By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 20 -- Gas flow rates are much improved at the more recent horizontal wells with higher frac densities in the Woodford shale play in the Arkoma basin of southeastern Oklahoma, said Newfield Exploration Co., Houston.
Newfield, which has production data from 29 horizontal Woodford wells, said initial gross production averages nearly 6 MMcfd from the eight horizontal wells it has tested that were treated with the higher frac densities.
Two of the eight wells, which have laterals of 1,600-3,500 ft, had initial production of 10 MMcfd, and two others flowed 7 MMcfd of gas. Fracs at the eight wells involved three to seven stages.
The company's gross production from the play has grown to nearly 80 MMcfd from 25 MMcfd at this time in 2005.
MarkWest Energy Partners LP, Denver, and Newfield plan to place in service more than 50 miles of large diameter pipe in early December to complete the low and high-pressure backbone of the planned 400-mile, four-county gathering system (see map, OGJ, Oct. 9, 2006, p. 31). This is more than 3 months ahead of schedule.
Once the backbone is completed, Newfield will have the ability to produce from any part of its 125,000 net acre position.
The 2007 plan calls for the drilling of 150 horizontal wells. Permitted spacing of 640 acres would allow nearly all of the company's current acreage to be held by production by the end of 2007 based on the anticipated drilling rate as activity ramps up to 20 rigs from 11 operated rigs at present.
