- click for larger picture -

1. Escopeta Oil and Gas Corp., Houston , Texas , will drill four offshore wildcats on its Kitchen prospect in Alaska 's Cook Inlet . The 1 East Kitchen is in Section 22-9n-11w, the 1 Kitchen is in Section 18-9n-11w, the 2 Kitchen is in Section 3-8n-12w and the 1 South Kitchen is in Section 18-7n-12w. All four wildcats are on the east side of Upper Cook Inlet . Three out of the four drillsites are 10 miles (16 km) north of Boulder Point offshore near Nikiski on the Kenai Peninsula , nearly 18 miles (19 km) north of Kenai and 16 miles (26 km) south of Tyonek. The fourth Kitchen drillsite is nearly 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the shoreline near Nikiski. Escopeta will drill the 1 East Kitchen later this year to 17,000 ft (5,185 m). It plans to drill the 1 Kitchen and 2 Kitchen in 2007. The 1 South Kitchen is set to drill in 2008.

2. Pioneer Natural Resources Co., Irving , Texas , has acquired the Cosmopolitan Unit in Cook Inlet , Alaska . Under an agreement with ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc., Pioneer will increase its ownership to 50% and take over as operator. The 25,000-acre (10,124-hectare) offshore unit is 120 miles (193 km) southwest of Anchorage , Alaska , and 2 miles (3.2 km) from the shoreline of the Kenai Peninsula , according to IHS Energy. Prior to acquiring the unit, three wells and a sidetrack were drilled. ConocoPhillips drilled the 1 Hansen in section 2-4s-15w, west-northwestward to a proposed offshore bottom-hole location in Section 32-3s-15w. ConocoPhillips re-entered the well in 2003 and drilled the 1A Hansen , a directional sidetrack hole. The Cosmopolitan Unit also contains the undeveloped Starichkof field where two offshore wells were drilled. Further details of these wells and sidetrack have not been disclosed.

3. West Energy Ltd., Calgary , Alberta , Canada , registered a Nisku discovery at the Paddy Creek 6-13-48 -10W5 as it found a 37-ft (11 m) hydrocarbon column. The company has moved its rig to the Lodgepole 14-32-47-09W5 location, its first step-out in the Nisku TT pool in west-central Alberta , Canada . Those wells and another well in the planning stages all will hook into the company's Paddy Creek tank battery, possibly as early as the fourth quarter this year. West plans to spend US $20.3 million drilling, completing, connection and conducting waterflood operations on its Nisku properties in the third quarter.

4. The first well drilled in the East Wordsworth, Saskatchewan , Alida oil pool resulted in a discovery that tested for 456 boe/d, according to interest owner Delta Oil & Gas of Savona , N.Y. The 6,670-ft (2,033-m) well found 984 ft (300 m) of potential oil pay in the horizontal section. The well flowed oil at a rate of 28 b/hr for 3 hours with tubing set to 5,450 ft (1,600 m) and 24 b/hr with the tubing set to 4,180 ft (1,274 m) in the intermediate casing string. The operator later completed the well for 19 b/hr through an 8/64-in. choke with associated gas. The well is 2.5 miles (4 km) from Carlyle Alida pool in Section 35-7-3 W2M.

5. Greenland opened its latest licensing round for exploration off the island's west coast. The Disko West licensing round included data from state oil company Nunaoil A/S and more than 1,987 miles (3,200 km) of new TGS Nopec seismic data in the Disko-Nuussuaq region. Information included locations of oil seeps onshore in the area that point to an active hydrocarbon system. Up for bidding are 35,521 sq miles (92,000 sq km) of territory divided into eight license blocks generally between 67 degrees and 71 degrees north latitude from the coast to the Canadian border. The government will accept bids until Dec. 15 this year and plans to issue license in March next year. More information is available at the Greenland Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum Internet site at www.bmp.gl .

6. Calgary, Alberta, Canada-based Husky Energy registered a discovery as it drilled its White Rose O-28 delineation well in its White Rose field offshore Newfoundland . The well found a 919-ft (280-m) oil column with a multi-layered reservoir in the Ben Nevis Avalon. Husky is drilling a sidetrack to evaluate the reservoir, but 3-D seismic and results from the O-28 well indicate a potential 40 million to 90 million bbl of recoverable oil in addition to the 240 million bbl already proved at White Rose. The company plans further delineation drilling in coming years. Meanwhile, it will tie its latest discovery back to the SeaRose floating production, storage and offloading vessel that serves White Rose field. The field currently produces 85,000 b/d of oil from four wells. A fifth well being completed now will raise production to approximately 110,000 b/d of oil. A sixth well, due on line near the end of this year, will boost production to 125,000 b/d.

7. Santa Maria Pacific LLC, Santa Maria , Calif. , will drill three wells in Santa Barbara County , Calif. The 20408 Righetti , the 20409 Righetti and the 40502 Righetti are all in Section 3-9n-35w. The depth and formation of these wells were not disclosed.

8. PetroSun Drilling Inc . , Phoenix , Ariz. , has acquired a 25% interest in Pinta Dome field, in northern Apache County , Ariz. , according to IHS Energy. A 2,800-ft (854-m) test well will be drilled by Bengal Drilling Inc., a subsidiary of PetroSun. The well will evaluate zones below the Permian Supai, which produced helium at Pinta Dome.

9. Bill Barrett Corp . , based in Denver Colo. , drilled a Uinta Basin discovery. This well is in the Lake Canyon area 11 miles (12 km) southwest of Duchesne , Utah . The 1 DLB 12-15-56 , Section 15-5s-6w, in Duchesne County , Utah , produced an average of 300 b/d of oil. The well was drilled 14,325 ft (4,369 m), cased to 11,539 ft (3,519 m) and is located a mile (1.6 km) west of the 13-14-56 Nielsen Marsing , Section 14-5s-6w, IHS Energy said.

10. Armstrong Operating Inc., Dickinson , N.D. , completed a Nisku oil discovery in northeastern Montana about 9 miles north of Bainville. The 2-13 Peterson , Section 13-29n-57e, Roosevelt County , produced 3,601 bbl of oil, 1.77 MMcf of gas and 64 bbl of water in 31 days. The nearest producer is the 1-13 John Peterson , Section 13-29n-57e. That well produced 6,601 bbl of oil, 3.84 MMcf of gas and 50,444 bbl of water from Red River from 12,530 to 12,554 ft (3,822 to 3,929 m) between May 1981 and May 1983.

11. Bill Barrett Corp., Denver , Colo. , drilled a wildcat in northern McKenzie County , N.D. The 44-30H Schmitz , Section 30-152n-100w, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Alexander , N.D. , pumped 188 bbl of 42° oil with 113 Mcf of gas and 157 bbl of water per day. The well is producing from an open-hole horizontal Ratcliffe lateral extending from 9,703 to 14,704 ft (2,959 to 4,485 m). The 44-30H Schmitz is 2 miles north of Sakakawea field and 2.5 miles (4 km) northeast of the 2-1 Forthun discovery in Section 1-151n-101w. The well was completed 2 years ago pumping 725 bbl of oil with 620 Mcf of gas and 63 bbl of water per day from an open-hole horizontal Nesson interval extending from 9,415 to 13,232 ft (2,872 to 4,036 m).

12. Seeco Inc., Fayetteville , Ark. , will drill three wildcats targeting the Fayetteville shale in the northeastern Arkoma Basin . The 1-5-H Reed will be in Section 5-10n-14w, Van Buren County, Ark. The well will be drilled to 5,100 ft (1,556 m) with a true vertical total depth of 2,580 ft (787 m). The well will be 5 miles (8 km) east-northeast of the 1-4 Hankins discovery in Section 4-10n-15w. This well was drilled to 2,892 ft (882 m) and produced 326 Mcf of gas per day from a fractured Fayetteville interval from 1,820 to 2,076 ft (556 to 633 m) on a 16/64-in. choke. Details of the other two wildcats have not been disclosed.

13. GHK Company LLC , Oklahoma City , Okla. , has completed a discovery northwest of Cheyenne in western Oklahoma . The 3-17 Fighting Bear , Section 17-14n-24w, is located in Roger Mills County , Okla. , where it flows 433 bbl per day of oil. The 9,670-ft (2,949-m) wildcat recovered gas at the estimated rate of 1 Mcf daily with 59 bbl of load water per day. On a 12/64-in. choke, the 3-17 Fighting Bear reported flowing tubing pressure at 2,325 psi. The closest well is located in Section 17-14n-24w. The 2-17 Thunder Bull tested in the Cherokee between 13,400 and 13,716 ft (4,087 and 4,183 m) then isolated the formation below a bridge plug as it began production testing in the Marmaton from 11,410 to 11,444 ft (3,480 to 3,490 m).

14. Two wildcats found gas for Newfield Exploration Mid-Continent Inc., Houston , Texas , in Hughes County , Okla. The 1H-36 Parker , Section 36-4n-10e, flowed at a rate of 5.31 MMcf per day, with 82 bbl of water. According to IHS Energy, production is from three fractured intervals in Woodford from 7,820 to 8,380 ft (2,385 to 2,556 m), 8,620 to 9,180 ft (2,629 to 2,800 m) and 9,420 to 9,980 ft (2,873 to 3,044 m) on a 36/64-in. choke with a tubing pressure of 1,353 psi. The 1-29 Poe , Section 29-4n-11e, flowed 376 Mcf of gas and 30 bbl of water per day through perforations from 7,760 to 7,878 ft (2,367 to 2,403 m). The well produced 43.2 MMcf of gas. The nearest producer is 2.5 miles (4 km) to the northwest in Section 26-4n-10e. The 1-26 Edwards flowed at a rate of 1.06 MMcf of gas and 127 bbl of water daily from 7,812 to 9,831 ft (2,383 to 2,998 m).

15. GeoSurveys Inc., Abilene , Texas , permitted a wildcat in Roosevelt County , N.M. The 1 Mesa "26" State , Section 26-2n-29e, will be drilled to 7,200 ft (2,196 m) in the Montoya. The closest production is 7 miles (11 km) to the southwest in eastern De Baca County, N.M. The 1 Earl Spencer , Section 25-1n-28e, flowed 248 Mcf/d of gas from acid- and fracture-stimulated perforations in the Canyon from 6,457 to 6,753 ft (1,969 to 2,060 m).

16. A wildcat has been completed by Chi Operating Inc., Midland , Texas . The 1 Montgomery "7," Hockley County, Texas (Railroad Commission District. 8A), Hood CSL Survey, A-149, produced at a daily rate of 130 bbl of crude and 35 bbl of water. The 8,050-ft (2,455-m) well was tested through acidized perforations from 7,100 to 7,244 ft (2,166 to 2,209 m). The nearest well is the 1 Gillespie "14" which produced 25 bb. of oil per day from acidized perforations from 6,902 to 6,934 ft (2,105 to 2,115 m).

17. A discovery was completed by Hunt Oil Co . , Dallas , Texas . The 1 State Lease 18287 , completed in the southern half of West Cameron Block 9 in state water offshore Cameron Parish, La. , tested for 10.57 MMcf of gas, with 686 bbl of 49.5º-gravity condensate and 15 bbl of water a day. The 18,576-ft (5,666-m) well produced from Cristellaria perforations from 17,410 to 17,554 ft (5,310 to 5,354 m) on a 12/64-in. choke. About one-half mile (.8 km) to the northeast on West Cameron Block 9 is the 2 State Lease 18287 , which was drilled to 18,500 ft (5,642 m) in the Cristellaria.

18. ExxonMobil Corp., Irving Texas, completed a 19,935-ft (6,080-m) wildcat offshore Louisiana 's Vermilion area in the marshes of southwestern Vermilion Parish. The 1 Exxon Mobil Fee , Section 7-17s-1w, tested flowing 614 bbl of 44.7º crude and 15.58 MMcf. of gas per day through perforations from 16,644 to 16,692 ft (5,076 to 5,091 m). on a 31/64-in. choke; flowing tubing pressure was 2,715 psi. The closest well is the 3 State Lease 03842 , in the southwestern corner of Vermilion Block 4 . The 18,428-ft (5,620-m) well was tested flowing 4.16 MMcf of gas and 72 bbl of condensate per day from 15,509 to 15,526 ft (4,730 to 4,735 m).

19. Independent Ronald G. Lockwood, Edinburg , Ill. , plans a wildcat in southeastern Logan County , Ill. which has no current production. The well is in Section 14-17n-1w, about 2.5 miles (4 km) south of the town of Latham . Lockwood will drill the 1-L Schick to 2,350 ft (717 m) to test Silurian. The closest production is about 8 miles (13 km) to the southeast in a southwest-northeast Silurian trend in Macon County which has served as the base for Blackland North, Harristown and Decatur fields.

20. J.D. Carty Resources Inc., Salyersville , Ky. , plans a series of wildcat wells in Magoffin County , eastern Kentucky , that might be called the '99ers. The 1A John T. Risner is scheduled to 999 ft (305 m) in the Salt Sand in Section 17-O-77e, in Seitz Quad 1.4 miles (2.3 km) southeast of an unnamed Big Six field and 5.4 miles (8.7 m) southwest of Salyersville. The 2A Gary & Phyllis Blair , also will go to the Salt Sand. It will drill to 1,999 ft (610 m) in Section 19-O-76e in Seitz Quad 3.2 miles (5.1 km) southwest of the unnamed field and 8.3 miles (13 km) southwest of Salyersville. The company's 10 Ellis Williams is scheduled to 3,999 ft (1,220 m) in Black River Lime in Section 3-N-77e in Salyersville South Quad. It is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of an unnamed Big Six field and 6.9 miles (11 km) southwest of Salyersville. The 6,999-ft. (2,135-m) WO-73 Arthur & Ressie Lykins Estate will look for Knox formation gas in Section 11-P-76e, White Oak Quad. The well is 1.9 miles (3 km) north of an unnamed Corniferous field and 6.4 miles (10 km) northwest of Salyersville.