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Permalink Reply by Henry on August 15, 2010 at 23:39

wpt9452,
Are you sure you didn't read that a single lateral can have up to 10 fracture stages? Many operators are even up to 15+ fracture stages in a single lateral these days (i.e., 15+ different perforation points along the lateral). But all of these are done at the time of completion. They don't come back 10 times and re-frac the well.

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Permalink Reply by adubu on August 16, 2010 at 1:43

wpt9452---I think you may be comparing re-frac to the Barnett shale field there has been talk of re-frac in these wells but I do not know if these maybe single stages not multi stage primary frac. Les B--- please comment on this please

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on August 16, 2010 at 2:50

Abubu, refrac's were done on a few vertical Barnett Shale wells that were initially completed with single stage frac's. These were of limited success as the rate was increased but not to the initial level.

Note - Devon developed the original Barnett Shale core in Wise and Denton Counties with vertical wells because the shale was ~ 400 ft thick in this area. Later developments in the thinner part of the Barnett Shale were done with horizontal wells.

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on August 16, 2010 at 2:44

WPT, as stated by others you are making reference to multi-stage frac's that occur when the well is initially completing. The most stages that I have seen for a Haynesville Shale well to date is 23.

I will note that Gasland guy made the same mis-statement on television and in the movie. I believe his was on purpose though.

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Permalink Reply by kittycatmama on August 16, 2010 at 2:35

Les, could an alternate well pull gas out of a well whose pressure has dropped?
Also, do you think that eventually Louisiana will allow 40 acre or 20 acre spacing as is seen in the Barnett

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on August 16, 2010 at 2:59

KCM, in theory the development of the Haynesville Shale on 80 acre spacing means each well only drains is area and does not pull any gas from adjacent wells.

Louisiana could potentially allow tighter spacing but the operators are not likely to pursue downspacing below 80 acres. Such wells would probably not be economic due to recovering substantially less gas.

Most of the Barnett Shale is developed on 45 to 60 acre spacing or more.

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Permalink Reply by wpt9452 on August 16, 2010 at 12:37

I am sorry to everyone not to have more information on what I read about a year ago. It just stuck in my mind that they said these wells can be fractured up to 10 times. I also wonder when they say a well's potential is 18 million cubic feet of gas per day, how does that pertain to the profit this well will make over it's lifetime. I just thought these wells would be great producers for a longer time and to see the pressure drop 5,000 psi in one year is depressing. I will try to do a little more research when I ask another question and be a little more specific. I guess my best hope is for new wells to be drilled later when the price of gas goes up and maybe that's my best hope. I appreciate everyone's input and information concerning my question.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on August 16, 2010 at 12:53

Go to the archives and search with key words "decline rate". If you read all the threads associated with that subject (some are over two years old) it will take you a few days but you will have a better appreciation for the facts with respect to decline in production of a Haynesville Shale well.

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Permalink Reply by Two Dogs, Pirate on August 16, 2010 at 12:57

The wells decline to become a damn good well if measured by a three year old stick.

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on August 16, 2010 at 16:47

WPT, if a typical Haynesville Shale well recovers 6500 million cubic feet of gas over a 30 yr life that worke out to an average well rate of 0.6 million cubic feet of gas per day.

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Permalink Reply by wpt9452 on August 16, 2010 at 22:51

I guess I was looking at it the wrong way and now I understand why these shale wells are such a big thing. I definitely have my question answered and appreciate everyone's time and effort to educate me on this.

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