--> Abstract: Re-Activation and Evaluation of Platform Esther, Belmont Offshore Field, Orange County, California, by T. D. Adcock and S. R. Trujillo; #90992 (1993).

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ADCOCK, TERRY D., and STEPHEN R. TRUJILLO, Unocal Corporation, Santa Fe Springs, CA

ABSTRACT: Re-Activation and Evaluation of Platform Esther, Belmont Offshore Field, Orange County, California

Belmont offshore field is located approximately 1 mi south of the city of Seal Beach on State Leases PRC 186 and 3095.1. Initially drilled and developed by Monterey Oil Company in 1954 from the first man-made, rock-filled drilling island, the extension to parcel 3095.1 was obtained by Standard Oil Company of California (later to become Chevron) in 1964. Island Esther was constructed by Standard in 1964-1965. This man-made island in 38 ft of water produced 30.1 million bbl of oil, 15.2 bcf of gas and 20.8 million bbl of water before being devastated by a series of storms in 1983. Platform Esther was constructed above the remains of Island Esther to return certain wells to production and abandon the remainder. However, Chevron never returned the platform to production and transferred th platform to Unocal during a more extensive trade in December 1988.

Unocal subsequently put six of the 16 remaining producers back on production to test the feasibility of returning the platform to production. A rate of 387 BOPD was expected from six wells, reflecting the pre-1983 shut-in rate. During a four-month test phase, a maximum rate of 493 BOPD was achieved. Engineering calculations estimate that the available 16 producers could produce approximately 2000 BOPD once a moderate drawdown is achieved. Unocal is moving to restore onshore facilities idle since 1983 and to expand offshore facilities.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90992©1993 AAPG Pacific Section Meeting, Long Beach, California, May 5-7, 1993.