By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 14 -- Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., Houston, completed its second and third horizontal wells in the Marcellus play in eastern Pennsylvania.
The Black 1H well recorded a 24-hour into-sales-line production rate of 8.8 MMcfd of natural gas from a seven-stage frac. The Black 2H well's production rate for the same period was 8.3 MMcfd into the sales line from a four-stage frac.
"We have our first three horizontal wells producing to sales at greater than 20 MMcfd," said Dan O. Dinges, chairman, president and chief executive. "With our continuing completion enhancements and 30 additional horizontal wells scheduled for 2009, I expect significant production and reserve additions from the Marcellus this year."
Cabot's first horizontal well, the Ely 6H, continues to exceed expectations, the company said. It was completed in two three-stage increments, with all six fracs being completed in early December. The 24-hour initial sales production was 6.4 MMcfd. "This rate has held up strong, averaging 5.3 MMcfd into sales for the first 30 days," said Dinges. "This well has now been in production for 60 days, and the most recent 24-hour test rate was 5 MMcf, along with consistent pressure levels."
"These three wells have filled Cabot's existing capacity of 21 MMcfd, temporarily shutting in the production for our vertical wells," said Dinges. "We will have added capacity up to 30 MMcfd by the end of March, moving to 65 MMcfd by the end of May." Dinges added, "We are making every effort to accelerate this expansion, as we have two more horizontal completions scheduled for March."
