Newfield hails Woodford fracs, longer laterals

Dec. 12, 2007
Longer horizontal laterals in Devonian Woodford shale appear to be improving estimated ultimate recoveries in the Arkoma basin in southeastern Oklahoma, said Newfield Exploration Co., Houston.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 12 -- Longer horizontal laterals in Devonian Woodford shale appear to be improving estimated ultimate recoveries in the Arkoma basin in southeastern Oklahoma, said Newfield Exploration Co., Houston.

And a study of longer-term production from nearly 100 operated horizontal wells indicates that the average frac stage will ultimately recover 600 MMcf of gas, Newfield said.

The company said it has spud 140 operated horizontal wells and has participated in nearly 60% of industry's 400 horizontal wells in the play as of late 2007. Laterals at 10 operated wells are 3,400 ft or longer.

"With production information dating back as far as one year on one-third of this sample, Newfield is confident that these wells will have a significantly higher EUR," the company said. It listed results from three recent extended lateral completions with nine frac stages each:

-- Patterson 3H-31, with a 4,240-ft lateral, went on line at 10.3 MMcfd at a completed well cost of $8.5 million.

-- Parker 3H-36, with a 4,252-ft lateral, went on line at 9.4 MMcfd.

-- Tollett 3H-22 went on line at 12 MMcfd from a 4,366-ft lateral. Parker and Tollett cost $7 million each to drill and complete.

"The company's recent well results demonstrate that extended lateral completions have the potential to [reduce] finding and development cost toward $2/Mcf," Newfield said. "Additional drilling and recent 3D seismic data will be used to determine what percentage of the total acreage can be developed with extended lateral completions."

Newfield produces 165 MMcfd from the Arkoma Woodford, double its flow this time last year, and holds 165,000 net acres in the play.

Industry is running 44 rigs in the play, spudding 90 horizontal wells per quarter. Newfield has 13 operated rigs, 11 of which are drilling development wells.