BakerHughes Rig Count Map

The following link takes you to a BakerHughes web site where you can view an interactive map showing the location of all wells being drilled in North America, mainly the lower 48 United States. Apparently they don't track Canadian activity.

What is most interesting is the map allows a viewer to differentiate between vertical, directional, and horizontal wells. You can also see oil wells, gas wells, geothermal wells and many other parameters. At the moment 78% of all wells being drilled are looking for gas, 21% for oil, and only 1% for geothermal. Of all the wells being drilled, 40% are horizontal! 385 out of 955 wells being drilled are horizontal. Obviously horizontal drilling is not some kind of short-lived fad.

It seems to me there is a large need for the "steering" of these horizontal wells. Interpreting the data, or logs coming from a horizontally drilling well is very different from that of a traditional vertical well. That is where us few interpreters come in. Contact me if you want to learn more or if you have any comments.
Peter

Here is the BakerHughes link: http://gis.bakerhughesdirect.com/RigCounts/default2.aspx

Newfield Exploration Slowing Woodford Shale Completions In Oklahoma

Many companies are reducing their drilling and completion activity because of "low" gas prices. Blame it on the slumped economy, or blame it on the difficulty of available credit, or whatever. It seems to me companies are being cautious and waiting for gas prices to rise a bit before investing to get the gas flowing. Activity may has slowed, but it will pick up again.
Peter

Oklahoma
By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 23 --
Newfield Exploration Co., Houston, has been slowing its pace of Woodford shale completions in Oklahoma due to low gas prices.

Gross production is 240 MMcfd of gas, and the company is operating 11 rigs in the field, six of which roll off term contract in 2009.

"The timing of rig contract expirations and the fact that more than 90% of the company's 165,000 net acres now held by production provide Newfield with operational flexibility in the second half of 2009," Newfield said.

Laterals Newfield drills in the play are expected to average more than 5,000 ft in 2009.

Haynesville Shale, Another Very Good Well

The Haynesville Shale Gas Play in northwest Louisiana continues growing with very good results. Note the mention of the "10-stage frac". Horizontal drilling followed by multi-stage frac jobs is becoming the norm for shale gas wells across the country.
Peter

Louisiana
By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 28 -- (source)
A well operated by Chesapeake Energy Corp., Oklahoma City, in Caspiana field, Northwest Louisiana, flowed 17 MMcfd of gas from the Haynesville shale formation on state test.
Participant Cubic Energy Inc., Dallas, said the well flowed on a 24/64-in. choke with 6,170 psi flowing tubing pressure after a 10-stage frac. It was completed in February 2009.

The well, Clingman Acres-11H, in 11-15n-15w, Caddo Parish, is just east of Cubic Energy's Johnson Branch acreage. Cubic Energy's working interest in the well is 2.8%.

Cimarex Energy Co. And Woodford Shale In Oklahoma

These are pretty good numbers from the Woodford Shale Gas Play in Oklahoma. The average flow rates, successful completion percentage, and number of wells drilled are all impressive.
Peter

Oklahoma
By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 29 -- (source)
Cimarex Energy Co., Denver, has participated in 49 wells in the Anadarko basin Woodford shale play since late 2007.

Of the 49 wells, 36 are on line and the rest are either awaiting completion or drilling. The 30-day initial average production rate, normalized for a 4,300-ft lateral, is 4.5 MMcfd.

The company's 2009 program is to drill or participate in 50 gross (23 net) wells. Cimarex holds 98,000 net acres in the play.

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.

The Haynesville Shale Gas Play Continues Hot...

It seems the Haynesville Shale Gas Play is showing no signs of slowing down, in spite of lower gas prices. As they say, "follow the money" and EnCana is investing some big dollars. This is the kind of economic stimulus America needs!
Peter


EnCana boosts Haynesville shale activity
By OGJ editors HOUSTON, Apr. 22 -- (source)

EnCana Corp., Calgary, has a $580 million program to drill 50 Haynesville shale gas wells in East Texas and North Louisiana in 2009.

The company has seen encouraging results from its own drilling and those of other producers, and the 2009 program will enable it to improve its understanding of the play, further evaluate its lands, and retain prospective acreage.

To facilitate unrestrained market access for its gas, the company has committed to supply 150 MMcfd on the proposed Gulf South pipeline expansion and 500 MMcfd on the proposed ETC Tiger pipeline.

Meanwhile, EnCana chalked up a 50% production increase in the Deep Bossier play in East Texas, where it averaged 409 MMcfd of production in the first quarter of 2009 compared with an average of 334 MMcfd for all of 2008.

EnCana drilled 15 wells in the first quarter and 78 in all of East Texas in 2008.
Initial 30-day production rates in Amoruso field averaged more than 19 MMcfd, and the Charlene-1 well completed in January flowed at more than 50 MMcfd on initial tests.

Reach Out And Touch Some Marcellus Shale....Quickly

This sounds clever, very quickly drill multiple horizontal wells, in different directions, from the same relatively small drill pad. Minimize surface disturbance, minimize cost, maximize productivity.
Peter

Custom Drilling Rigs Used In Marcellus Shale Gas Play

Pennsylvania
By OGJ editors HOUSTON, Apr. 16 --
Range Resources Corp., Fort Worth, placed in service two custom-designed drilling rigs in the Marcellus shale gas play in Pennsylvania.

The rigs are equipped with crawlers and can traverse a drill pad in a few hours versus days for conventional rigs. The rigs are expected to save time and money as Range drills multiple laterals from the same pad.

The company's 2009 program calls for drilling more than 60 Marcellus wells.