12 May 2007 - 11:33
  • News ID: 104357

HOUSTON -- Richards Oil & Gas Ltd., Calgary, plans to drill one horizontal and three vertical wells to Ardley coals in the Lambert, Ansell, and Marsh areas of west-central Alberta in July and August.

The company"s first horizontal well in the Ardley, part of the Upper Cretaceous Scollard formation topped at 400-900 m, is capable of flowing dry coalbed methane but at rates of 35-40 Mcfd, comparable to an adjacent vertical well. Early test data indicate that drilling fluids damaged the coal seams, and stimulation failed to overcome the damage.

 

A more aggressive stimulation technique is to be tested on a vertical well before being tried in the December 2006 horizontal penetration.

 

The fluid system chosen to drill the first horizontal well was a compromise between possible formation invasion effects and hole stability concerns. The company will use an "in balance" fluid system on the next horizontal well.

 

Richards calls Ardley Alberta"s largest unexplored CBM play. As of late 2006 it held interests in 51,000 gross acres with an estimated resource of 800 bcf-1.2 tcf in Ardley excluding conventional dry gas upside.

 

PIN/OGJ.COM

News ID 104357

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