Apache sees 10 bcf wells in Horn River basin

Aug. 2, 2009
Recent drilling results have strengthened earlier estimates of 10 bcf of ultimate gas recovery from individual horizontal wells in the Horn River basin shales of Northeast British Columbia, said Apache Corp.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 2
– Recent drilling results have strengthened earlier estimates of 10 bcf of ultimate gas recovery from individual horizontal wells in the Horn River basin shales of Northeast British Columbia, said Apache Corp.

EnCana Corp. and partner Apache have drilled 28 wells and brought 10 horizontal wells on production. They expect to have 32 wells on production by the first quarter of 2010.

The companies have applied as many as 14 frac stages per lateral and cut drilling time to as little as 16 days from a planned 30 days at early wells, said John Crum, Apache co-chief operating officer and president-North America.

“With the potential to drill 2,000 to 3,000 locations from multiwell pads, we have a tremendous resource at Horn River that will be developed over many years,” said Crum.

Three EnCana-operated wells at Two Island Lake had initial rates above 16 MMcfd and continue to produce 8-10 MMcfd after 2-3 weeks, Apache said.

The two companies commissioned a compression and dehydration facility and a gathering system that connects the Two Island Lake area with the Spectra pipeline system near the proposed Cabin gas plant.

The two companies pioneered the shale play, and each has a 50% interest in 425,000 gross acres, the play’s leading acreage position. Apache tested the shale potential in recompleting a vertical well in the Ootla area in March 2005.