ALERT -- TYLER -- ALERT
There is no breaking news on any huge well targeting the Tyler formation this morning, but I get a lot of questions about the Tyler formation.
I now have a definitive source.
The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources has a great story about the history of horizontal drilling in the Tyler formation.
Go to this link and then click on the top story to get to another link to open a PDF file.
Or go direct to the publication, but you still have to click on another link to get the PDF file.
Again, a "tip of the hat" to Don for alerting me to this link as well as to 3,487 earlier links over the past three years.
This paragraph is from page 3 of the pdf on the tyler.
ReplyDeleteThe success of Upton Resources’ horizontal Tyler wells appears to
be a func on of how consistently the horizontal laterals were able
to stay within the targeted sand interval. The laterals for both
the Federal #2-13 and Federal #3-13H, and the second lateral for
Federal 13-2H, were reported to have stayed within the targeted
sand interval for ≥84% of the lateral’s length. All three of these
wells have produced signifi cant quan es of oil (table 1). Federal
1-18H, the least produc ve well and an economic failure, was
not able to consistently stay within the targeted sand interval.
Instead, the geologic report for Federal 1-18H reported that the
lateral penetrated both the overlying and underlying shales for
much of the lateral’s length. While oil shows (fl uorescence and
streaming cuts) were reported in most of the sand that the lateral
passed through, the Federal 1-18H produced over 50,000 BBLS
water and only 294 BBLS oil during its brief produc on history
(table 1).
Hi Bruce , Still love your blog, great job. This article brings back many memories for me. I was the lease operator of these wells in the Tracy Mt. field for about 5 years( CLR owned them for a few years then sold them to Chesapeake). Lot of interesring info. Remember working by my self in the middle of nowhere, through some very tough winters. Will never forget it. Thanks again. Oilfield Cowboy
DeleteAs I have said many, many times: I have the greatest respect for those folks who work/worked the oil patch in North Dakota: cold, remote, and not much to do after-hours. And long, long hours.
DeleteThank you for your kind words, and thank you for taking time to comment.
Bruce - I don't know what I would do with my day without being able to read this blog. I have read it almost every day for 2 years. There is always great info here! After reading the article and viewing the isopach map it appears that the thickest part of the tyler unit sits on the Nesson anticline. Have you heard any chatter about this being a potential hot spot to drill?
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven't but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. I don't get a lot of feedback along that line. In addition, one of my faults is blogging too much and not reading/researching enough. That's why I was glad to see this Tyler article. If I find time, I might spend some time doing a bit of research on it.
DeleteBy the way, in today's daily activity report (DAR), there's a well on DRL status that has targeted the TYLER by a brand new oil exploration company in the Williston Basin.
What little I have read suggests that the Nesson Anticline is too far north for the Tyler (unless you might be talking about the very south end of the Nesson Anticline.
DeleteWhat little I have read suggests that the Tyler will be most productive i the southwest part of the state. Indeed, the well that was on the DAR today, DRL status, was just outside the Tracy Mountain oil field. The Tracy Mountain oil field is where "they" first transitioned from vertical to horizontal Tyler wells. (It was the Vanvig 1 well reported today that targeted the Tyler.)
Newbies can see the anticlines here:
https://www.dmr.nd.gov/ndgs/Resources/WBPetroleumnew.asp
In addition, I have noted some Tyler wells that were monster wells; many of these were on the north side of Dickinson; about 40 miles northeast of where the Tracy Mountain field is.
So, to answer your question, the Nesson Anticline covers a fair amount of distance north to south, so I'm not sure exactly what part of the Nesson Anticline you are talking about, but the Tyler will be explored in the southwest part of the state to begin with, I would assume, perhaps around the Billings Anticline.
It appears "they" are trying to find the sand lenses in the SW part of the state. If the Tyler could be drilled using Bakken technology, drilling into the carbonate section of the reservoir and fracking into the shale, it appears to me based off of the isopach thickness map that best area (Tyler must be mostly shale if not all shale in this area) is eastern Williams County and parts of Mountrail and Mckenzie (Nesson anticline). If there were sand stringers and mixed with the Bakken technology, I could see potential for some lucrative Tyler wells in that area. However, I must be missing something or they would be drilling them. Maybe everyone is only concerned with Bakken/Three Forks right now. Or, maybe, I am inappropriately exuberent about the entire ND petroleum system!
ReplyDeleteYou are exactly right about "everyone is concerned with Bakken/Three Forks right now." I can't remember if I have actually blogged that, or just think about it daily.
DeleteI don't get it either. The Tyler appears to have huge potential based on all I have read and understand.
My hunch is that the operators are getting such good results on the Bakken, and they are perfecting their techniques, that they just want to keep going.
But I do get a kick out of the same thing you do: I don't think "outsiders" realize how huge the Williston Basin is in terms of other formations -- even the Madison was never exhausted.
Like you, I am inappropriately exuberant about the entire Basin.