The "Western Haynesville" is a quickly evolving play based on the deep Haynesville and Bossier geological formations. Comstock Resources was the early mover and Aethon has followed suit. Both companies have built large leasehold positions and drilled impressive wells. Other major unconventional O&G companies are joining them as the play area expands. Mitsui E&P USA has built a large position and Expand (Chesapeake) is heavily rumored to be leasing. There may be more major operators chasing this trend via the multiple brokerage firms that are active in the eastern expansion of the trend. The play area originally was comprised of Leon, Roberston and Freestone counties as the focus for early drilling. Leasing operations and "trend subsurface work" has seen the play expand to include Houston, Anderson, Cherokee and Nacogdoches counties. The eastward expansion to Nacogdoches County now almost connects the western trend to the original Haynesville Shale fairway. The prospective section in this trend ranges from 2000' to over 4000' thick, and the opportunity for multiple target intervals is highly probable based on some stacked lateral efforts by Comstock. The play is deep, hot and over pressured making it an expensive and challenging trend to drill, fracture stimulate and produce.
This is an excerpt focusing on the Western Haynesville.
Declining Haynesville Region and the New Western Haynesville Play
Presented by: William D. DeMis & Kevin B. Hill
Abstract
Natural gas will be short in supply in the Gulf Coast in four years. An accounting of the additions into, and subtractions out of, the US Gulf Coast shows there will be a shortfall of 11.5 BCFG/day by 2029. This shortfall will force prices up.
Gas pipelines will bring 7 BCFG per day of Permian gas into the Gulf Coast by 2029. LNG exports out of the Gulf Coast will increase by another 11 BCFG per day. Large data centers might add 1 BCFG per day in demand. Planned additions of liquified natural gas exports out of the Gulf Coast are 13 BCFG/day. In addition, the Haynesville Region might decline another 6 BCFG per day.
The western Haynesville field is an ultra-deep play with horizontal wells landing at 17,000 to 19,000’ TVD. Western Haynesville wells have impressive Initial Potentials of 30 to 40 MMCFG per day. Estimated Ultimate Recoveries are circa 32 BCFG per well. Wells that have been producing for 20 months have produced 12 BCFG and are still producing 13 MMCFG per day. This rate is 2.5 times the rate of a “classic” Haynesville field well at 20 months! Natural gas production from the Western Haynesville play might reach 1.5 BCFG/day by 2030.
Seismic shows the Western Haynesville wells are drilled in Haynesville-Bossier strata that dips steeply into the East Texas basin. The strata are cut by normal faults. Some syn-depositional growth can be seen on seismic along the play. The sweet spots of the play seem to be basin-ward of the Cotton Valley shelf edge, down-dip of areas where siliciclastic input is possible. Slope and basin-floor thin (<1 foot) turbidite sands might be contributing to the excellent flow rates and shallower declines in Western Haynesville field vs Haynesville field.
The play is currently very narrow in map view. However, Expand Energy wildcat outpost in Houston County suggests the play might be broad. The Bobby Yancey has an 8,000’ lateral at 17.300’ TVD. The well is rumored to have an Initial Potential 50 MMCFG per day.
It is unlikely the Western Haynesville play will replace the coming shortfall in natural gas volumes, but doubtless more discoveries will be made in the Western Haynesville trend.
WESTERN HAYNESVILLE
18 members
Description
The "Western Haynesville" is a quickly evolving play based on the deep Haynesville and Bossier geological formations. Comstock Resources was the early mover and Aethon has followed suit. Both companies have built large leasehold positions and drilled impressive wells. Other major unconventional O&G companies are joining them as the play area expands. Mitsui E&P USA has built a large position and Expand (Chesapeake) is heavily rumored to be leasing. There may be more major operators chasing this trend via the multiple brokerage firms that are active in the eastern expansion of the trend. The play area originally was comprised of Leon, Roberston and Freestone counties as the focus for early drilling. Leasing operations and "trend subsurface work" has seen the play expand to include Houston, Anderson, Cherokee and Nacogdoches counties. The eastward expansion to Nacogdoches County now almost connects the western trend to the original Haynesville Shale fairway. The prospective section in this trend ranges from 2000' to over 4000' thick, and the opportunity for multiple target intervals is highly probable based on some stacked lateral efforts by Comstock. The play is deep, hot and over pressured making it an expensive and challenging trend to drill, fracture stimulate and produce.
Oil & Gas Pro
Declining Haynesville Region & Western Haynesville Play: Shreveport Geological Society Presentation
by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant
Mar 12
This is an excerpt focusing on the Western Haynesville.
Declining Haynesville Region and the New Western Haynesville Play
Presented by: William D. DeMis & Kevin B. Hill
Abstract
Natural gas will be short in supply in the Gulf Coast in four years. An accounting of the additions into, and subtractions out of, the US Gulf Coast shows there will be a shortfall of 11.5 BCFG/day by 2029. This shortfall will force prices up.
Gas pipelines will bring 7 BCFG per day of Permian gas into the Gulf Coast by 2029. LNG exports out of the Gulf Coast will increase by another 11 BCFG per day. Large data centers might add 1 BCFG per day in demand. Planned additions of liquified natural gas exports out of the Gulf Coast are 13 BCFG/day. In addition, the Haynesville Region might decline another 6 BCFG per day.
The western Haynesville field is an ultra-deep play with horizontal wells landing at 17,000 to 19,000’ TVD. Western Haynesville wells have impressive Initial Potentials of 30 to 40 MMCFG per day. Estimated Ultimate Recoveries are circa 32 BCFG per well. Wells that have been producing for 20 months have produced 12 BCFG and are still producing 13 MMCFG per day. This rate is 2.5 times the rate of a “classic” Haynesville field well at 20 months! Natural gas production from the Western Haynesville play might reach 1.5 BCFG/day by 2030.
Seismic shows the Western Haynesville wells are drilled in Haynesville-Bossier strata that dips steeply into the East Texas basin. The strata are cut by normal faults. Some syn-depositional growth can be seen on seismic along the play. The sweet spots of the play seem to be basin-ward of the Cotton Valley shelf edge, down-dip of areas where siliciclastic input is possible. Slope and basin-floor thin (<1 foot) turbidite sands might be contributing to the excellent flow rates and shallower declines in Western Haynesville field vs Haynesville field.
The play is currently very narrow in map view. However, Expand Energy wildcat outpost in Houston County suggests the play might be broad. The Bobby Yancey has an 8,000’ lateral at 17.300’ TVD. The well is rumored to have an Initial Potential 50 MMCFG per day.
It is unlikely the Western Haynesville play will replace the coming shortfall in natural gas volumes, but doubtless more discoveries will be made in the Western Haynesville trend.
https://sgs1.org/events/2026-03-17-monthly-meeting?utm_source=Maili...