Eagle Ford Shale Drilling Doubles in a Year
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has reported that 856 holes were spudded in the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas during the first quarter, up 110% from 407 holes in the first period of 2011.
The agency said horizontal wells accounted for nearly all of the new well starts so far in 2012. The extensive Eagle Ford geologic trend yields both oil and wet natural gas.
In early April, the Eagle Ford rig count set a record of 217 units. EIA said the increased drilling and rig deployment boosted crude and condensate production to more than 500,000 bbl/d in April, up from 182,000 bbl/d for the same month a year ago. Gas output was 2 Bcfd (56.6 x 106 m3/day).
Bentek Energy has reported that in March 2012, Eagle Ford crude and condensate production nearly equaled that from the North Dakota part of the Bakken Shale play.
For more information: www.epa.gov
