Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rock Man on March 7, 2018 at 11:49

That is a positive move.

Any idea who Ankor is? Never heard of them before this.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on March 7, 2018 at 11:59

RM, we followed the Brown Dense prospects very closely some years ago.  A number of well known E&Ps drilled test wells: Exxon, Devon, Cabot and Southwestern.  Southwestern was the only mid-major to drill more than one well and they made a major investment without ever cracking the code.  All the initial operators approached the zone as an unconventional reservoir but the discovery well, Exxonmobil #2 drilled by Weiser-Brown but now operated by TMR, was a vertical completion as were the better SWN wells.  None could make a horizontal completion work.  Ankor came in later in the play and acquired some leasehold but I don't recall from whom.  The Brown Dense discussion and in particular, those that were about Ankor are contained in the site archive. Go the top right corner of any page and input a key word, in this case Ankor, in the search GoHaynesville Shale box.

Link to Ankor LA wells:  http://sonlite.dnr.state.la.us/sundown/cart_prod/cart_con_wellorg6?...

Permalink Reply by Rock Man on March 7, 2018 at 12:05

Thanks for that update.

Did you see my posting that indicated the Southwestern has their Brown Dense position up for divestment at NAPE Houston?

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on March 7, 2018 at 12:18

No, missed it, RM.  That could be the reason Ankor is back for another test.

Permalink Reply by Rock Man on March 7, 2018 at 12:32

I will see if I can find that flyer and scan it into this discussion

Permalink Reply by Rock Man on March 10, 2018 at 17:27

SWN's flyer from NAPE 2018 marketing Lower Smackover Brown Dense position.

Also started this as a separate discussion.

The three wells noted with production to date have range of 380 to 539 MBOE to day (3-4 years). Assuming they are not satisfied with these economics and/or they are having difficult time duplicating results due to reservoir heterogeneity (IMO)

Attachments:

• SWN Lower SMK Brown Dense NAPE Feb 2018.pdf, 940 KB

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on March 11, 2018 at 2:44

The Weiser-Brown well was the discovery well and a vertical open hole completion.  While drilling, the rig experienced a major kick.  Although the long delay until completion was blamed on lack of pipeline connection, I suspect W-B was out looking to find a larger operator that could fully develop what they had found. 

SWN drilled some very expensive horizontal wells, some above $20M, and never found the correct completion recipe.  The wells that they list in their NAPE flyer are all vertical completions except for the BML.  I think the reason that SWN ceased chasing the Brown Dense was an internal management decision to invest in the Marcellus and deploy capital there as opposed to drilling more BD wells. 

Hopefully, Ankor can come up with a more economic well design or a capable mid-major looking for an opportunity may acquire the SWN acreage.  If a majority of those 100,000 acres proved economic, it might make a nice little play and there is plenty of open acreage in proximity to those SWN units.

Permalink Reply by Bradley McWilliams on March 11, 2018 at 7:28

The impression I get as well is that SWN has decided to pursue what they consider to be the bird in the hand verses the two in the bush.  It seems that the smaller opportunities such as the dense and their DJ basin stuff doesn't have the "wow" factor a public company needs. And the F'ville isn't the flash it once was.  I'm not casting stones here, just the harsh realities that a public company has to keep stockholders interested.

Here's to hoping that since new operators are coming, it's quick and the new bosses show up ready to get rolling.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on March 11, 2018 at 7:39

SWN had one big problem that they were slow to address.  Product mix.  At one point they had the smallest percentage of liquids of any mid-major E&P company.  EOG was the first mid-major to abandon gas-y basins and concentrate on oil basins and doing so made them profitable and well respected within the industry and on Wall Street.  If SWN was not the last to seek more liquids, they were very close.  No doubt they are a good company but that one miscalculation has dogged them ever since.

Permalink Reply by Bradley McWilliams on March 11, 2018 at 7:52

You're absolutely correct on that.  Some have stated that the success of the F'ville led to a belief that it would be simple to recreate.  The Dense was "supposed" to be a slam dunk oil play and simply repeat the game plan of the F'ville. Nasty 'ole geology got in the way.  

I believe they will indeed figure how to make the Marcelus/Utica plays successful.  Now whether or not they become the "darling" of Wall Street again...

Permalink Reply by Bradley McWilliams on March 7, 2018 at 12:36

I wondered if the LSBD would be thrown in with the F'ville sale.  Maybe "If you call now, we'll throw in the lower smackover! (Just pay extra shipping and handling)"

Permalink Reply by Rock Man on March 7, 2018 at 12:39

Sounds like Mattress Mac selling furniture in Houston! 

But it could be an interesting combination of assets with some commonalities in drilling and completion 

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