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Permian Bone Spring >> Overview

Bone Spring Overview

What is the Permian Bone Spring?

The Bone Springs horizontal oil play in the Delaware Basin, including the Avalon/Leonard Shale, spans from southeast New Mexico into west Texas. Drilling has revived since early wells spud ten years ago, but upside is limited for most E&Ps. Stacked, multi-pay reservoirs, each with diverse rock properties, introduce upside potential but also complexity.

The Bone Spring series includes first, second and third Bone Spring sands and corresponding carbonates, and the shallower Avalon Shale, which also stands on its own as a separate play in some instances. 

The initial targets in the Bone Spring were conventional sandstones. Wells then tapped into carbonate lenses and, ultimately, low permeability sandstones. Due to horizontal drilling technology combined with hydraulic fracturing, very thin sands and other facies are now being produced. 

Permian Bone Spring Map

Map showing, Avalon, 3rd Bone Spring, Wolfcamp Shale, Wolfbone