Horizontal Niobrara play proceeding with caution

Journal Article · Mon Nov 11 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:5605028

Petzet, G A

This paper reports that caution and careful planning are the watchwords for operators in their approach to horizontal drilling for oil in Puper Cretaceous Niobrara chalk in Colorado and Wyoming. Despite its geologic age equivalence with the Austin chalk of southeastern Texas, the formation has not attracted the same degree of attention or yielded as stunning results as the Austin chalk. Little is yet known about the precise reasons for its sporadic productivity; the exact nature of the fracture system(s) within it; the source and migration history of its oil(s); or the deeper structures and structural trends with which productivity appears associated. Niobrara underlies an area larger than that underlain by the Austin chalk, but Niobrara horizontal drilling so far has proceeded at a guarded pace.

• OSTI ID: 5605028
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 89:45; ISSN 0030-1388; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CARBONATE ROCKS
COLORADO
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
LIMESTONE
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PRODUCTIVITY
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA
WYOMING