Plans for new wildcat natural gas wells on hold after disappointing results

BICKLETON, Wash. -- A company looking for natural gas says it is holding off on plans for additional exploratory wells after its latest effort showed disappointing results.

Delta Petroleum, a Denver, Colo.-company drilling an exploratory gas well about 12 miles southeast of Bickleton, says it has found “uneconomic” levels of natural gas and ceased plans for more drilling nearby.

“Plans for additional drilling activity scheduled for later this year and in 2010 have been curtailed pending a review of all completion and testing information,” the release said.

The company had applied for state drilling permits at four sites within three miles of the Gray Well.

Drill rig workers had found a combination of water and gas at various points in the well, the company said.

“However, the gas volumes have been minimal and substantially below pre-completion expectations deeming these intervals uneconomic,” the company said.

The company focused most of its testing between depths of 11,580 feet to 12,280 feet, the release said. It’s permit with the state of Washington allowed them to drill as deep as 15,000 feet.

The release said the company plans to conduct additional tests in the shallower basalt sections in which they found gas higher up the well, named the Gray Well after the property owner.

Delta owns interest on 424,000 acres in the Columbia Basin. It is partnering with Canadian company Husky Energy in the area.

-- Ross Courtney