Likely little gas under Southern Arkansas - AP report
Expert: Likely little gas under southern Arkansas
By: Associated Press - Texarkana Gazette - Published: 09/11/2008
MAGNOLIA, Ark.—Energy production experts say there is little chance that southern Arkansas will enjoy a boom from the Haynesville Shale similar to the drilling rush in the central part of the state, where companies are tapping the Fayetteville Shale.
The Haynesville Shale, centered in northwest Louisiana, is estimated to hold 29 to 39 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, though the range of the formation is not fully known. The Fayetteville Shale formation holds an estimated 20 trillion cubic feet.
One problem with the portion of the Haynesville formation that may extend into Arkansas is that it may have thinned out there and also be mostly sand, making drilling untenable, said Ed Ratchford, senior petroleum geologist and supervisor for the Arkansas Geological Survey.
Ratchford said four well inspections indicated the area does not appear to hold promise, though the Arkansas portion has not been fully evaluated. The boundary of the formation is still being defined.
“It appears that it is shifting more from shale to sand as it comes up into Arkansas,” Ratchford told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. It’s also thinner. “Those two are sort of negatives as far as being able to produce gas.”
The Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission said Wednesday that no permits for natural gas drilling in the Haynesville Shale have been issued in the state.
Louisiana-based oil and gas consultant Bill Pittman said he found no indication that the Haynesville Shale would produce gas in Arkansas. He noted the change in the geology in southern Arkansas and wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper: “That does not mean it won’t be productive, as only much drilling will define this play.”
Burt Williams, president and chief executive officer of drilling company Bonanza Creek, said Louisiana will be the focus for drilling.
“If we had shale (in south Arkansas) we’d be going for it and producing it, but we just don’t see any evidence of it,” Williams told the paper.
Likewise, Chesapeake Energy Corp. senior vice president of corporate development Tom Price said the company was open to drilling anywhere natural gas can be tapped. “However, we are not currently leasing for Haynesville Shale in Arkansas at this time.”
By: Associated Press - Texarkana Gazette - Published: 09/11/2008
MAGNOLIA, Ark.—Energy production experts say there is little chance that southern Arkansas will enjoy a boom from the Haynesville Shale similar to the drilling rush in the central part of the state, where companies are tapping the Fayetteville Shale.
The Haynesville Shale, centered in northwest Louisiana, is estimated to hold 29 to 39 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, though the range of the formation is not fully known. The Fayetteville Shale formation holds an estimated 20 trillion cubic feet.
One problem with the portion of the Haynesville formation that may extend into Arkansas is that it may have thinned out there and also be mostly sand, making drilling untenable, said Ed Ratchford, senior petroleum geologist and supervisor for the Arkansas Geological Survey.
Ratchford said four well inspections indicated the area does not appear to hold promise, though the Arkansas portion has not been fully evaluated. The boundary of the formation is still being defined.
“It appears that it is shifting more from shale to sand as it comes up into Arkansas,” Ratchford told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. It’s also thinner. “Those two are sort of negatives as far as being able to produce gas.”
The Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission said Wednesday that no permits for natural gas drilling in the Haynesville Shale have been issued in the state.
Louisiana-based oil and gas consultant Bill Pittman said he found no indication that the Haynesville Shale would produce gas in Arkansas. He noted the change in the geology in southern Arkansas and wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper: “That does not mean it won’t be productive, as only much drilling will define this play.”
Burt Williams, president and chief executive officer of drilling company Bonanza Creek, said Louisiana will be the focus for drilling.
“If we had shale (in south Arkansas) we’d be going for it and producing it, but we just don’t see any evidence of it,” Williams told the paper.
Likewise, Chesapeake Energy Corp. senior vice president of corporate development Tom Price said the company was open to drilling anywhere natural gas can be tapped. “However, we are not currently leasing for Haynesville Shale in Arkansas at this time.”
Views: 143
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by P.G. on -
I'd say the same thing if I were them!
Good news for landowners is costly for the OGs!
And if they are right, then it's a moot point anyway, huh?
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Permalink Reply by old as dirt on
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The experts said it didn't go as far north in Caddo as it has been found. Almost every time we hear from the expert's it is the same story, "It doesn't go that far north, or it doesn't go that far east. You are on the fringe, if it is there at all." Granted they should have access to more info than I do, but so far they are often proven wrong. The expert(Ratchford) in the above paper said if it was in Ark it was sand not shale and that was a negative to producing gas. What about all the gas wells in the N Shongaloo/Red Rock field and the Shongaloo field that is between Springhill and Shongaloo? These wells are in Ark and La. The wells are good producers, maybe not shale wells, but some good wells and some of them in the Haynesville Sand.
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Permalink Reply by Allen67 on
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They just sent me an email a few days ago saying that the the shale IS in Arkansas. Now its not! The disappearing shale!!!!! How much does it cost to make shale disappear?
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Permalink Reply by P.G. on
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If gas went back up to 13 or 14 bucks and held there, we'd probably be amazed where those boundaries may move to, huh?
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Permalink Reply by inthestix on
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Don't have faith in what professionals say until you check their background and credentials!
Don't have faith in so called professionals until you check their credentials!
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Permalink Reply by Tom Bennett on
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Inthestix; I definately second that motion having delt with a major oil company as early as 30 years ago ...beleive me anything goes as far as they are concerned. The best thing to do is be careful, be cautious, verify, and go forward with both eyes open.
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Tom, several of those so called" Professionals" told us that the shale goes no further than T19 in La. They have shut up on here now! Some other so called professionals with_____ years in the business? We are still trying to figure out where all the years of hard work were put in?? Didn't know they were in the business until they said so?? lol...Guess it is kinda like a Doctor saying he is a doctor when he really isn't? Isn't that called a QUACK?
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Permalink Reply by Tom Bennett on
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I would really like to look in a crystal ball about 2 years down the road.
On a serious note, I feel sure some deep wells have been drilled over the years( I'm talking about north of the Hale 9 ) and there should be some knowledge of what they encountered. As I've heard it explained they drilled through hard rock, which would not produce. As we both know today they were most likely in the Haynesville Shale, but my question is do we know of this happening north of the Hale 9 on toward Ar.?
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Permalink Reply by Iris on
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Could this be just another guise to get low leasing bonuses? I think that is what P.G was saying?
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Permalink Reply by Checkmateking on
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I had a noted oil/gas lawyer tell me geologists are nothing more than underground weathermen, and from what I have seen so far this has been proven time and time again. 315ft. of Shale in Central Pine Island field has proven this beyond a doubt, this is where all the naysayers and landmen said time and again that the formation would thin out, the fact of the matter is that it has signifigantly thickened up moving northwards in Caddo, the next step out will tell us even more.
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Permalink Reply by Tom Bennett on
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Chechmateking; I certainly do hope you are correct. I'm sure many more do also.
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