HUGE Numbers For Apache..

67,000 drilling locations in Texas and Oklahoma alone!  That ought to keep a lot of people busy for a long time.  These so-called "resource plays", which are basically low porosity and permeability rocks containing oil and gas that become economic to produce because of the combined technologies of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. 

These are truly revolutionary developments in the history of the oil and gas industry.  It amazes me how few people are aware of the significance of this.  Try to grasp the magnitude of the numbers Apache is throwing around in the following article.  To say the least, it looks like "Peak Oil" has been pushed into the future.  Make your plans accordingly.
Peter

Apache Details Liquids-Rich Identified Resource Inventory

9.2 billion net barrels of oil equivalent, 67,000 drilling locations in Permian and Anadarko
New U.S. resource plays: 580,000 acres in Mississippian Lime, 300,000 acres in Williston Basin
48 Tcf net sales gas in British Columbia's Liard Basin

RELATED QUOTES

Symbol	Price	Change
APA	85.42	+2.45

HOUSTON, June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) today released new, detailed resource estimates of its oil- and liquids-rich portfolio, including substantial Permian and Anadarko basin holdings, recently acquired acreage in the liquids-rich Mississippian Lime and Williston Basin resource plays, and significant new plays and oil exploration prospects in Canada, Argentina, Alaska and Kenya.
"For Apache, this is the time to drill more wells: We have captured a vast, liquids-rich resource base and drilling costs are declining," said G. Steven Farris, Apache's chairman and chief executive officer. "By remaining committed to Apache's historical focus on returns and preserving our conservative financial structure – which means living within our cash flow – our portfolio is positioned to continue to deliver long-term growth and value for our shareholders."
Resource estimates released Thursday at the company's annual investor day include:

• Apache, the second-largest producer and acreage owner in the Permian Basin of West Texas and eastern New Mexico, has identified approximately 34,500 drillable locations with an estimated net resource of 3.8 billion barrels of oil equivalent (Boe).
• In the Anadarko Basin in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, Apache has identified approximately 32,500 drillable locations primarily in the Granite Wash, Cleveland, Tonkawa and Marmaton formations with an estimated net resource of 5.4 billion Boe.
• In northern British Columbia, Canada, Apache has validated an outstanding new shale play in the Liard Basin with net estimated sales gas of 48 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (8 billion Boe) across 430,000 acres held with a 100-percent working interest.
  The resource estimate at Liard is based on recent drilling, test results and earlier well control points. "The D-34-K well is one of the best shale wells we've seen in any play," Farris said. "Our analysis indicates that the formation characteristics are remarkably consistent across this large basin."
• In Argentina, Apache estimated that its 450,000-acre position in the Vaca Muerta oil shale has a net potential recoverable resource of 800 million Boe.

New exploratory oil prospects include:

• Apache has built a 580,000-acre (net) position in the Mississippian Lime play in Kansas and Nebraska with an inventory of 7,200 potential locations and an estimated resource potential of 2 billion barrels of oil.
• Apache assembled a 300,000-acre position (net) in the Williston Basin in Daniels County, Montana, with more than 1,900 potential locations and potential resource of 1 billion barrels of oil.
• In Alaska – where this year Apache plans to drill its first well – the company has identified 1.3 billion barrels of oil of yet-to-be-found potential.
• In Block L-8 offshore Kenya, Apache has identified eight prospects with net potential of 1.4 billion barrels of oil. Apache expects to commence drilling its first well in the deepwater block in the third quarter.

"Apache has captured the largest inventory of liquids-rich drillable locations in our history, including additional upside potential from exploration activities in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Egypt and Australia," Farris said. "We are well-positioned to deliver long-term profitable growth with our balanced portfolio, focus on rate of return, and prudent financial structure."

About Apache

Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea, Australia and Argentina. Apache posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and copies of all press releases on its website, www.apachecorp.com.

Horn River Shale Gas Play In NE British Columbia Going Strong

The economics of gas wells in the Horn River Shale of northeastern British Columbia, Canada must be excellent. Why? Imagine the cost of bringing in rigs and equipment to this remote area, with its harsh climate and lack of supporting infrastructure. Gas produced from shale, via horizontal drilling and constantly improving hydraulic fracturing technology are key elements to this success.
Peter

Horn River drilling, gas plant take shape
By OGJ editors HOUSTON, Apr. 22 -- (source)

EnCana Corp., Calgary, and its partner Apache Corp., Houston, have adopted a more efficient way to develop gas in the Horn River basin shales of Northeast British Columbia, EnCana said.

The companies hope to be able to drill fewer wells by increasing the number of fracs per horizontal leg to as many as 14 from the eight initially planned.

The companies will drill 12 wells in 2009, down from 20 originally planned.

EnCana is to build the Cabin gas processing plant 60 km northeast of Fort Nelson, BC, on behalf of industry co-owners that are major landholders in the basin. Its first phase is due in service in the third quarter of 2011. Initial capacity is 400 MMcfd, and the plant will be expanded in stages as the basin's gas production grows.