Disappointing Drills
A third well, completed earlier this year, is still being tested, he said. It had nearly blown out in an earlier attempt, and ended up swallowing a drill pipe whole. The second attempt, with a pipe “sidetracked” into the well, has produced merely 500,000 cubic feet of gas, and not consistently. A fourth well, meanwhile, also completed earlier this year, came up a mix of water and gas — it’s been hooked up to PG&E’s pipeline, Moran said, but produces just small volumes of gas.
The only solid commercially producing well, so far, is the Christiansen well, drilled in 2006. It taps into shallow sandstones already proven to produce gas elsewhere in the region, and was averaging about 340 million cubic feet a day in early 2008, according to Foothill’s website.
Moran said its financial troubles won’t affect the company’s operations in the Eel River Valley. The people who leased their mineral rights to Foothills will still get their annual lease payments, he said. Those lucky few who sit on top the Christiansen well are still getting their royalties. And the company is still planning to explore the rest of the valley where that seismic study drummed up potential prospects.
“We’re trying to get back in compliance [with the loan],” Moran said. “We’re putting together a plan. And we’ll probably bring in a partner to pursue some of those prospects.”
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent short stories
June 11, 2009
Eye of the Beholder
June 11, 2009
Double Down
May 21, 2009
Pearls and Swine
Hank Sims
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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