Geological and Operational Summary, Cost No. B-3 Well, Baltimore Canyon through Area, Mid-Atlantic OCS.

摘要

The Continental Offshore Stratigraphic Test (COST) No. B-3 well was drilled to a depth of 15,820 feet by Chevron USA Inc., who acted as well operator for 10 other participating companies. The well was begun on October 9, 1978, and completed on January 25, 1979, at a location approximately 93 statute miles southeast of Atlantic City, N. J. (fig. 1) .Drilled in 2,686 feet of water by the dynamically positioned drill ship Ben Ocean Lancer, this is the first deep well to penetrate the U. S.Atlantic slope, that part of the continental margin between the shelf and rise. The B-3 penetrated 2,240 feet of Tertiary calcareous mudstone, claystone, and argillaceous limestone, 2,650 feet of Upper Cretaceouss and stone, siltstone, and calcareous mudstone, 3,710 feet of Lower Cretaceous sandstone inter-bedded with shale and minor carbonate rocks,and 3,420 feet of Upper Jurassic shale, limestone, and sandstone. The well had a show of gas in the interval from 15,744 to 15,752 feet;the show was judged to be significant by the U. S. Geological Survey and was announced to the public on January 18, 1979.Geological and engineering data obtained from this deep stratigraphic test were used by participating companies and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for evaluating the petroleum potential, as well as possible drilling problems in the deep-water shelf and slope areas of the Baltimore Canyon Trough area in preparation for Lease Sale No. 49 held on February 28,1979. Information obtained on the operations, lithology, potential source rocks, temperature and pressure gradients, biostratigraphy, etc., is summarized in this report.