The Geology of the Davis Ranch Oil Pool, Wabaunsee County, Kansas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17161/kgsbulletin.no.90.22035Abstract
The discovery of the Davis Ranch oil pool in Wabaunsee County, Kansas, in April 1949 started one of the most important leasing and wildcat drilling programs in Kansas in recent years. In the 21 months since the completion of the discovery well, 65 holes have been drilled in Wabaunsee County alone. Of this total 38 may be classed as wildcat or semiwildcat wells, three of which have opened additional new pools.
In view of the increased activity in Wabaunsee County and the Kansas part of the Forest City basin, a report showing our interpretations of the stratigraphy and structural relations of the Davis Ranch pool has been considered appropriate. All interpretations must be considered tentative until further information is received by the Survey.
On February 1, 1951, the Davis Ranch pool had 18 producing oil wells. Six dry holes have been drilled and one oil well, the Aladdin and Bakke No. 1 Schutter in the SW SW SW sec. 34, T. 13 S., R. 10 E. was abandoned in December 1950. This well was the only producing well in the Davis Ranch East pool.
The structure shown by the surface rocks is a north-northeast trending anticline with a closure of more than 20 feet. The Davis Ranch anticline is located on the northeast-trending subsurface Alma anticline which extends northward into Pottawatomie County and southward into Lyon County. The pre-Pennsylvanian structure is marked by a reverse fault which is not noticeable in the surface structure.
Seventeen wells produce from the Viola dolomite and one well from the "Hunton" dolomite in the Davis Ranch pool. The thickness of the oil-saturated porous zone in the Viola ranges from a featheredge to 20 feet. Initial productivity tests indicated little or no water present in the producing zone.
