Abstract

The Chevron Wolfcamp AD Team has been drilling unconventional oil wells in the Midland Basin since 2010, targeting multiple stacked formations including tight sandstones, tight carbonates and shales. These unconventional reservoirs are fracture stimulated with up to 10 stages and commingled together in a single vertical wellbore, to enable economic recovery of the reserves.

On the eastern side of the Midland Basin the formations generally targeted are the Wolfcamp, Strawn, and Atoka formations. Recently however an opportunity was identified to add deeper formations to the typical formations targeted in Wolfcamp wells in this area. This includes attempting to add a deep conventional reservoir (Fusselman), along with the TOC rich Woodford shale source rock, to further enhance the economics of the program.

Historically the Fusselman has been a prolific oil target in the Midland Basin for dedicated conventional wells. Although in many areas the Fusselman structures are too small to make a dedicated well economic, when added to an unconventional completion the economics can become highly favorable. Completing both unconventional and conventional targets in a vertical well also adds complexity to the characterization efforts and completion design.

This poster will detail results from attempting to drill Fusselman seismic targets on the eastern side of the Midland Basin, along with positive results from a Woodford zonal test.