Spanning forty years, Sandalwood has been successful in being able to lease, explore and successfully develop its oil and gas production in some of the most environmentally sensitive and logistically challenging areas of the Gulf Coast. The following are a few examples of Sandalwood's success in difficult areas of oil & gas exploration and development
Norman Hurd Field
After evaluating updip Wilcox geology and production in the Tyler and Jasper County area, Sandalwood acquired 3D seismic data over prospective areas and leased 300 acres from BP America Production Company just east of the 1930's vintage Joe's Lake Field (7.5 MMBO). Sandalwood's test well, located more than 10 miles off the nearest paved road, was drilled in late 2014 and confirmed threе productive Wilcox oil sands on a very subtle structure which is saddle-separated from Joe's Lake Field. Three development wells have been drilled, and cumulative production totals 1.6 MMBO +1.5 BCFG.
Raccoon Bend Salt Dome
In 2008, Sandalwood discovered the first commercial Wilcox production in the prolific Raccoon Bend Salt Dome Field located in Austin County, Texas. This field was discovered in the 1920's and had hundreds of wells drilled, including 17 previous tests of the Wilcox which had resulted in total Wilcox production of only 15,000 ВO. The Sandalwood test well found three productive Wilcox sands and integrating the results with 3D seismic data led to a total re-evaluation of the dome, a successful reprocessing of the seismic data, and receipt of a farmout of all ExxonMobil's~ 12,000 acres of deep rights on the dome. Sandalwood discovered thirteen commercially-viable, oil-productive sands with peak production of~2000 BOPD in several steeply dipping fault blocks. Cumulative production attributable to the new drilling is >2.1 MMBO plus 2.8 BCFG.
Sandalwood 2001 Program
In early 2001, Sandalwood hired Daniel L. Smith as Vice President of Exploration and Phil Fleming as Vice President of Land, former AAPG and AAPL Presidents, respectively. Mr. Smith brought numerous prospective areas to Sandalwood for exploration and development which became the basis for the 2001 Sandalwood Program. This program participated in the drilling of 26 wells. The current cumulative production for the 2001 Program wells is more than >110 BCFG + 1.6 MMBO.
The most challenging prospect ever put together by Sandalwood was its Stella Prospect, which was part of the 2001 Program and encompassed lands along both sides of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Significant challenges of the Stella Prospect included the development of minerals under the Belle Chase Naval Air Station after 9/11, and an engineering record-breaking natural gas pipeline boring under the Mississippi River to market gas from the east bank of the river (which had no gas pipeline infrastructure) to the natural gas markets located on the west side of the river. Sandalwood caused 8 wells to be drilled on the Stella Prospect, acquired more than a thousand leases, and directionally drilled under the Mississippi River, the Naval Air Station and other considerable infrastructure. The Stella wells produced at a maximum rate of approximately 37 MMCFD and have produced greater than 57 BCF + 740 MBO.
Welder Ranch & Welder Wildlife Foundation
From 1985 to 2001, Sandalwood's exploration efforts were focused on the South Texas Gulf Coast. Most of the wells drilled during this period were in San Patricio and Jim Wells Counties, Texas, the majority of which were located on Welder Ranch and Welder Wildlife Foundation properties. Through Sandalwood's development of its strong relationships with the Welders, O'Connors and the Welder Wildlife Foundation, Sandalwood shot 200 miles of 2D seismic, 80,000 acres of proprietary 3D seismic and drilled over 90 wells in this area.