Development Of The Chacon Dakota Associated Pool
Authors: Walsh Ewell N. 
Published: December 2007

Discovery and development of the Chacon Dakota Associated Pool is a very important Dakota formation development outside of the basic Dakota Gas Pool in the San Juan Basin Area. Other Dakota formation developments are not of the magnitude as the Chacon Dakota Associated Pool.

Introduction

The Chacon Dakota Associated Pool is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Farmington, New Mexico in Township 22, 23 and 24 North, Range 3 West. The major portion of the pool is located on the tribal lands of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Tribe.

Development of the Pool has occurred by the continuing efforts of operators. The current operators developing the Pool are Dave M. Thomas, Jr., Odessa Natural Corporation, Chace Oil Company, Atlantic Richfield Company, Amerada Hess Corporation, Mobil Oil Corporation, Petroleum Corporation of Texas, Trans-Ocean Oil, Inc., Supron Energy Corporation and Southland Royalty Company.

INITIAL DEVELOPMENT

The discovery well for the Chacon Dakota Associated pool was drilled by Dave M. Thomas, Jr., in June, 1974. The well is the Dave M. Thomas, Jr., Chacon Jicarilla Apache "D", No. 1, located in the NE/4, NE/4, Section 23-T23N-R3W. The well was completed in the Dakota "A" interval, 7315' to 7345'. The well was initially produced as a flowing well and later, and presently, as a pumping well. The initial potential of the well was 95 barrels oil and 55 Mcf potential of the well was 95 barrels oil and 55 Mcf gas per day.

Two confirmation wells were drilled by Odessa Natural Corporation in October and November, 1975. The wells are the Odessa Natural Corporation, Chacon Jicarilla "D", No. 1, located in SW/4, SE/4, Section 15-T23N-R3W and the Chacon Jicarilla "D", No. 2, located in NE/4, SE/4, Section 16-T23N-R3W. These wells were completed in the Dakota "A" and Dakota "B" intervals. The wells were completed as flowing wells and are currently flowing wells. The initial potential for the wells was, "D", No. 1 - 142 barrels oil and 1,385 Mcf gas per day, "D", No. 2 - 120 barrels oil and 1,064 Mcf gas per day.

Also, Mobil Oil Corporation and Amerada Hess Corporation drilled and completed wells on the East side of the pool and North of the Dave M. Thomas, Jr. discovery well.

CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT

Commencing in May, 1976, Dave M. Thomas, Jr. and Odessa Natural Corporation initiated a combined development drilling program that resulted in the drilling of nine wells. The wells were located, drilled, completed and tested to determine the probable extent of the Dakota reservoir.

Chace Oil Company and Amerada Hess Corporation also initiated drilling programs during the later part of 1976 that provided additional information concerning the pool area.

Since May, 1977, Dave M. Thomas, Jr. and Odessa Natural Corporation have had an almost continuous drilling program for development of the pool area.

In addition, the other operators have in the past and now have drilling programs for additional development of the Pool area.

The operators, encouraged by resulting production, have drilled and completed, as of July, 1979, 70 wells in approximately 17,000 acres of the Pool area. Also, there has not been a well drilled and plugged and abandoned.

Portions of the Pool area does include production from shallow, 3,000', Pictured Cliffs formation. There are 33 wells completed in the Pictured Cliffs Formation in the Pool area.