I listened to the Devon 1Q call and they didn't sound disappointed in the well results in this area. In fact, they sounded quite pleased with the Whitton IP.
It has been my experience that E&Ps talk down an area they are actively leasing in... to keep lease bonus expectations low. As you noted, shelbyco, well results have not deterred Devon from permitting and drilling additional wells in the area.
Here is what I've been able to find about it:
"Once the well begins producing gas, the frac water is forced back to the surface, where it is known as flowback water. The flowback typically has picked up salt and other contaminants from the shale."
Although these results seem pretty dissappointing, Devon does seem to be still very actively leasing their loose ends in the survey's immediately surrounding this well and in that region of Shelby County in particular. That said, it would seem that regardless of these particular results, they must have seen something else in the drill logs that has them still interested in the area.ke