Sacgasco to resume production testing of Dempsey well in US

Sacgasco is planning to continue testing the Dempsey 1-15 well for gas production potential in California’s Sacramento basin later this month after completing a site review.

The new testing programme will allow the company to test shallower zones that showcase extensive gas shows and higher porosity.

The company will initially focus on zones that have a better chance of flowing hydrocarbons without stimulation.

Sacgasco managing director Gary Jeffery said: “After extensive technical reviews and assessing all options with our partners and well stimulation experts, we have concluded that we can practically continue to test all zones with potential for natural flow, before undertaking any more complex well stimulation work, if that is needed at all.

“So far, we have only tested a small part of the gas-saturated intervals at Dempsey for conventional natural gas production, leaving extensive gas shows still to be tested. This is before we reach the shallower field level reservoirs.

“Testing will begin this month and we will continue to work on permitting to give us the option to undertake well stimulation if required.”

A draft application for the potential stimulation of zones in the well is nearing completion. The company hopes to gain the flexibility to revisit any zone at a later date to further stimulate production.

The testing operations will focus on accessing two shallow gas-filled reservoir sands in Zone 3, with a gross interval of gas shows over 400ft.

Simultaneously, the company will access a currently producing interval in Zone 2.

Sacgasco expects Zone 3 to show better reservoir continuity than Zone 2 due to a strong seismic signature and better porosity.

The Dempsey gas project is operated by Sacgasco with a 50% interest. Other partners in the project include Empyrean Energy, Pancontinental Oil and Gas, and Xstate Resources.