True Abandons Directional Minnelusa Attempt

Campbell County, Wyoming

Casper, Wyo.–based True Oil (True) has apparently failed in their latest attempt to establish Pennsylvanian production in east–central Campbell County. The Cowboy State independent, who has an ongoing exploration program chasing the Minnelusa in this portion of the Powder River Basin, has indicated they plan to abandoned the Sawyer Federal #11-8, nw-nw 8-51n-70w. Located some 11 miles northeast of Gillette, Wyo., this directional wildcat was permitted to have a true measured depth of 8,750’, with a bottom hole landing in the se-se 6-51n-70w.

According to documents filed with the state, True drilled the Sawyer Federal #11-8 to a true measured depth of 9,100’. It is unknown what shows, if any, were reported from this wellbore.

True had previously announced plans to drill the Sawyer Federal #11-8B, nw-nw 8-51n-70w, a vertical 8,750’ Minnelusa test sitting immediately east of their apparent disappointment. Still awaiting state approval, it is unclear whether True will move forward with the Sawyer Federal #11-8B or terminate the pending APD based on downhole geology data garnered from the Sawyer Federal #11-8.

The closest established Minnelusa production to the Sawyer Federal #11-8 duster is 2 miles to the southeast at a developmental well in Kane Field. Operated by Ranch Oil, the Echo State #41-16, ne-ne 16-51n-70w, has cumulated more than 228.9 k bo and 5.8 mmbw from Minnelusa perforations at 8,292’–8,296’.

Within a 1.5-mile radius of True’s apparent failure are 34 dry holes—all vertical—with primary objectives in the Pennsylvanian. One of these, the Federal #1-8, ne-nw 8-51n-70w, was drilled by Dome Petroleum (Dome) in the same quarter section as the Sawyer Federal #11-8. After bottoming at a depth of 8,588’, based on samples and e-logs Dome decided to set 5.5-in. production casing at 8,555’, and perforate the Minnelusa A between 8,527’ and 8,554’.

Log tops picked in the Federal #1-8 include the Muddy at 6,806’, Dakota at 7,080’, Goose Egg at 8,140’, and the Minnelusa at 8,530’, measured beneath a KB elevation of 4,318’. With no significant recoveries, this well was abandoned in 1980. According to state files, Luff Exploration currently has control of the Federal #1-8.

A quarter-mile southeast of the Sawyer Federal #11-8 disappointment, Wyoming Resources drilled a Minnelusa wildcat at the McCurley Fee #1, se-nw 8-51n-70w. This 8,670’ dry hole was abandoned in 1993 with no cores taken or tests conducted. The Minnelusa top was picked at 8,618’ beneath a ground elevation of 4,349’.

Less than a half-mile northwest of True’s dry hole, Mitchell Energy (Mitchell) drilled a pair of Minnelusa wells that were abandoned in 1978. The first of these is the Sawmill-­Federal #34-6, sw-se 6-51n-70w, which bottomed in the vertical Minnelusa at a depth of 8,920’. A DST conducted across the Minnelusa interval at 8,722’–8,746’ had a pipe recovery of 558’ of oil, 280’ of oil-cut water, and 3,061’ of slightly oil-cut water. No production casing was run, and the attempt was abandoned.

Several months after plugging the Sawmill-Federal #34-6, Mitchell moved a quarter-mile to the northeast and spud the Sawmill-Federal #43-6, ne-se 6-51n-70w. This straight-hole Minnelusa test tapped the Pennsylvanian at a depth of 8,930’. Prior to plugging, one DST was performed in the Minnelusa between 8,735’ and 8,785. The pipe reversed out 3,463’ of water with a scum of oil. No additional testing was done, and the effort was plugged.

The nearest production to True’s pending Sawyer Federal #11-8B is found at the previously mentioned Kane Field. Following its discovery in 1966, this stratigraphic trap has yielded more than 1.3 mmbo and 62.2 mmcfg.