Houston-based U.S. Drilling Capital Management LLC has entered a well-bore participation joint venture with SandRidge Energy Inc., Oklahoma City, (NYSE: SD) to invest up to $75 million in SandRidge’s development drilling activities in the Piñon Field in the West Texas Overthrust.

U.S. Drilling will make an initial $15-million commitment and could aggregate $75 million of invested capital in SandRidge’s drilling during the next 12 to 18 months.

The Piñon Field is SandRidge’s primary core area of interest and is along the leading edge of the West Texas Overthrust in Pecos and Terrell counties. The primary reservoirs are the Tesnus sands, the Upper Caballos chert and the Lower Caballos chert.

U.S. Drilling partner Philip Epstein says, “U.S. Drilling is pleased to invest with SandRidge in a drilling joint venture in the Piñon Field, which represents one of America’s world class natural gas fields. U.S. Drilling seeks opportunities to participate with strong operating companies with demonstrated expertise in their core areas. We believe this is an excellent opportunity to launch U.S. Drilling’s new fund and look forward to the success of this venture in the coming years.”

U.S. Drilling is an energy investment fund founded that provides capital to the upstream and midstream sectors.