Barrett Targeting Three Horizontal Zones in Same Section

Converse County, Wyoming

Spotting near the synclinal axis of the Powder River Basin, Denver-based Bill Barrett Corp. (Barrett) is planning to drill three horizontal tests in the same section, all targeting different formations. The company has already staked the Manning Federal #21-34-3874NH and the Manning Federal #21-34-3874FH, both in the ne-nw 34-38n-74w, Converse County. To be drilled off the same pad, the Manning Federal #21-34-3874NH will be targeting the horizontal Niobrara at a depth of 12,519’, whereas the Manning Federal #21-34-3874FH is projected to the Frontier at a depth of 12,952’. Bottom-hole location for both tests will be in the sw-sw 34-38n-74w.

Barrett has now added a third zone of interest with their application to drill the Henry Federal #34-34-3874FH, sw-se 34-38n-74w, a horizontal Muddy test that is proposed to reach a true vertical depth below 13,000’. Bottom-hole location for this prospect is expected to terminate in the ne-ne 34-38n-74w. This permit has yet to be approved by the state.

The nearest exploration to Barrett’s proposed Muddy venture is almost a half-mile to the southwest at a deep, vertical dry hole drilled by Oryx Energy at the Henry Ranch #1, sw-ne 2-37n-74w. This 13,910’ Jurassic Morrison wildcat was plugged and abandoned in 1988 with no cores cut or tests conducted.

Midgard Energy drilled the Strange #44-27, se-se 27-38n-74w, roughly a mile north of the surface location of the Henry Federal #34-34-3874FH. This 14,039’ vertical Morrison test was plugged in 1976 after drillstem-testing in the Frontier at 12,700’ yielded negligible results. The Muddy top in this wellbore came in at 13,714’ beneath a KB elevation of 5,399’.

It is interesting to note that both Barrett and Anadarko Petroleum (Anadarko) are proposing to drill a pair of laterals within section 27. Anadarko has staked the SPHR Federal #3874-27-41H, se-sw 27-38n-74w, as a 17,473’ (TMD) horizontal Frontier test and 40 acres to the east, Barrett has staked the Manning Federal #34-27-3874SH, sw-se 27-38n-74w, as a projected 15,647’ (TMD) lateral Shannon venture. Bottom-hole location for both tests will be in the ne-ne 27-38n-74w.

The nearest established production to Barrett’s Henry Federal #34-34-3874FH is less than a mile to the northwest at Powell Field, a multi-pay oil and gas pool that has cumulated more than 28.5 mmbo and 316.9 bcfg from the Dakota, Muddy, and Frontier. Powell Field was discovered in 1954.

In addition to Barrett and Anadarko, other firms with plans to exploit the horizontal potential in this immediate area of Converse County are Samson Resources and Helis Oil and Gas.