French take big risks, find deep gas near Pyrenees

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1969 · World Oil; (United States)

OSTI ID:5650021

Cabrit, J P

France is rapidly producing its main gas reserve, Lacq field, and needs to find at least enough new gas to maintain reserves position. French explorationists are finding deep prospects and new fields along the N. edge of the Pyrenees Mts. The risks are great, in view of the need to drill as deep as 20,000 ft, and the existence of reverse faulting, deep unconformities, high pressures, and hard drilling. The Aquitaine sedimentary province can be divided into 2 basins: (1) To the north, a basin is located southeast of Bordeaux in which Esso REP produces Parentis, Cazaux, Lugos, Mothes, and other fields. Some drilling has been done in the offshore extension westward. (2) To the south, a larger sedimentary basin is separated from the other by a shelf. Gas production exists in the S. basin in St. Marcet and deep Lacq fields. More recent finds, starting in 1965 with Meillon, are causing new activity. A cross section shows facies and stratigraphic changes in Jurassic and Cretaceous strata between Pont d'As on the southeast and Lacq to the northwest. Other geological sections are shown, all of which indicate reverse faulting.

• Research Organization: Soc Natl Petr Aquitaine
• OSTI ID: 5650021
• Journal Information: World Oil; (United States), Journal Name: World Oil; (United States) Vol. 168:4; ISSN WOOIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
EUROPE
EXPLORATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRANCE
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NATURAL GAS FIELDS
PRODUCTION
RESERVES
RESOURCES
WELL DRILLING
WESTERN EUROPE