Buccaneer Reports Production Gains From East Texas Oil Recovery Pilot

Why It Matters

The pilot shows OOR can quickly boost yields and lower water‑handling costs in mature water‑flood assets, offering a low‑cost path to extend well life and improve cash flow.

Key Takeaways

• OOR doubled production from 15 to 30 bpd.
• Water cut reduced in treated well.
• Pilot treated one injector, two producers.
• Expansion to two more wells planned.
• Potential field-wide rollout later 2026.

Pulse Analysis

Organic oil recovery (OOR) leverages native microorganisms to enhance oil mobility in reservoirs that have been subjected to long‑term water flooding. By injecting a tailored nutrient blend, operators stimulate microbial populations that produce biosurfactants, lowering interfacial tension between oil and rock. This bio‑enhanced process can unlock residual hydrocarbons without the need for expensive chemical additives or extensive drilling. In recent years, several independents have piloted OOR in the United States, reporting modest production lifts and reduced water handling costs, positioning the technique as a low‑impact secondary recovery option.

Buccaneer Energy’s recent pilot at the Pine Mills field demonstrated the practical upside of OOR in a mature East Texas water‑flood operation. After treating one water injector and two producing wells, average output in the test zone rose from roughly 15 barrels per day in early January to about 30 barrels per day post‑treatment, effectively doubling the rate. One of the treated producers also showed a marked drop in water cut, easing surface handling and potentially extending well life. The rapid response suggests that microbial stimulation can quickly alter reservoir wettability, delivering immediate economic benefits.

Buccaneer plans to extend OOR to two additional producers in Battery 3 and is evaluating broader field deployment later this year, a move that could reshape its asset economics. If the technology scales, the company may lower water‑handling expenses, improve net‑present value of mature wells, and gain a competitive edge in a market where capital efficiency is paramount. Industry observers are watching the rollout as a potential template for other operators facing declining rates in water‑flooded fields, signaling a shift toward biologically‑driven enhanced oil recovery solutions.

Buccaneer reports production gains from East Texas oil recovery pilot

February 16, 2026

Buccaneer Energy has completed a pilot program testing organic oil recovery (OOR) technology at its Pine Mills field in East Texas, reporting improved production and reduced water cut in the treated area.

The pilot was conducted in the northern section of the field within the Battery 3 area and involved treatment of one water injector and two producing wells. Following the treatment, average production in the pilot area increased from approximately 15 bpd in early January to about 30 bpd during the post‑treatment period, with output continuing at similar levels.

The OOR process involves injecting a nutrient mixture into the reservoir to stimulate naturally occurring microorganisms. These microbes alter interfacial properties within the reservoir, reducing the bond between oil and rock and improving the mobility of residual oil in mature water‑flood systems. Buccaneer reported that one treated well experienced a significant reduction in water cut after treatment.

The pilot program was implemented after the company returned a water injector in the area to service as part of a broader work‑over program. Based on initial results, Buccaneer plans to treat two additional producing wells in the Battery 3 area and is evaluating expansion of the recovery method across other sections of the Pine Mills field later in 2026.

The Pine Mills field is a mature water‑flood development, and the company said it will continue monitoring performance from the treated wells as it assesses the potential for broader application of the OOR technology.