred by the increase in gas price. Drilling and completion techniques have varied. Sale of natural gas has been limited to availability of local markets, and proximity to existing natural gas pipelines. Leasing of exploration acreage is continuing and plans for future drilling to develop the New Albany Shale as a reservoir and source for natural gas appear to be excellent in western Kentucky. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1578------------

Petroleum Developments in South America, Central America, and Caribbean Area in 1971

This review presents information on 1971 petroleum developments in 27 countries and areas. Ten countries had petroleum production; this totaled 1,689,090,000 bbl (4,627,648 b/d), a decrease of 2.8% from the previous year. The volume decline came mainly in Venezuela, the major producer of the region (76.7% of the total), where production was down 4.3% to 3,549,000 b/d. Production increased moderately in Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, and Bolivia's temporarily disrupted operations made a strong recovery; but downward trends in Peru and Trinidad continued, and Colombia's production was off slightly from a record 1970 level. Total drilling decreased to 1,887 wells, 91 less than in 1970; but the number of exploration wells was 410, up by 20. Exploration drilling was carried out in 18 countries, but no new countries came into commercial production. Party-months of geologic and geophysical field work were: surface geology, 212 (329 in 1970); seismograph, 671 (659); gravity, 53 (51); and magnetometer, 5.0 (12.6). Successful exploration drilling continued in eastern Ecuador and in eastern offshore Trinidad; heavy development drilling was done in several of the discovery areas; and first export production from the new major fields will come in 1972. The high level of 1970 exploration drilling effort on the Brazil continental shelf was maintained through 1971. Additional offshore drilling in Argentina and off the east coast of Nicaragua was disappointing; and results of first tests in the northern offshore Trinidad permits, and on the outer shelf of Guyana and of Surinam, have been only moderately encouraging. The major acreage development of 1971 was the signing of the first service contracts in Peru, followed by several more in early 1972. A further highlight was formal award of the south-central Lake Maracaibo contract areas. Private companies did not acquire significant amounts of new exploration acreage elsewhere in South America during the year.

North Sea Basinal Area, Europe--Important Oil and Gas Province: ABSTRACT

The North Sea covers the offshore part of a major sedimentary basin which extends from Norway, Scotland, and Denmark across northern Germany and the Netherlands into eastern England. Information gained from exploration efforts over the last 10 years shows that the North Sea covers several smaller sedimentary and structural basins of different geologic ages, but for descriptive purposes these can be divided into southern and northern areas. The rocks range in age from Paleozoic to Tertiary and consist of sandstone, shale, carbonate rock, and evaporite. The most important reservoir rocks are the Lower Permian sandstones of the Rotliegendes Formation, the Upper Permian dolomites of the Zechstein Formation, the Triassic sandstone of the Bunter Formation, the Maestrichtian-Danian chalk, and Paleocene and Eocene sandstones. Significant shows of hydrocarbons have been found in 9 formations. The main source rocks are Carboniferous coal measures, Mesozoic shale and carbona es, and Tertiary shale and carbonates. The significant traps are folds and fault blocks associated with salt movement and basement faulting. Exploration activity received its initial impetus in 1959 from the discovery of a major gas field, Schlochteren, onshore in northern Netherlands. In the early 1960s the passing of legislation favorable for the acquisition of exploration acreage offshore added further stimulus to the exploration pace. The majority of this activity was concentrated initially in the southern area, and resulted in the discovery of the first offshore commercial gas field at West Sole in 1965. This discovery was followed rapidly by other gas discoveries in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands culminating in the Leman Bank field, a major gas field by world standards. Interest and activity lagged, however, in the northern area despite reported small oil and gas discoveries in Denmark, and the discovery in 1 68 of the Cod gas-condensate field in Norway. In late 1969, oil production was established at the Ekofisk field in Norway. With this discovery and subsequent confirmation as a major field, exploratory interest has shifted to the north. End_of_Article - Last_Page 615------------

Petroleum Developments in Middle East and Adjacent Countries

Petroleum production in Middle East countries in 1963 totaled 2,490,951,000 bbls., an average of 6,824,589 b/d. This compares with a total production of 2,262,959,000 bbls., or 6,199,888 b/d in 1962. Production in Pakistan and India attained a total of 16,287,000 bbls. in 1963-an average of 44,828 b/d. This compares with a total of 11,922,000 bbls. for an average of 32,663 b/d in 1962. The increase is from India. During 1963 discoveries were reported from Turkey, Iran, Neutral Zone, Saudi Arabia, and East Pakistan (gas). The Arabian American Oil Company relinquished a sizable part of its concession during 1963. Relinquishment of acreage was also reported from Qatar, Iran, and Pakistan. The Continental Oil Company entered the Middle East during 1968 and the Pure Oil Company obtained a half interest in exploration acreage held by John W. Mecom in Dhofar and on the Trucial Coast. New Petroleum Legislation was reported from Israel and Afghanistan. The Murban field in onshore Abu Dhabi commenced production and made its first shipment in December. Two fields in Saudi Arabia were placed on production by the Arabian American Oil Company.

Petroleum Developments in Middle East and Adjacent Countries in 1960

Petroleum production in the Middle East countries in 1960 totalled 1,924,469,000 bbls., an average of 5,258,112 b/d. This figure shows an increase over 1959 in which year total production was 1,678,553,000 bbls.--an average of 4,598,606 b/d. Production in Pakistan in 1960 totalled 2,639,000 bbls., an average of 7,210 b/d. This compares with with a total of 2,335,000 bbls. in 1959--an average of 6,398 b/d. Production in India during 1960 is estimated to have totalled 3,367,000 bbls., an average of 9,200 b/d. This is slightly below the estimated total production of 3,467,000 bbls. in 1959--an average of 9,500 b/d. Decreases in exploration acreage held were noted in Turkey, Pakistan, India, and the Hadhramaut. The license position remained substantially unchanged in most other countries. Important discoveries were made during 1960 in the Kuwait-Saudi Arabia offshore area and in the Iranian offshore area. Other discoveries were made in Turkey at Bulgurdag, in India at Ankleshwar, in Israel at Negba, and in the Qatar offshore area. An unassessed discovery is reported from Afghanistan. In general, the exploratory effort remained at about the 1959 level throughout most of the area under review.