Talisman Energy's Eagle Ford operations didn't contribute to the lower production volumes, but a shortage of skilled labor is keeping the company from ramping up as quickly as Talisman would like. The Eagle Ford benefits from oil, condensate and NGL production that dry gas plays don't provide. The higher priced commodities allow operators to continue drilling even though the gas stream might not be prolific enough to make a commercial well.
But the company’s woes have hit areas where the it is searching for more lucrative commodities. The Eagle Ford shale play, for example, is one area where Talisman has directed spending in search of liquids-rich natural gas, such as butane and propane, because these products command higher prices. However, Eagle Ford’s growth has been hampered by a shortage of service crews, such as hydraulic fracturing outfits, Ms. Buckland said.
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