Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Geological Survey maintains a database of all Oklahoma shale gas and tight oil well completions (http://www.ou.edu/content/ogs/research/ energy/oil-gas.html) compiled from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission Form 1002A completion report. Wells producing Helium in Oklahoma are from associated gas and natural gas wells. The database of 4,624 well completions from 1939 to February 2017 contains the following shale formations (in alphabetical order) and number of completions: Arkansas Novaculite (3), Atoka Group shale (1), Barnett Shale (2), Caney Shale or Caney Shale/Woodford Shale (125), Excello Shale/Pennsylvanian shale (2), Goddard Shale (lower Springer shale) (61), Sylvan Shale or Sylvan Shale/Woodford Shale (21), and Woodford Shale (4,409). Shale wells commingled with non-shale lithologies are not included.  

The introduction of scientific equipment using helium has grown dramatically over the last half century, driving an increasing demand for the gas. The unexpected helium discovery in the Oklahoma Panhandle has put the region’s rocks on the maps as a target for exploration for this strategic commodity.

The story of how the helium was found is now well known throughout the north dalhart region. A drilling crew collecting cores for copper and nickel exploration hit an unexpected gas pocket that shut down the drill rig for five days. After the hole was capped, the exploration team had the gas analyzed. The results show it was mostly carbon dioxide, with significant fractions of nitrogen, methane, and a helium.