LAs Raices #2
Las Raices #2
Location: Webb County, Texas
Operator: MB Energy, LLC
Target Formation: Olmos "A" and "B" Sands
Spud Date: October 13, 2023
Total Depth (TD): 7,102’
API #: 42-479-44845
Project Overview
The Las Raices #2 well, located in the Las Raices Prospect within Webb County, Texas, was drilled to test the Olmos sands as the primary target. Despite a successful CO₂-assisted frac job and initial flowback results, the well has demonstrated non-commercial production, likely due to reservoir depletion, compartmentalization, or structural positioning.
Key Operations and Results
Drilling:
Surface hole drilled to 1,803’ and cemented with full returns.
Main hole drilled to a Plugged Back TD of 7,102’.
Completion:
Initial Perforation:
Olmos “A” perforated from 6922’–6940’ on February 20, 2024.
Fracture treatment performed by Halliburton included:
158,780 lbs 20/40 premium white proppant.
49,420 lbs 20/40 Sinterlite proppant, with a max concentration of 5.8 ppg.
Flowback commenced February 22, initially showing encouraging results:
Day 2: 770 Mcf/day gas and 13 bbl/hour water.
By Day 7: Declined to 273 Mcf/day gas and 2 bbl/hour water on a 14/64” choke.
After tubing installation on March 14, the well ceased flow on March 20, with cumulative production of only 3,702 Mcf and 30.4 barrels of condensate.
Production Issues:
The well showed low reservoir energy and increasing water production, indicating potential reservoir compartmentalization or structural challenges.
Challenges and Analysis
Reservoir Compartmentalization:
Natural fractures, likely associated with underlying Eagle Ford production, may have divided the Olmos sand into isolated, non-connected reservoirs.
The frac treatment, while successful, may have inadvertently accessed water-saturated micro-fractures instead of larger reservoir pockets.
Structural Position:
Las Raices #2 is the structurally lowest of the wells on the ranch, making it vulnerable to water influx.
Offset wells, such as Las Raices #1R and MB Las Raices #1, performed better due to their higher structural position relative to key faults.
Current Status and Costs
The well is shut-in, and unnecessary production expenses have been terminated.
Despite non-commercial results, the well was completed under budget, with minimal production proceeds to date.
Future Operations and Recommendations
Given the current collapse in natural gas prices, economics remain challenging. However, potential future operations include:
Monitor Olmos “A” Zone:
Continue pressure monitoring to determine if low-volume oil production is possible.
Chance of success: Unlikely.
Test Olmos “B” Zone:
Recompletion behind pipe via perforation (no frac) to gather additional data.
Chance of success: Low.
Evaluate Lower Wilcox Zones:
Logs indicate several thin zones of anomalous resistivity and density porosity between 4,250’–4,400’.
The 4250 sand has encouraging indicators from the Empire Pulsed Decay Neutron Log and could be a future recompletion target.
Lessons Learned
The Las Raices #2 well highlights the risks and complexities of targeting thin, fractured reservoirs. Despite positive log and core data, reservoir compartmentalization and structural positioning ultimately impacted production potential.
Conclusion
The Las Raices #2 well, while non-commercial at this stage, provides valuable data for future exploration in the Las Raices Prospect. Lessons learned regarding structural positioning, natural fracturing, and reservoir complexity will inform future drilling locations, particularly to the west and northeast of the ranch.
Sometimes you hit a home run, and sometimes you hit a learning curve. This well gave us both.
- Harvey H. Howell
May 15, 2024