With massively increased natural gas production due to improved drilling and development technologies, namely horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, shale gas development in the US needs to find new demand to improve prices.
T. Boone Pickens and others stress that the transportation sector should take better advantage of the "clean" fuel alternative, and many have supported natural gas as a fleet truck solution.
Also, natural gas-fired power plants produce a fraction of the greenhouse gases that coal-fired power plants do, which has helped to increase the number of gas power construction projects in the US.
Because natural gas is, well, a gas, it has typically been relegated to domestic markets. In other words, natural gas is transported and sold where pipelines can carry it. But LNG offers a solution, a wider market for natural gas. And increasing demand in Europe, India and China could snap up production in the US and possibly help to raise prices on the Henry Hub.
But is shale gas export via LNG commercially viable?
Cheniere Energy thinks so. The company skirted the headlines again this week -- twice -- with new sales agreements for its Sabine Pass LNG facility proposed for the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. In addition to previous agreements with Chinese and Spanish firms, this week's two MOUs involved Sumitomo (Japanese) and EDF (France).
While Bechtel has been tapped to provide the engineering to support the transformation, final governmental approval for the Sabine Pass LNG terminal has not been given to switch the facility from import to export.
Additionally, there are a few other facilities that have proposed the idea, as well, which certainly gets natural gas producers, who have been battling depressed prices for some time now, very excited.
The second-largest producer of natural gas in the US, Chesapeake Energy has divulged that the company is interested in exporting LNG. While the company isn't planning to invest in an LNG export facility, Chesapeake will support LNG export efforts by signing long-term supply agreements.
In fact, Chesapeake has signed a MOU with Cheniere concerning its Sabine Pass LNG facility, promising up to 500,000 mcf/d of gas to the facility.
“Every operator on the Gulf Coast has a liquefaction plan,” said Mike Stice, senior vice president for natural gas projects at Chesapeake Energy. “In the near term, if you get the right political wave, you can do it really quickly.”
Nonetheless, I've heard contradictory reports from analysts concerning the economic viability of exporting shale gas production via LNG to international markets.
What are your thoughts?
.......................................................
Phaedra
Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that
provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more.
Sign up for a free
daily enewsletter today.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Offshore rig construction market heats up
In addition to the ever-climbing price of oil, I can tell that the industry believes that offshore oil and gas exploration and development are coming back: The offshore rig construction market is heating up.
Offshore drilling contractors are lining up rigs for construction in shipyards worldwide. And it's not only the ultra-deepwater rigs that are getting added to the fleet -- high-specification jackups are being built with just as much gusto.
Despite the drilling moratorium and permitting delays in the US Gulf of Mexico, the offshore drilling market is red hot. In addition to a growing demand for hydrocarbons resulting in a increased need for offshore drilling, Petrobras has contracted the majority of the ultra-deepwater fleet for the foreseeable future for drilling campaigns offshore Brazil, which leaves a void for other producers. (Plus, Petrobras is moving forward with a tender for the construction of up to 28 deepwater drilling rigs to be built in Brazil.)
Enter a growing newbuild offshore rig fleet.
In the last two days, five new rigs have been added to the newbuild list.
Aker Drilling has contracted a firm two ultra-deepwater drillships from Daewoo Shipbuilding in South Korea for $600 million a pop, in addition to having a stipulation for another two optional rigs built into the contract.
Additionally, Noble Corp. contracted Hyundai Heavy Industries for two ultra-deepwater drillships for a combined price of $1.2 billion, also with an additional two rig option.
Atwood Oceanics optioned for another high-spec jackup from PPL Shipyard for $190 million; this is in addition to the original two the company ordered in October 2010. Another two jackup options remain on the table.
Just in the last few months, other newbuild construction contracts include Standard Drilling's order of a $180 million jackup from Keppel Fels and Mermaid Maritime's order of two jackup drilling rigs with an option for another two for $360 million from KFels.
Also, Noble Corp. ordered two high-spec jackups from Sembcorp for $440 million.
Earlier this month, Diamond Offshore ordered two ultra-deepwater drillships from HHI for $590 million a piece, with an option for another.
In October 2010, Seadrill ordered two turnkey jackup drilling rigs from Jurong Shipyard, with an option for another four. In November 2011, Seadrill ordered two firm ultra-deepwater drillships from Samsung for $600 million each, with another two-rig option it can exercise.
Not counting Petrobras, that's 18 new rigs in three months to join the line, with potentially another 14 rigs in options.
Additionally, Transocean is paying $195 million for an under-construction jackup with PPL Shipyard; and Seadrill bought two under-construction ultra-deepwater semisubs for $1.2 billion from Jurong Shipyard, as well as the under-construction CJ-70 harsh-environment jackup for $257 million.
Drilling contractors have cited strong backlogs and considered ultra-deepwater drilling waiting lists as reasons why they're adding to their fleets.
Whatever the reason, the strong newbuild offshore rig construction market certainly points to a rejuvenated drilling and development environment in the future.
...................................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
Offshore drilling contractors are lining up rigs for construction in shipyards worldwide. And it's not only the ultra-deepwater rigs that are getting added to the fleet -- high-specification jackups are being built with just as much gusto.
Despite the drilling moratorium and permitting delays in the US Gulf of Mexico, the offshore drilling market is red hot. In addition to a growing demand for hydrocarbons resulting in a increased need for offshore drilling, Petrobras has contracted the majority of the ultra-deepwater fleet for the foreseeable future for drilling campaigns offshore Brazil, which leaves a void for other producers. (Plus, Petrobras is moving forward with a tender for the construction of up to 28 deepwater drilling rigs to be built in Brazil.)
Enter a growing newbuild offshore rig fleet.
In the last two days, five new rigs have been added to the newbuild list.
Aker Drilling has contracted a firm two ultra-deepwater drillships from Daewoo Shipbuilding in South Korea for $600 million a pop, in addition to having a stipulation for another two optional rigs built into the contract.
Additionally, Noble Corp. contracted Hyundai Heavy Industries for two ultra-deepwater drillships for a combined price of $1.2 billion, also with an additional two rig option.
Atwood Oceanics optioned for another high-spec jackup from PPL Shipyard for $190 million; this is in addition to the original two the company ordered in October 2010. Another two jackup options remain on the table.
Just in the last few months, other newbuild construction contracts include Standard Drilling's order of a $180 million jackup from Keppel Fels and Mermaid Maritime's order of two jackup drilling rigs with an option for another two for $360 million from KFels.
Also, Noble Corp. ordered two high-spec jackups from Sembcorp for $440 million.
Earlier this month, Diamond Offshore ordered two ultra-deepwater drillships from HHI for $590 million a piece, with an option for another.
In October 2010, Seadrill ordered two turnkey jackup drilling rigs from Jurong Shipyard, with an option for another four. In November 2011, Seadrill ordered two firm ultra-deepwater drillships from Samsung for $600 million each, with another two-rig option it can exercise.
Not counting Petrobras, that's 18 new rigs in three months to join the line, with potentially another 14 rigs in options.
Additionally, Transocean is paying $195 million for an under-construction jackup with PPL Shipyard; and Seadrill bought two under-construction ultra-deepwater semisubs for $1.2 billion from Jurong Shipyard, as well as the under-construction CJ-70 harsh-environment jackup for $257 million.
Drilling contractors have cited strong backlogs and considered ultra-deepwater drilling waiting lists as reasons why they're adding to their fleets.
Whatever the reason, the strong newbuild offshore rig construction market certainly points to a rejuvenated drilling and development environment in the future.
...................................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Gladstone LNG project promises rejuvenation for flood-ravaged Queensland
Australian major Santos sanctioned the $16 billion Gladstone LNG project Thursday, along with project partners Total, Petronas and Kogas.
The GLNG project will develop coal seam gas resources in the southeast of Queensland and transport them 420 kilometers via pipeline to the Gladstone LNG facility on Curtis Island. With two trains, the GLNG project will produce some 7.8 mtpa, and production start-up is slated for 2015.
Notably, the GLNG development will create some 5,000 jobs in Queensland during the construction phase and a permanent 1,000 jobs once the LNG facility comes on stream. The project will create an estimated 1,500 jobs in Queensland in 2011 alone.
This comes as welcome news to the flood-ravaged region, and the government has applauded the GLNG investment in Queensland.
“Proceeding now with projects like this will be a tremendous boost to the Queensland economy as we recover from the devastating impact of the floods,” said Queensland Premier Anna Bligh on the news of the final investment decision in GLNG.
And the Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson added, "“This project and economic development more generally is important in underpinning the skills, tax revenue, weather and capacity to respond and rebuild in the aftermath of the current flood crisis in Queensland."
For an extensive listing of jobs across the petroleum and power sectors, visit PennEnergyJobs.com.
........................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
The GLNG project will develop coal seam gas resources in the southeast of Queensland and transport them 420 kilometers via pipeline to the Gladstone LNG facility on Curtis Island. With two trains, the GLNG project will produce some 7.8 mtpa, and production start-up is slated for 2015.
Notably, the GLNG development will create some 5,000 jobs in Queensland during the construction phase and a permanent 1,000 jobs once the LNG facility comes on stream. The project will create an estimated 1,500 jobs in Queensland in 2011 alone.
This comes as welcome news to the flood-ravaged region, and the government has applauded the GLNG investment in Queensland.
“Proceeding now with projects like this will be a tremendous boost to the Queensland economy as we recover from the devastating impact of the floods,” said Queensland Premier Anna Bligh on the news of the final investment decision in GLNG.
And the Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson added, "“This project and economic development more generally is important in underpinning the skills, tax revenue, weather and capacity to respond and rebuild in the aftermath of the current flood crisis in Queensland."
For an extensive listing of jobs across the petroleum and power sectors, visit PennEnergyJobs.com.
........................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
2010 energy trends offer insight into 2011
There were a number of major energy stories in 2010. From the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to the continuing emergence of shale in North America and beyond, from the escalating price of oil to increased spending in the renewable energy sector -- the energy industry is certainly heating up.
2010 Energy News of the Year
1. While the oil spill was tragic news and the subsequent drilling moratorium has resulted in thousands of lost jobs, an ever-increased focus on health, safety and environment (HSE) is definitely a good thing. While HSE has always been a priority for the industry, companies have been striving to renew that commitment.
2. Across the US and abroad, shale solidified its place in the "hot topic" category. From the Marcellus to the Eagle Ford, increased drilling rig numbers, billions in JVs and A&Ds spotted the headlines throughout 2010, and are likely to continue to do so in 2011.
3. The rising price of oil is on everyone's mind in the energy industry. After increasing some 15 percent in 2010, the price of oil is positioned to hit $100 in 2011 and possibly climb higher.
4. The US administration's renewable energy loan guarantee program has helped to spur a wave of new projects across the nation in both renewable energy and grid updates.
Other stories that topped the charts:
Drilling in frontier regions caught the eye of many readers -- whether the Falklands or Greenland. Also, a top story for the power side was the potential for mini nuclear plants. Smart grid always nets readers, as well as regulatory news.
........................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
2010 Energy News of the Year
1. While the oil spill was tragic news and the subsequent drilling moratorium has resulted in thousands of lost jobs, an ever-increased focus on health, safety and environment (HSE) is definitely a good thing. While HSE has always been a priority for the industry, companies have been striving to renew that commitment.
2. Across the US and abroad, shale solidified its place in the "hot topic" category. From the Marcellus to the Eagle Ford, increased drilling rig numbers, billions in JVs and A&Ds spotted the headlines throughout 2010, and are likely to continue to do so in 2011.
3. The rising price of oil is on everyone's mind in the energy industry. After increasing some 15 percent in 2010, the price of oil is positioned to hit $100 in 2011 and possibly climb higher.
4. The US administration's renewable energy loan guarantee program has helped to spur a wave of new projects across the nation in both renewable energy and grid updates.
Other stories that topped the charts:
Drilling in frontier regions caught the eye of many readers -- whether the Falklands or Greenland. Also, a top story for the power side was the potential for mini nuclear plants. Smart grid always nets readers, as well as regulatory news.
........................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Emerging Tech: Carbon Capture Storage takes center stage
I sat in on a webinar held by The Energy Collective this week. A climate change specialist with Shell spoke, as well as an energy analyst. Among other things, they stressed the importance of the energy community as a whole to develop a successful Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) program -- for power generation, as well as downstream initiatives.
CCS helps to reduce emissions of CO2 and greenhouse gases by trapping them and injecting them into the earth. An improved and functioning CCS technology will allow the US and other countries to meet their greenhouse gas emission targets -- while still producing enough energy to meet a growing demand.
US Energy Secretary Steven Chu this week described the success of clean energy in China and other countries a "Sputnik Moment" for the US.
"When it comes to innovation, Americans don't take a back seat to anyone - and we certainly won't start now," said Secretary Chu. "From wind power to nuclear reactors to high speed rail, China and other countries are moving aggressively to capture the lead. Given that challenge, and given the enormous economic opportunities in clean energy, it's time for America to do what we do best: innovate. As President Obama has said, we should not, cannot, and will not play for second place."
CCS Programs in North America
There are a number of CCS programs currently under way, and the industry's best and brightest are certainly on the case. Its truly becoming an energy industry-wide effort.
The US Department of Energy has committed $1 billion to support the FutureGen 2.0 CCS project, using the oxy-coal combustion technology developed by Babcok and Wilcox and Air Liquide. The project will test the CCS technology at a power plant in Illinois.
While many think of coal-fired power and its efforts to become clean coal through developing CCS, the petroleum industry is also involved.
Shell just filed for regulatory approval for its Quest Carbon Capture and Storage project in Alberta, Canada, to serve its Athabasca Oil Sands Project there. Quest will be the first application of CCS in the oil sands, and the technology will likely serve as a catalyst for future applications in the petroleum realm.
In the future, CCS will likely help to reduce emissions from all downstream efforts, including refineries, in addition to natural gas-fired power plants and clean coal power generation installations.
.....................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
CCS helps to reduce emissions of CO2 and greenhouse gases by trapping them and injecting them into the earth. An improved and functioning CCS technology will allow the US and other countries to meet their greenhouse gas emission targets -- while still producing enough energy to meet a growing demand.
US Energy Secretary Steven Chu this week described the success of clean energy in China and other countries a "Sputnik Moment" for the US.
"When it comes to innovation, Americans don't take a back seat to anyone - and we certainly won't start now," said Secretary Chu. "From wind power to nuclear reactors to high speed rail, China and other countries are moving aggressively to capture the lead. Given that challenge, and given the enormous economic opportunities in clean energy, it's time for America to do what we do best: innovate. As President Obama has said, we should not, cannot, and will not play for second place."
CCS Programs in North America
There are a number of CCS programs currently under way, and the industry's best and brightest are certainly on the case. Its truly becoming an energy industry-wide effort.
The US Department of Energy has committed $1 billion to support the FutureGen 2.0 CCS project, using the oxy-coal combustion technology developed by Babcok and Wilcox and Air Liquide. The project will test the CCS technology at a power plant in Illinois.
While many think of coal-fired power and its efforts to become clean coal through developing CCS, the petroleum industry is also involved.
Shell just filed for regulatory approval for its Quest Carbon Capture and Storage project in Alberta, Canada, to serve its Athabasca Oil Sands Project there. Quest will be the first application of CCS in the oil sands, and the technology will likely serve as a catalyst for future applications in the petroleum realm.
In the future, CCS will likely help to reduce emissions from all downstream efforts, including refineries, in addition to natural gas-fired power plants and clean coal power generation installations.
.....................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
US to export LNG to China: Cheniere seals a deal with ENN Energy for Sabine Pass LNG
It's official. The US is set to become an LNG exporter.
Cheniere Energy Partners (NYSE:CQP) reported a deal with Chinese energy firm ENN Energy for 1.5 million tonnes per annum of bi-directional LNG from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Louisiana. The MOU covers a 20-year agreement for the supply of LNG to ENN, should regulatory approvals proceed as planned.
Cheniere is working to jump regulatory hurdles to transform its Sabine Pass LNG recieving terminal into a liquefaction export terminal. The Sabine Pass project will incorporate up to four LNG trains with a capacity of 0.7 Bcf/d of natural gas and an average liquefaction processing capacity of 3.5 mtpa.
The company foresees LNG export as early as 2015.
"We are excited to participate in supplying natural gas to China, and we believe that ENN is a successful model for developing diverse solutions to serve its fast growing energy markets," said Charif Souki, chairman and CEO of Cheniere Partners. "ENN Energy Trading is an ideal customer that is expanding its natural gas distribution network and seeking new sources of natural gas supply in order to increase its customer connections and increase its sales volumes."
I'm sure US natural gas producers are excited about the agreement, as well.
This means that the glut of natural gas in the North American market has someplace to go, and an increasing demand to meet -- China.
With the development of the vast shale plays across the US, the amount of natural gas in the market has skyrocketed, and the price of natural gas has dropped.
"We believe current market fundamentals have created an opportunity for the U.S. to offer natural gas to global markets at competitive prices. The U.S. is experiencing an increase in natural gas production, primarily driven by unconventional gas plays, while natural gas demand in the U.S. continues to lag behind market projections. Due to the depth of the markets in South Louisiana with an abundance of supply and existing pipeline infrastructure, we can provide an additional outlet for U.S. natural gas production while offering a low cost source of supply for global buyers seeking alternatives to oil-indexed contracts," said Souki.
What does this mean for the US? Should this deal (and others) go through, the US is poised to become a major exporter of LNG -- which should prove a strong catalyst for increasing prices.
.........................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
Cheniere Energy Partners (NYSE:CQP) reported a deal with Chinese energy firm ENN Energy for 1.5 million tonnes per annum of bi-directional LNG from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Louisiana. The MOU covers a 20-year agreement for the supply of LNG to ENN, should regulatory approvals proceed as planned.
Cheniere is working to jump regulatory hurdles to transform its Sabine Pass LNG recieving terminal into a liquefaction export terminal. The Sabine Pass project will incorporate up to four LNG trains with a capacity of 0.7 Bcf/d of natural gas and an average liquefaction processing capacity of 3.5 mtpa.
The company foresees LNG export as early as 2015.
"We are excited to participate in supplying natural gas to China, and we believe that ENN is a successful model for developing diverse solutions to serve its fast growing energy markets," said Charif Souki, chairman and CEO of Cheniere Partners. "ENN Energy Trading is an ideal customer that is expanding its natural gas distribution network and seeking new sources of natural gas supply in order to increase its customer connections and increase its sales volumes."
I'm sure US natural gas producers are excited about the agreement, as well.
This means that the glut of natural gas in the North American market has someplace to go, and an increasing demand to meet -- China.
With the development of the vast shale plays across the US, the amount of natural gas in the market has skyrocketed, and the price of natural gas has dropped.
"We believe current market fundamentals have created an opportunity for the U.S. to offer natural gas to global markets at competitive prices. The U.S. is experiencing an increase in natural gas production, primarily driven by unconventional gas plays, while natural gas demand in the U.S. continues to lag behind market projections. Due to the depth of the markets in South Louisiana with an abundance of supply and existing pipeline infrastructure, we can provide an additional outlet for U.S. natural gas production while offering a low cost source of supply for global buyers seeking alternatives to oil-indexed contracts," said Souki.
What does this mean for the US? Should this deal (and others) go through, the US is poised to become a major exporter of LNG -- which should prove a strong catalyst for increasing prices.
.........................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Is the Wolfberry the next Eagle Ford?
Shale is hot. People are interested; production and drilling are up. I attended the Unconventional Gas show in Fort Worth a couple of weeks ago, and people are certainly interested -- in US shale, as well as shale potential in Europe and China and beyond.
The first to really take off were Haynesville and Marcellus. Then more dry-gas shales came on the scene. Now, liquids-rich or oil-laden formations, such as Eagle Ford and Bakken, are garnering all the attention of both investors and producers.
Billions of dollars have been spent on acquiring acreage and interest, as well as forming JVs. The number of land rigs has picked up across the nation, spurred by -- you guessed it -- shale exploration and developments. Additionally, pipeline, refinery and gas processing facility construction is on the rise.
Not just oil and natural gas are flowing, money is too.
Enter the Wolfberry and Wolfcamp plays.
Now, as an oil and gas writer, my ears perk when any shale or unconventional play is mentioned. In addition, this particular play is located in my father's home county -- I can't help but notice that.
I first read about it when El Paso Corp. revealed in late September that it was adding more than 120,000 acres in West Texas to its leasehold. I know Crockett County, and it is natural gas country, but this release stated that it was in the emerging Wolfcamp oil shale play.
What? How had I never heard about this? I did a little back-digging on the PennEnergy site, and lo and behold: there have been a couple of smaller stories about the Wolfcamp -- and it's supposed to be liquids- and/or oil-rich.
Then, I noticed a couple more stories about the Wolfberry trend. LINN Energy spent $352.2 million acquiring natural gas acreage in the Wolfberry trend, with notes of oil.
My curiosity is piqued, and I've been asking everyone who will listen in the oil patch whether or not they know anything about it. What's the word?
Enter a very nice oil patch pal I fortuitously sat next to on the plane from Tulsa to Houston. He was investigating the Wolfberry, as well. Imagine that! He had a meeting the next week with someone in West Texas, and he'd share his insight.
Here it is:
Presently, there are about 260 rigs working the Wolfberry formation in West Texas. Not quite shale, Wolfberry is a tight formation that's being drilled vertically. "The same fracturing techniques apply; therefore this formation previously unproductive to drill becomes viable, considering each well produces 200 - 800 BPD Oil and 0.2 to 1.0 MMSCFD rich natural gas, making it very attractive."
Is the Wolfberry the next Eagle Ford? What's the difference between the Wolfberry and the Wolfcamp? I'm searching, asking, begging. Do you know? Please share.
.........................................................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
The first to really take off were Haynesville and Marcellus. Then more dry-gas shales came on the scene. Now, liquids-rich or oil-laden formations, such as Eagle Ford and Bakken, are garnering all the attention of both investors and producers.
Billions of dollars have been spent on acquiring acreage and interest, as well as forming JVs. The number of land rigs has picked up across the nation, spurred by -- you guessed it -- shale exploration and developments. Additionally, pipeline, refinery and gas processing facility construction is on the rise.
Not just oil and natural gas are flowing, money is too.
Enter the Wolfberry and Wolfcamp plays.
Now, as an oil and gas writer, my ears perk when any shale or unconventional play is mentioned. In addition, this particular play is located in my father's home county -- I can't help but notice that.
I first read about it when El Paso Corp. revealed in late September that it was adding more than 120,000 acres in West Texas to its leasehold. I know Crockett County, and it is natural gas country, but this release stated that it was in the emerging Wolfcamp oil shale play.
What? How had I never heard about this? I did a little back-digging on the PennEnergy site, and lo and behold: there have been a couple of smaller stories about the Wolfcamp -- and it's supposed to be liquids- and/or oil-rich.
Then, I noticed a couple more stories about the Wolfberry trend. LINN Energy spent $352.2 million acquiring natural gas acreage in the Wolfberry trend, with notes of oil.
My curiosity is piqued, and I've been asking everyone who will listen in the oil patch whether or not they know anything about it. What's the word?
Enter a very nice oil patch pal I fortuitously sat next to on the plane from Tulsa to Houston. He was investigating the Wolfberry, as well. Imagine that! He had a meeting the next week with someone in West Texas, and he'd share his insight.
Here it is:
Presently, there are about 260 rigs working the Wolfberry formation in West Texas. Not quite shale, Wolfberry is a tight formation that's being drilled vertically. "The same fracturing techniques apply; therefore this formation previously unproductive to drill becomes viable, considering each well produces 200 - 800 BPD Oil and 0.2 to 1.0 MMSCFD rich natural gas, making it very attractive."
Is the Wolfberry the next Eagle Ford? What's the difference between the Wolfberry and the Wolfcamp? I'm searching, asking, begging. Do you know? Please share.
.........................................................................
Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.
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