The Drilling Pad: EOG Doubles Down on Nat Gas Discovery in Webb County

Houston-based EOG Resources is doubling down in the company’s newly discovered Dorado field in the dry gas window of Webb County. 

Over the past week, EOG has received drilling permits from the Railroad Commission of Texas to develop 15 horizontal wells at across the state with more than half of them in the company’s new discovery. 

Eight of those 15 wells are listed as natural gas wells targeting the Austin Chalk formation on the company’s BFMT West lease in Webb County.

Four of the 15 wells target the oil-rich Eagleville field of the Eagle Ford geological layer in Gonzales County. 

Three target the oil and natural gas-rich Phantom field of the Wolfcamp formation in Loving County. 

During its third quarter earnings call last week, EOG Resources announced its 21-trillion-cubic-feet Dorado discovery in the Austin Chalk of Webb County. 

The company plans to turn about 15 Dorado natural gas wells to sales in 2021, EOG Resources Executive Vice President of Exploration and Production Ken Boedeker told investors during the call.

 “With a breakeven cost of less than $1.25 per Mcf, we believe this play represents the lowest cost supply of natural gas in the United States,” Boedeker said. 

Permian Basin 

Fort Worth oil company Double Eagle Energy plans to drill seven new horizontal well split between leases in Upton and Reagan counties. All seven wells target the oil and natural gas-rich Spraberry field at a total depth of 9,500 feet. 

Eagle Ford Shale

Now headquartered in Houston, Murphy Oil filed for its first drilling permits in Texas since July. Over the past week, the company received drilling permits to develop three horizontal wells on its Kone lease in Dimmit County. The wells target the oil and natural gas-rich Briscoe Ranch field of the Eagle Ford formation down to a total depth of 9,000 feet. 

Haynesville Shale

Houston-based Sabine Oil & Gas plans to drill a horizontal natural gas well on the company’s Furrh-Findley Gas Unit Unit lease in Harrison County. The well targets the Carthage field of the Haynesville formation down to a total depth of 12,200 feet. 

Barnett Shale

After going three weeks without a horizontal drilling permits, I’m issuing a drilling drought warning for the Barnett Shale of North Texas. There is some other activity. Holliday-based Nichols Oil Co. plans to drill a vertical well on its Kemp & Kempner lease in Archer County. The well targets the Archer County Regular field down to a vertical depth of 2,000 feet. 

Conventionals

Houston-based Pinto Energy Partners plans to drill two vertical wells that will later serve as crude oil storage wells in the Stratton Ridge Salt Dome of Brazoria County. Located about four miles east of Clute, the wells target the Stratton Ridge salt formation down to a vertical depth of 9,000 feet. 

Texas Drilling Permit Filings

(Monday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 8)

• Eog Resources, Inc. 15
• De3 Operating Llc 7
• Anadarko E&P Onshore Llc 6
• Pioneer Natural Res. Usa, Inc. 6
• Marathon Oil Ef Llc 5
• Burlington Resources O & G Co Lp 5
• Discovery Natural Resources Llc 5
• Phillips 66 Pipeline Llc 3
• Cog Operating Llc 3
• Wpx Energy Permian, Llc 3
• Sm Energy Company 3
• Murphy Expl. & Prod. Co. - Usa 3
• Endeavor Natural Gas, Lp 3
• Kinder Morgan Production Co Llc 3
• Crownquest Operating, Llc 2
• Pinto Energy Ptrs - Stg 1, Llc 2
• X Stone Energy Llc. 2
• Gulftex Energy, Llc 2
• White Oak Operating Company Llc 2
• L.C.S. Production Company 2
• Lario Oil & Gas Company 2
• Callon (Permian) Llc 2
• Chevron U. S. A. Inc. 1
• Seaboard Operating Co. 1
• Rincon Petroleum Corporation 1
• Hw Operating, Llc 1
• Highpeak Energy Holdings, Llc 1
• Juno Operating Company Iii, Llc 1
• Cholla Petroleum, Inc. 1
• A2R Resources, Llc 1
• Royal Production Company, Inc. 1
• Bluestem Natural Gas Llc 1
• Stronghold Energy Ii Oper, Llc 1
• Bpx Operating Company 1
• Oxy Usa Inc. 1
• Mammoth Exploration Llc 1
• Blackbeard Operating, Llc 1
• Barron Petroleum Llc 1
• Produced Water Transfer1 Llc 1
• Murchison Oil And Gas, Llc 1
• Rockcliff Energy Operating Llc 1
• Forza Operating, Llc 1
• Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation 1
• Big Lake Corporation 1
• Bayswater Operating Company Llc 1
• Newport Operating, Llc 1
• Hawkwood Energy Operating, Llc 1
• Nichols Oil Co. 1
• Houston Oil Prod Enterprises,Inc 1
• Ovintiv Usa Inc. 1
• Newman Operating Company 1

Source: Railroad Commission of Texas