Anadarko’s Bossier Gas Play – A Sleeping Giant in a Mature Basin

By

James J. Emme, Vice President Exploration - Anadarko Petroleum, and

Robert W. Stancil, Chief Geologist -Anadarko Petroleum

The Bossier Sand Play in the ‘mature’ East Texas Basin has emerged as one of the premier basin-center gas plays in the onshore U.S. For almost 25 years, the Jurassic Bossier Sands were viewed as “bail out” zones in wells drilled for deeper targets in the Haynesville/Cotton Valley and Smackover Limestones. Prior to 1995, the average Bossier completion at 11,500 feet produced about 0.9 BCFG and was considered uneconomic as a primary objective. In 1996, following a failed Cotton Valley Limestone exploration program, Anadarko recognized the ingredients for significant gas reserves in the Bossier Sands. Favorable geologic conditions included a petroleum system with juxtaposed reservoir, source and seal over a broad, overpressured region. Economic hurdles included high drilling and completion costs for relatively low-rate gas production in “permeability-challenged” sandstones. Successive operational/cost improvements led to economically attractive results, even in a sub $2.00/mcf gas price environment. Average Bossier wells now take 55 days from spud to first sales with initial rates of 3-5 MMCFD and reserves of 3 BCFG. Exceptional wells produce up to 50 MMCFD with 10 BCFG reserves. As of August 2001, Anadarko’s East Texas Bossier production was in excess of 300 MMCFD with proven reserves for the Dew/Mimms Creek Field of over 1.1 TCFG (“Giant Field” status). Ultimately, the Bossier Gas Play is expected to yield multi-TCF reserves from developing trends throughout East Texas. Anadarko’s Bossier success can be tied to these key factors: 1) Recognition of the resource potential, 2) Improvements in drilling/completion costs and techniques, 3) Control of the play, and 4) Integration of midstream/marketing strategies. North American onshore basins have many more “sleeping giants” yet to be awakened by innovative explorers who recognize their potential!

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90010©2003 AAPG Southwest Section Meeting, Fort Worth, Texas, March 1-4, 2003