Various estimates of the heavy-oil resources of the Tri-State area of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri have ranged from 30 million to several billion bbl of oil in place. During 1977-78 the Oklahoma Geological Survey, in conjunction with the state geological surveys of Missouri and Kansas and the U.S. Department of Energy, conducted an 18-hole drilling and coring program to assess the heavy-oil potential of northeastern Oklahoma. Reported bituminous material in shallow wells and the presence of asphalt-bearing sandstone in mine shafts suggested that Craig and Ottawa Counties might hold the best potential for shallow heavy-oil accumulations.

The results of our 18-hole program show that the Lower Pennsylvanian sandstones in this area are somewhat discontinuous and vary considerably in reservoir quality. Seven of the boreholes indicated the presence of oil; however, 1-mi (1.6 km) offsets from these sites commonly demonstrated lack of continuity of specific sandstones and an absence of heavy oil where adequate-quality reservoirs exist. We feel that the Oklahoma part of the Tri-State area does not contain as much heavy oil as had been estimated.

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