West Virginia

Since the late 1800’s large volumes of oil and gas have been found and produced in the state of West Virginia. In 2002 national rankings West Virginia was 23rd in oil production and 14th in natural gas production.

Over 979 million barrels of oil and 18.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas have been produced in the state with oil reserves estimated at over 1 billion barrels and 20 trillion cubic feet of gas.

The area has been and is a prolific producer of both oil and gas for well over a century. Over 15,000 wells have been drilled in this area since 1929, and indeed new wells are permitted and drilled on a weekly basis. The success rate in 2010 continues to improve with the geological imaging technologies available today.

Between 120,000 and 150,000 wells have been drilled in the state with the success rate for the drilling of new oil/gas wells in Roane, Braxton, Gilmer, Ritchie, Doddridge and Lewis counties where operations were conducted was 89.8% in 1964.

The IP or initial production rate for a new West Virginia oil well was 60 barrels per day and natural gas well 1,665 Mcfd. There are 14 reservoir or “ pay” sands to 4,300 ft. in the above counties with average recoveries per well in the 40-60,000 bbl range from a single zone.

West Virginia’s oil is Pennsylvanian-grade quality, high gravity light crude with a 45/52 API gravity that commands premium prices in the market. West Virginia’s extremely rich natural gas has a high 1200 plus BTU rating.

Ref. EIA, Oil & Gas Journal Feb.15, 1965, 1964 AAPG report