Eagle Ford Expects Meager Gains in November

U. S. Energy Information Administration | Drilling Productivity Report

U. S. Energy Information Administration | Drilling Productivity Report

November will be a strong month for U.S. shale oil, but the Eagle Ford will likely see only meager increases in production. 

Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count Inches up to 83 

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is predicting an increase of 81,000 barrels a day next month for shale drilling, bringing the total output to 6.12 million barrels a day. 

The greatest gains will be in the Permian basin region of west Texas, where the agency expects increases of 50,000 barrels a day in November. Other shale fields that will see increases include:

  • The Eagle Ford: 2,000 barrels a day
  • Anadarko basin: 9,000 barrels a day
  • Niobrara: 9,000 barrels a day
  • Bakken shale: 8,000 barrels a day

U.S. shale oil and gas regions, source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

The Eagle Ford will see larger increases for natural gas production in November, with the EIA predicting an increase by 18 million cubic feet/day.

Hurricane Harvey disrupted U.S. production by 186,000 b/d in August and decreasing to 53,000 b/d in September. Hurricanes Irma and Maria did not affect U.S. crude oil production

Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count Inches up to 83

Eagle Ford Shale

The Eagle Ford Shale rig count reversed its recent trend of losses and ended with 83 rigs running across our coverage area by midday Friday. 

In recent Eagle Ford news, new technology provided by the University of Texas at Austin will monitor seismic activity in real time and allow scientists to learn more about what causes Texas earthquakes.

New Tech Designed to Get to the Bottom of Texas Earthquakes

A total of 913 oil and gas rigs were running across the United States this week, 15 less than last week. 177 rigs were targeting natural gas (- 8) and 736 were targeting oil in the U.S. (-7). The remainder were drilling service wells (e.g. disposal wells, injection wells, etc.) 436 of the rigs active in the U.S. were running in Texas.

Baker Hughes reports its own Eagle Ford Rig Count that covers the 14 core counties. The rig count published on EagleFordShale.com includes a 30 county area impacted by Eagle Ford development. A full list of the counties included can be found in the table below.

Eagle Ford Oil & Gas Rigs

8 rigs in the Eagle Ford region targeted natural gas this week with the commodity trading at $2.92/mmbtu.

75 Eagle Ford rigs were targeting oil with WTI oil prices at $51.84.

A total of 74 rigs are drilling horizontal wells, two are drilling directional wells and seven are vertical.

Karnes County leads activity in the region with 17 rigs in production. See the full list below in the Eagle Ford Shale Drilling by County below.

Eagle Ford Shale Drilling by County

Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count by County-October 21, 2017

Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count by County-October 21, 2017

Eagle Ford Shale News

New Tech Designed to Get to the Bottom of Texas Earthquakes

Railroad Commission Gains New Leadership

Sanchez Sells Eagle Ford Acres for $105 Million

Texas Oil and Gas Jobs Increase for Seven Straight Months

What is the Rig Count?

The Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count is an index of the total number of oil & gas drilling rigs running across a 30 county area in South Texas. The South Texas rigs referred to in this article are for ALL drilling reported by Baker Hughes and not solely wells targeting the Eagle Ford formation. All land rigs and onshore rig data shown here are based upon industry estimates provided by the Baker Hughes Rig Count.

New Tech Designed to Get to the Bottom of Texas Earthquakes

TexNet Seismic Monitoring

New technology provided by the University of Texas at Austin will monitor seismic activity in real time and allow scientists to learn more about what causes Texas earthquakes. 

Fear of Earthquake Threaten Texas Lease Sales

UT's Bureau of Economic Geology recently announced it had finished installing TexNet, which is touted as the 'most advanced state-run-seismic system in the country'. 

TexNet is part of UT's broader research to better understand natural and induced earthquakes in Texas. The project includes 22 permanent monitoring stations and 40 portable seismic stations located across the state that gives detailed information about the location, depth, size and frequency of earthquakes.

“Gov. Abbott and the Legislature have put Texas in the forefront of data collection and research into the causes of seismicity in the state. Small earthquake events have become more common in Texas recently, and we are now positioned to learn more about them and, hopefully, to understand how to mitigate their impacts in the future.””
— Scott W. Tinker-Director of UT Bureau of Economic Geology

The project began in 2015, when the State Legislature and Governor Greg Abbott authorized $4.47 million for the creation of a state-run monitoring system following an increase in earthquakes across the Lone Star State.

To see TexNet in action, researchers created a dynamic mapping web page that provides information on the location of monitoring stations and recorded earthquakes across the state. 

The topic of fracking and earthquakes in Texas has continued to be controversial, with interests on both sides citing scientific evidence that supports their claims. The Texas Railroad Commission continues to be skeptical of the link between fracking and earthquakes and has publicly questioned the mounting scientific evidence of the link.

Last year environmentalists halted an auction for oil and gas leases on federal land in Texas over fears that water supplies would be harmed. 

Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count Drops to 82

Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count

The Eagle Ford Shale rig count dropped by five this week, ending with 82 rigs running across our coverage area by midday Friday. 

In recent Eagle Ford news, Wei Wang will step into a new role as interim executive director of the Texas Railroad Commission effective October 16th.

Railroad Commission Gains New Leadership

A total of 928 oil and gas rigs were running across the United States this week, eight less than last week. 185 rigs were targeting natural gas (- 2) and 743 were targeting oil in the U.S. (-5). The remainder were drilling service wells (e.g. disposal wells, injection wells, etc.) 444 of the rigs active in the U.S. were running in Texas.

Baker Hughes reports its own Eagle Ford Rig Count that covers the 14 core counties. The rig count published on EagleFordShale.com includes a 30 county area impacted by Eagle Ford development. A full list of the counties included can be found in the table below.

Eagle Ford Oil & Gas Rigs

7 rigs in the Eagle Ford region targeted natural gas this week with the commodity trading at $3.00/mmbtu.

75 Eagle Ford rigs were targeting oil with WTI oil prices at $51.45.

A total of 76 rigs are drilling horizontal wells, two are drilling directional wells and four are vertical.

Karnes County leads activity in the region with 16 rigs in production. See the full list below in the Eagle Ford Shale Drilling by County below.

Eagle Ford Shale Drilling by County

Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count by County-October 13, 2017

Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count by County-October 13, 2017

 

Eagle Ford Shale News

Railroad Commission Gains New Leadership

Sanchez Sells Eagle Ford Acres for $105 Million

Texas Oil and Gas Jobs Increase for Seven Straight Months

Oil and Gas Production Down Across Texas

What is the Rig Count?

The Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count is an index of the total number of oil & gas drilling rigs running across a 30 county area in South Texas. The South Texas rigs referred to in this article are for ALL drilling reported by Baker Hughes and not solely wells targeting the Eagle Ford formation. All land rigs and onshore rig data shown here are based upon industry estimates provided by the Baker Hughes Rig Count.

Railroad Commission Gains New Leadership

Texas Railroad Commission

Effective October 16th, Wei Wang will step into a new role as interim executive director of the Texas Railroad Commission.

RRC Facing Budget Challenges

Texas Railroad Commissioners, along with Chairman Christi Craddick, voted unanimously on the appointment. Wang currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for the agency and has earned the respect of his fellow team members across the Commission. 

“Wei has the experience and institutional knowledge necessary to fulfill the important mission of the agency. We appreciate his assistance and anticipate the positive impact that his expertise will bring during this transition period.”
— RRC Chairman, Christi Craddick

Earlier this year, the Railroad Commission announced it was struggling with falling revenues and lookgin for cretive wasy to augment resources coming into the agency. Craddick reported at the time that the agency’s number of employees drop from 1500 in the 1990’s to 690.  The jobs shortage presents a huge challenge for the agency, because the work still has to be done.