How coordinates are determined:
  In the Well Coordinates table is there a Source_Loc field for both the surface and bottom hole locations.  The code represents how the lat/longs were determined.
  The codes are:
   C = Calculated by computer using the footages from the section lines.
   G = GPSed by field staff. 
   M = Manually taken by plotting on a map.  In these cases the computer couldn't calculate and there was no GPS reading. 

The coordinate systems used:
X-Y data is in NAD 1983 Michigan GeoRef meters
Lat-long is NAD 1983

Abbreviations and explanation
Wh_ = well head -prefix used in column headings for surface locations
BH_ = bottom hole - prefix used on column headings for bottom of the hole
Slant = can be V (vertical), D (directional), or H (Horizontal)
     for Vertical wells, the surface and bottom hole locations should be the same
Twpn = Township Number
Twpd = Township Direction - combine with Twpn to get the Town as 27N
RngN = Range Number
RngD = Range Direction - combine with RngN to get the Range as 6W

What's NOT included.
This download doesn't include well locations for permitted oil and gas wells that are confidential or wells with permits after the last update. 

Formation codes

download well locations   About 4 MB, Last updated June 1, 2009.  This is a zipped (compressed) file.  Before it can be opened with Microsoft Access it must be unzipped.  If you do not have Microsoft Access, use the online database.  This database lists terminated permit locations, permits that were issued but never drilled,  A permit is terminated if drilling has not started on a well two years after issuance of a permit.  Since the permit is no longer valid, if someone wants to drill on that location, a new permit is needed. 

County maps with wells plotted
These maps are in .pdf format.  To see the well information (permit number etc.) use the zoom in tool in Adobe Acrobat.  The maps are updated weekly.

Drilling Unit maps
Maps in .pdf format are available for most of the northern lower Michigan counties and three southern Michigan counties.  This ongoing project will eventually provide maps for all of lower Michigan. 

Explanation of Town Range and Section

If there are any questions or problems about the database, please contact Roger Nelson:
phone: 517-241-1502
email: nelsonr3@michigan.gov