ABSTRACT: Project STARR - State of Texas Advanced Oil and Gas Resource Recovery Program

TYLER, ROGER, R. P. MAJOR, H. SCOTT HAMLIN, MARK H HOLTZ, and MARK VINING

Revenue income to the Texas Permanent School Fund, derived largely from oil and gas royalties from Texas State Lands, has declined over the past decade. If current production trends on State Lands continue, this critical revenue stream will diminish to a trickle in 15 years. Yet, an enormous hydrocarbon resource base still remains on Texas State Lands. In fact, State Lands fields contain more oil and gas than has been recovered over the decades-long history of State Lands production. Rather than being unattainable, a large volume of this remaining oil and gas is recoverable through the strategic, or targeted, deployment of advanced recovery technologies.

The Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, with support from the State of Texas, is providing critical technical support in the form of these advanced recovery technologies. Some of the initial prospects for increased production have been identified and, with the support of allied producers, are being explored and developed. This State of Texas Advanced Oil and Gas Resource Recovery Initiative (Project STARR) has only one goal--increased royalty income to the Permanent School Fund through drilling of profitable wells.

To date, nine fields have been chosen for assessment: Ozona, Geraldine Ford and Ford West, Lockridge, Waha, and West Waha, and Keystone East fields of West Texas and Umbrella Point and Copano Bay South fields of the Gulf Coast. Twelve Texas operators are currently involved in the STARR initiative. By achieving even modest levels of incremental oil and gas recovery, Project STARR would generate additional State of Texas taxes and royalties, resulting in a significant contribution to the Permanent School Fund, directly benefiting all the schoolchildren of Texas.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90941©1997 GCAGS 47th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana