The well is permitted to a depth of 1,250 metres (4,000ft) with the potential to encounter oil and gas reserves in several conventional zones above the primary unconventional shale target, including the Big Lime, Knifely and Warsaw formations.
Mark Dolar, president of Nextraction Energy, said: “The Kentucky play fits our company strategy to look for large scale targets with the potential for dozens or hundreds of wells where we can use our exploration and recovery experience to advantage in known productive fields.
“This initial well will provide the proof of concept for the play in both the conventional and unconventional natural gas resources.”
Regionally, several other operators have been targeting the Chattanooga shale for unconventional recovery utilizing recovery technology.
Nextraction and Vinland Energy Eastern have entered into a farm-out and joint venture agreement to explore over 70,130 acres in southeastern Kentucky. Vinland Energy Operating, is the acting contract operator for the project.
The project area is located in Whitley and McCreary counties, Kentucky, between and on trend with recent Chattanooga Shale producing areas northeast and south-southwest of the Nextraction/Vineland acreage.
