Minnelusa Pushed North from Hunter Ranch Field

Campbell County, Wyoming

Midland, Texas, operator BTA Oil Producers (BTA) has announced initial success at a Pennsylvanian test in Wyoming’s portion of the Powder River Basin. The new Minnelusa well is located some 42 miles north of Gillette, Wyo., in northern Campbell County. According to a notice filed with the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, the 21209 Baytown #21-27, se-ne 28-57n-72w, first recovered oil in June of 2019 at a rate of 324 bopd and 17 bwpd from the Minnelusa near 7,900’.

BTA’s directional stepout to Hunter Ranch Field represents the northeastern-most well to-date draining the reservoir. Discovered in 1968, this stratigraphic trap has amassed more than 1.6 mmbo and 796 mmcfg, primarily from the Muddy. The 21209 Baytown #21-27 is the third well completed by BTA in Hunter Ranch Field.

Roughly 1.5 miles southwest of their indicated producer, the Texas firm drilled the 21209 Baytown #32-29, sw-ne 29-57n-72w. This deeper pool discovery was given an IPP of 595 bopd and 75 bwpd from vertical Minnelusa perforations at 8,021’–8,031’. Since June 2016, the 21209 Baytown #32-29 has produced more than 192 k bo and 332 k bw.

After drilling the 21209 Baytown #32-29, BTA moved their contracted rig a mile to the east and punched-in another vertical Minnelusa test at the 21209 Baytown #32-28, sw-ne 28-57n-72w. This 8,151’-deep effort was completed for an IPP of 237 bopd and 360 bwpd. With long string cemented at 8,145’, oil was being recovered from vertical Minnelusa perfs between 7,978’ and 7,882’.

First going on-line in July 2016, the 21209 Baytown #32-28 has cumulated at least 109 k bo and 428 k bw. Log tops for this prospect include the Muddy at 6,315’, Dakota at 6,595’, Minnekahta at 7,939’, and the Minnelusa was picked at 7,972’, beneath a KB elevation of 3,755’.

Another company that appears to be having Minnelusa success in this immediate area is Casper, Wyo.–based True Oil (True). Almost a mile northwest of BTA’s 21209 Baytown #21-27, True has a new field discovery at the Hoover & Stacy State #13-T42, ne-nw 21-57n-72w. This producer has been given an IPP of 227 bopd from vertical Minnelusa perforations at 7,960’–8,268’. Log tops picked in this test include the Muddy at 6,280’, Dakota at 6,561’, Minnekahta at 7,925’, Opeche at 7,938’, and the Minnelusa came in at 7,960’, measured from a KB altitude of 3,719’.

Immediately north of the Hoover & Stacy State #13-T42 is Ute Field, an oil pool that has output primarily coming from the Muddy, with marginal amounts from the Minnelusa. Following its discovery in 1967, this reservoir has yielded more than 11.4 mmbo and 23.0 bcfg.

True’s Hoover & Stacy State #13-T42 offsets a noncommercial Muddy well that was originally drilled by Atlantic Richfield (Arco) and is now owned by Statex Petroleum (Statex). The Granato 62-16292 #5, ne-nw 21-57n-72w, bottomed in the Skull Creek at a depth of 6,434’. This prospect was given a completion rate of 38 bopd from Muddy perforations between 6,315’ and 6,322’; no gas or water was reported. Tops recorded for the effort include the Niobrara at 4,720’, Mowry at 6,100’, Muddy at 6,285’, and the Skull Creek came in at 6,350’, beneath a ground elevation of 3,720’.

Never put on-production, the only oil recovery noted in the Granato 62-16292 #5 was from the initial pump potential. Statex plugged this attempt in 2001.