A New Direction: Horizontal Drilling Under Rend Lake

Project: To reach an oil reservoir under Rend Lake near Nason, Illinois

Solution: Engage Mitchell’s Rig 14 with Directional Drilling Contractors (DDC) of Traverse City, Michigan

Situation: Over 40 years ago a producing oil reservoir, Lappen #1, was plugged out and abandoned to contribute to the formation of Rend Lake in southern Illinois. An innovative operator, Clarence Sherman, began the difficult recovery process of this reservoir under the Lake. The task was to drill 400 feet at a 90 degree angle.

Result: Mitchell Drilling’s Rig 14, led by Toolpusher Bob Brockett along with DDC’s Tim Spicer, worked around the clock for several days to drill the unique angle. The directional drilling process successfully accomplished the specifications of the project. Results of this test are being held confidential by the operator.

Deeper Test in the Illinois Basin

Reliable and no stranger to depth, Rig 14, knows no drilling boundaries in the Illinois Basin. For 56 days in McLean County, Kentucky, Rig 14, supervised by Toolpusher Bob Brockett, drilled a 6,512 foot well, plugged back and kicked it off, then immediately began directionally drilling a 6,560 foot well.

Without skipping a beat, Rig 14, a Cabot model 550, then drilled a 7,050 well for Headington Oil in Hamilton County, Illinois. This oil-rich Mill Shoals Field was also the site for several drilling operations utilizing Mitchell's Rig 6, also supervised by Brockett.