Past discovery pattern: A key to future exploration potential in ARKLA-MAFLA trend

Conference · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:6851353

Khan, M A ^[1]

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1. State of California, Santa Rosa, CA (United States)

Discovery patterns and field size have been analyzed in Arkansas, Louisiana (ARKLA), Mississippi, Alabama and Florida (MAFLA) for fields producing from Norphlet, Smackover, Buckner, and Hynesville formations. A total of 325 fields are in this 400-mi-long, 250-mi-wide play. The ultimate recoverable reserves are 1600 million bbl of oil and 9000 billion ft[sup 3] of gas. The play is 56 yr old and mature by all standards. If discovered reserves were to follow log-normal distribution, then the reserves remaining to be discovered are small. However, combining statistical analyses with known geology indicate the possibility of larger reserves. Larger undiscovered reserves dictate a different exploration strategy. One must consider the size of the remaining reserves, the exploration signature, and the economics for each group within the play. A case history of strategies for large undiscovered reserves compares drilling of a deep wildcat well in Mobil County, Alabama, with drilling of California's mature plays.

• OSTI ID: 6851353
• Report Number(s): CONF-9310237-; CODEN: AABUD2
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 77:9; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) mid-continent section meeting, Amarillo, TX (United States), 10-12 Oct 1993; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
EXPLORATION
ECONOMICS
NATURAL GAS FIELDS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
OIL FIELDS
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ALABAMA
FLORIDA
GEOLOGY
LOUISIANA
MISSISSIPPI
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
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020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
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030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
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