A REVIEW OF ENERGY EXPLORATION IN NORTH CAROLINA

Energy exploration in North Carolina has been primarily associated with the search for oil and gas since 1925 (Coffey, 1977). A total of 128 wells have been drilled with the peak of activity occurring in the 1940s to 1970s. Much of the exploration was focused within North Carolina’s Coastal Plain sedimentary wedge, with 22 wells being drilled in Onslow County alone. However, activity shifted from the Coastal Plain to the Triassic basins during the early to mid-1970s. For instance, eight wells were drilled in Lee County, within the Deep River Triassic basin between 1974 and 1998.

All exploration wells throughout North Carolina have since been plugged and abandoned, with the exception of the last two -- Lee County wells, “Butler #3” and “Simpson #1.” These wells are shut in and maintain several hundred PSI of gas pressure at each wellhead. Today, the state’s potential for onshore hydrocarbon production depends on further geological research and resource assessment, updating statutes and rules, and global oil and gas commodity prices.

Although North Carolina considers the development of its onshore hydrocarbon resources as one strategy to become more energy independent, offshore sedimentary strata could hold additional potential. The NC Geological Survey has been working closely with USGS to better determine offshore hydrocarbon generation and migration (Coleman and others, 2012). Additionally, offshore geological research with applications for energy exploration were conducted using seismic profiling technologies (NSF, 2014), and is providing a better understanding of hydrocarbon trap potential in marine sedimentary rocks.