Costs for Drilling The Eagle Ford

While there have been instances when wells were drilled in as little as 15 days, a reasonable expectation for the time required to drill a well in the Eagle Ford is around one month. Based on a survey of operators in the region, drilling & completion cost per well are ranging from $5.5 to $9.5 million. The wide variation for drilling costs is dependant on such factors as the well's targeted depth, lateral lengths, number of laterals, and the number of frac stages deployed. Below we have provided a summarized estimate of both drilling and completion costs in the region.

Technology Driving Frac Costs Down in The Eagle Ford

Currently, operators are implementing between 15 to 20 frac stages per well drilled in order to optimize reservoir recovery. This higher number of frac stages undertaken (relative to practices one year ago) is placing a slight bottleneck on completions and is fostering an environment for price escalation. Based on this environment, adding a 10% to 15% premium to our price estimates above (from early 2011 observations) may be more indicative of what operators will spend this summer to drill & complete an Eagle Ford well.

A majority of wells being drilled in the Eagle Ford are targeting depths between 9,000 to 16,000 feet, with horizontal laterals ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 feet. Currently, target depths for E&P firms drilling for oil are greatest in Live Oak County at 13,250 feet versus an average target depth of 11,550 feet across all counties drilling for oil.

For natural gas, the target depths are largest in Karnes County at an average of 16,200 feet versus the overall drilling average in the Eagle Ford of 12,800 feet. In aggregate, across all Eagle Ford counties, the targeted average depth for drilling either oil or natural gas is 12,200 feet.

Technology Driving Frac Costs Down in The Eagle Ford

Increased production rates via innovative technologies were recently documented by Petrohawk. In 12 wells where the HiWay fracturing technique (provided by Schlumberger) was compared to nine other wells (fractured using a Hybrid design), Petrohawk found significant flow improvements in the HiWay wells. Specifically, the HiWay wells have 32% higher flow rates and 42% higher pressure after 90 days of production. All the wells were choked similarly (18/64") and all were from the same field (Hawkville). For 2011, Petrohawk estimates each well at its Hawkville field will cost approximately $7.5 million, assuming laterals span 5,500 feet.

Technology Driving Frac Costs Down in The Eagle Ford

According to Schlumberger Smith Bits STATS, the U.S. land rig count has grown by 228 rigs or 16% over the past year to 1650 rigs. Growth from Texas alone accounted for nearly 80% of this increase as the Lone Star count improved by 181 rigs or 33% year-over-year to 736 rigs. Furthermore, rapid expansion in the Eagle Ford was the source of over half of Texas' growth during the last twelve months.

The rig count in this region more than doubled to 174 rigs; a 94 rig increase from activity levels one year ago when 80 rigs were drilling in the 17 main counties encompassing the play. As of last week, the Eagle Ford rig count has advanced 20 rigs or 13% versus the March 11, 2011 count (the last time we wrote about the region). This current upward trend contrasts the overall land rig count in the U.S. that has fallen 3% since March 11th, 2011.

Technology Driving Frac Costs Down in The Eagle Ford

Observations of the Maverick Basin's stratigraphic column place the Eagle Ford Shale packed between the Anacacho Limestone/Austin Chalk (above) and the Buda Limestone (below) at more than 2 miles below the Earth's surface. The 17 primary counties that span the Eagle Ford in Texas form a swath from the border with Mexico stretching in a Northeastern triangle to the outskirts of San Antonio.

Technology Driving Frac Costs Down in The Eagle Ford

We have provided a table with ten of the leading land holders. These ten companies control 3.1 million acres across the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. A newer entrant into the region, Marathon, only recently spudded its first well in the region. However, with its $3.5 billion acquisition of Hilcorp's assets in the formation, Marathon has jumped several notches in size rankings and will likely be one of the leading players for several year's to come. Currently, EOG is the largest producer in the Eagle Ford and is also the largest land holder with nearly 550,000 acres. To date EOG has had a 100% success rate with wells drilled in the region.

Technology Driving Frac Costs Down in The Eagle Ford

 

Novetus
From a piping modification or pump upgrade engineering project to helping manage a multi-billion dollar international development.

Click Here To Learn More


   Special Reports Sponsored By Novetus

     Upcoming Topics

 



WHAT DO YOU THINK?


Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

John Cameron  |  June 29, 2011
This article by Trey Cowan answered many of the questions I had about the Eagle Ford. Very nicely done! Does Rigzone have similar articles for other unconventional plays such as the Bakken, Marcellus, and Haynesville shale.
Lew Schnitz, P.E.,PG.  |  June 24, 2011
Very informative and extremely interesting to a person who has worked 40 years in the Petroleum Industry in drilling and production.
Orman Henry  |  June 24, 2011
Where does SWIFT ENERGY fit in this? Answer: Swift controls ~79k net acres with the majority held in McMullen county as of 12/31/10. -- RZ
david cowan  |  June 24, 2011
I often wondered exactly what was up over there in the Eagle Ford area. I had bits and pieces of information and judging by the number of folks asking about the region so do many others. After reading your article, I understand. Thanks Trey!!!! Great Article. DC
Thomas Thornton  |  June 23, 2011
well done
Don  |  June 22, 2011
Found Trey Cowan article to be well written.
Rafael Sandrea  |  June 22, 2011
very good
Trey Cowan  |  June 21, 2011
Shell is another major lease holder in the Eagle Ford. All told its stake in the region is over 300,000 acres with one holding, The Harrison Ranch, comprising apprx one-third of the total. Our apologies to Shell in overlooking them when compiling our list of operators with major acreage positions. -- Trey Cowan, Rigzone.com
RON J CLARK  |  June 21, 2011
GREAT WORK, BEST ARTICLE AND ENGINEERING DATA I HAVE READ ABOUT THE EAGLEFORD..ALL IN ONE DOCUMENT..RIG ZONE HAS DONE THE IMPOSSIBLE. IS A SIMILAR STUDY IN THE WORKS FOR OTHER UNCONVENTIONAL PLAYS SUCH AS THE BAKKEN AND HAYNESVILLE? WHAT ABOUT MONTEREY SHALE? THE TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING SO FAST N THIS TYPE OF WORK IS ESSENTIAL FOR EVERYONE..ENGINEERS, MANAGEMENT. ETC.

Most Popular Articles