Squaw Canyon Oil Field
Squaw Canyon Oil Field is located in San Juan County, approximately 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Blanding, Utah. Production is from a northwest–southeast trending 20-foot-thick (6.1 m) carbonate buildup in the Pennsyslvanian Desert Creek. The field is part of the Paradox Basin that extends from the states of Colorado to Utah and New Mexico.
Reservoir is a carbonate phylloid algal lime wackestone to packstone. The fields are mostly algal mounds, with thick sections saturated with oil. Squaw Canyon Field is approximately .5 miles (0.80 km) long and approximately 1,500 feet (460 m) wide, trending northwest–southeast.
Discovery
The field was discovered in 1984 by MCO Resources Company, with the drilling of the Federal 1-19 well located in Section 19. Initial shut in pressure was 2,046 psig at 5,500 feet.
Initial well being completed in the Desert Creek formation, the initial production rate was 550 barrels of oil per day. Additional development wells were drilled to delineate the extent of the reservoir. The field was discovered using seismic.
Currently the field is operated by Mar/Reg Oil Company, an independent oil company based in Nevada.
Geology
The a cross section of the field. The field is composed of a natural gas cap, oil column. The field was delineated by drilling of five wells.
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The field has cumulative oil production of approximately 350 thousand barrels of oil and 900 million cubic feet of natural gas. The field consists of limestone horizon with vertical fractures that run northeast–southwest. Due to the fracturing, the field is not efficiently drained.
Regional setting: South-central Paradox Basin.
Producing formation(s): Pennsylvanian-Desert Creek zone of the Paradox Formation at approximately 5,500 feet depth. Additional production is from the Honaker Trail and the Ismay formations.
Type of trap: Stratigraphic, carbonate algal-mound.
Oil composition
Crude oil produced has the following composition:
- 43.6 - API gravity
- Pour point - 15 degree F.
- Color - Yellow-brown
- Sulfur content - Low
- Viscosity - 0.4 cps
Natural gas composition
- BTU - 1340 to 1470
- Specific gravity - .496
Additional studies by the Utah Department of Geology has encouraged the drilling of horizontal wells to efficiently drain the reservoir.