ABSTRACT

Big Cowboy field was discovered in 1978 by Enron Oil & Gas Company (EOG). The discovery well penetrated the Lower Wilcox Lobo sands but was eventually completed from the Upper Wilcox sands. Subsequent drilling targeted the Lobo sands and soon found them to be gas productive. Over the next 17 years the field was developed with a series of successful 2-D seismic programs. Cumulative production from wells drilled on 2-D seismic has exceeded 141 billion cubic feet of gas equivalent (BCFGE). In 1994, EOG shot a 3-D seismic program over Big Cowboy field but sold the field the following year to Conoco, Inc. Initial drilling results based on the 3-D survey have provided interesting insights into the field as well as into the benefits of 3-D seismic. While 3-D seismic will prove to be immensely invaluable, there is no substitution for knowing the stratigraphy of an area and incorporating basic reservoir information into an interpretation.