Drilling activity down 7 percent in first three quarters of 2011, compared to same period of 2010; southern Michigan Trenton-Black River continues to be bright spot

摘要

MT. PLEASANT, Mich.—Michigan oil and gas drilling slowed in third quarter 2011, with the 34 drilling completions recorded from July 1 through Sept. 30 pushing the total number of holes drilled for the year to 118, down by 7 percent from the same period of 2010. Through the first nine months of 2011 the distribution of drilling by geologic system was very similar to that seen in the same period of last year, with 43 percent of activity aimed at Devonian-age horizons, 13 percent being Silurian Niagaran tests, and 44 percent reaching Ordovician targets. Utica-Collingwood drilling was up from the two recorded in the first three quarters of 2010 to seven in the January through September period of this year. The five dry holes shown in the Drilling by Horizon table on page 9 is somewhat misleading, as two of the holes were drilled as pilot holes for horizontal drain holes and at least one of the others reportedly had downhole problems.