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AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 28 (1944)

Issue: 6. (June)

First Page: 722

Last Page: 742

Title: Developments in Appalachian Area in 1943

Author(s): Appalachian Geological Society (2)

Abstract:

NEW YORK:
The expected increase in wildcat drilling in New York state proved true in wells drilled but was utterly disappointing in results obtained. In the Oriskany sand area (southwestern New York) 12 wildcat wells were completed during 1943 as against 4 in 1942, but no new gas was found. In the Medina gas area of western New York about 29 wells were drilled. Four of these were storage wells and of the remaining 25 only 8 were producers. In the oil-producing area of southwestern New York approximately 1,500 wells were drilled in secondary-recovery operations and approximately 25 dry wells were drilled to shallow depths in an effort to extend old or find new producing Devonian sands.

Shallow oil and Oriskany gas production figures are given.

The procedure of drilling exploratory wells, both shallow and deep, on a cooperative partnership basis, continued to expand, and more wildcatting is expected in 1944 as results continue to be disappointing and gas reserves are further depleted.

PENNSYLVANIA:
The number of wells completed in the shallow gas territory of western Pennsylvania (Upper Devonian or higher) in 1943 was 15.8 per cent less than in 1942. Of the wells drilled for gas, 75 per cent were producers and 25 per cent were dry. The 579 new gas wells had a total initial open-flow capacity of 147,282,000 cubic feet per day. No new gas pools of significant size were discovered.

Oil development work and production also declined markedly in 1943. Production in the Bradford field dropped 11.9 per cent, but the production of the field still accounted for 53 per cent of the total Pennsylvania-grade oil production of the Appalachian province in 1943. Only 2,118 new wells were completed in the field in 1943 as compared with 3,113 in 1942. In the Kane-to-Butler area, in which some water-flooding operations and a considerable number of air-repressuring projects are under way, the number of new wells completed in 1943 was only 392 as compared with 479 in 1942. Oil production in Pennsylvania, outside the Bradford field, declined 7.3 per cent during 1943.

Deep drilling operations in Pennsylvania also were curtailed during 1943. One gas well was completed in the southern extension of the Summit pool in Fayette County at the close of the year. Three dry holes were completed in this part of the Summit pool in 1943. Two wells in the main part of the pool were deepened, but only one produced additional gas in a limestone, probably Upper Silurian in age. In the Oriskany sand territory of north-central Pennsylvania two small gas wells and two dry holes were completed. Five other deep tests, all dry, were completed in western Pennsylvania during 1943. One well in eastern Mercer County failed to encounter any sand at the Medina horizon and is being deepened to the Trenton.

OHIO:
1,018 tests were completed in Ohio during 1943, of which 170 were oil, 455 were gas, and 393 or 31 per cent were dry. Development was confined to the Clinton sand and those lying above. New producing areas were all small and adjacent to older fields. The average initial production of oil was 40 barrels and of gas 915 M.C.F. per well. Due to the price of $1.31 per barrel for Corning-grade oil, production declined 90,000 barrels. The greatest oil activity was in the Pennsylvania-grade fields, from which oil sold for $2.55 a barrel. Production of this grade was increased by 7,500 barrels. Three Clinton gas wells had initial open-flow capacities in excess of 12,000 M.C.F. The largest oil well had an initial production of 550 barrels from the Clinton sand. The deepest test was drilled near th Ohio River in Olive Township, Meigs County, and reached a total depth of 7,466 feet which was 582 feet in the Trenton limestone. Development in the state is given by counties in tabular form.

WEST VIRGINIA:
In 1943, 489 gas wells, 54 oil wells, 15 combination oil and gas wells, and 132 dry holes were completed. At least three apparently worthwhile discoveries were made in the shallow sands. In the deep sands no discoveries were made, that is, from sands below the top of the "Corniferous

End_Page 722------------------------------

lime." Twenty-four Oriskany sand dry holes were completed: 12 edge dry holes around the Elk-Poca and Sandyville fields, and 12 wildcats. Total initial gas volume developed was in excess of 325 million cubic feet, and initial oil developed was in excess of 656 barrels.

KENTUCKY:
Oil production in Kentucky during 1943 reached its highest peak since 1930, with a production of 7,010,776 barrels--75 per cent coming from western Kentucky. Several new producing areas were added to the fields in the western coal basin and some interest was shown during the year in testing the Devonian and Silurian formations south and east of the western Kentucky coal basin. In Rowan and southern Lewis counties, the Gulf Oil Company drilled 13 dry holes testing the "Corniferous" with several penetrating the Brassfield with no results. Menifee, Elliott, and Jackson counties were active during the year and increased activity is expected during 1944. 166 wells were drilled in the Big Sandy gas field during 1943 for gas.

TENNESSEE:
Approximately 9,000 barrels of crude oil were produced during 1943 in Tennessee, east of the Cincinnati arch. Thirteen wells were spudded during the year; three were drilling on December 31, 1943. Of the 10 completions, representing 10,488 feet of hole, 3 were gas wells, only one of which has been placed on line. The most active areas were in Scott and Morgan counties. Later in the year interest was focused on the northern Cumberland Plateau where some surface work was done. This area promises to be the most active in the state in 1944.

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