The first Jurassic oil discovery in Florida was made in June 1970, near Jay, 35 mi north of Pensacola. Current estimates indicate recoverable reserves in the Smackover Formation should exceed 300 million bbl of oil and 300 Bcf of gas. Production is on the south plunge of a large subsurface anticline with the updip trap formed by a facies change from porous dolomite to dense micritic limestone.

The Smackover consists of a lower transgressive interval of laminated algal-mat and mud-flat deposits and an upper regressive section of hardened pellet grainstones. Early dolomitization and freshwater leaching have created a complex, extensive, high-quality reservoir. Irregular distribution of facies presents difficult problems in development drilling, unitization, and planned pressure-maintenance programs.

Hydrogen sulfide content of the hydrogens requires expensive processing facilities and wellhead equipment. A typical completed well costs $650,000 with an additional $200,000 for flowline and inlet separation facilities. Add to this $550,000 for plant facilities to sweeten the oil for market, and each well investment approaches $1,400,000. Daily production from Jay field will approach 85,000 bbl from approximately 85 wells. This rapid development results from a coordinated development program with modular plant design.

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