Trenton Limestone fracture reservoirs in Lee County, southwestern Virginia

Conference · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 UTC 1984 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5685772

Bartlett, Jr, C S

The search for the elusive fracture-type oil and gas reservoirs in southwestern Virginia's Lee County has continued intermittently since the opening of the Rose Hill oil field in 1942. Tests as early as 1910 were based on surface oil seeps. Charles Butts, a pioneer Appalachian geologist, recognized several windows eroded through the Pine Mountain thrust plate. Three Lee County oil fields were developed within or near these windows, but a recent increase in drilling has expanded onto the overthrust sheet. The Ben Hur oil field, 16 mi (26 km) northeast of the Rose Hill pool, was opened in 1963. Since 1981, a burst of exploration has enlarged these two fields and added one new oil field and the first commercial gas well. Production is obtained principally from a nonporous biomicrite with secondary fracturing, which is locally intense. From 1943 to 1980, 42 wells recorded production of nearly 123,000 bbl or about 3000 bbl/well. Since 1981, increased oil prices created heightened interest in Lee County drilling, which resulted in production of 128,112 bbl of oil in a 3-yr span, more than during the previous 39 yr. The Trenton Limestone is generally 400-500 ft (122-152 m) thick, and production has been obtained at depths between 1300 and 2500 ft (396 and 762 m). The fracture identification log run by Schlumberger has proven quite useful, but oil shows are also readily noted while air drilling. Many wells respond to an acid-frac stimulation. Exploration for the more highly fractured reservoir areas is presently frustrating, and logical geologic concepts have not replaced plain good luck.

• Research Organization: Bartlett Energy Exploration, Inc., Abingdon, VA
• OSTI ID: 5685772
• Report Number(s): CONF-8410269-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 68:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CARBONATE ROCKS
DRILLING
EXPLORATION
EXPLORATORY WELLS
FEDERAL REGION III
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
LIMESTONE
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA
VIRGINIA
WELL DRILLING
WELLS