Brookshire Dome was identified in 1927 by Gulf Oil Corporation’s seismic reconnaissance. Hydrocarbon production was discovered in 1934 by the Seaport Oil Company #1 Vaughan well in a Frio supercap sand at a depth of 1978'. Reported production was 150 BOPH (flowing). Some geologists consider this area of the dome to be the apex of the Brookshire Salt Dome.
Sporadic drilling occurred throughout the 1940's and 1950's with little success. Oil was discovered on the flank by the Magnolia Petroleum Company #1 Vitek well that drilled through a 3400' salt overhang and completed in an Eocene sand at 5,800 ft.
Additional flank production was established in 1954 by the Humble Oil and Refining #1 Sam Jones well in a 6800' Cockfield sand under the well salt overhand.
In 1952 Humble Oil and Refining completed the #1 P.H. Donigan in a 4560' Cockfield sand for an initial potential of 180 BOPD, 375# FTP. Recorded production from this well totals 15,509 BO.
In 1968 Texaco completed the #1 Donigan Estate in a middle Wilcox sand (10,808' to 852' TVD) for a potential of 38,000 MCFD (AOF). This well recovered a total of 121,892 million standard cubic feet of natural gas. Gas prices in 1968 were .32 cents/mcf. Today gas prices in this field have ranged from $4.00/mcf to over $12.00/mcf over the last several years.
From the 1950’s until 1973 there was very few wells were on the Brookshire Salt Dome. In 1973 Aubrey Rabensburg, who was the chief geologist for John Mecom, Sr. from 1943 until Mr. Mecom retired in 1968. Mr. Rabensburg had discovered over 150 million barrels of oil and gas equivalent, throughout Texas, while working for Mr. Mecom. Mr. Rabensburg wanted to test the Miocene sands at 1,600 t0 1,700 for gas.
Most companies thought the zone contained water, due to conventional logging techniques. Mosbacher Production Co. re-entered an old Kirby Exploration “dry hole” and via a triple combo log perf's in the Miocene sand proved up dry gas reserves.
