Eagle Ford Shale Task Force

The Eagle Ford Task Force was created under the directive of Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter in 2011 to promote economic activity and establish best practices across the play.

Task Force News

Press releases and advisements can be found at the Eagle Ford Task Force News page.

Purpose of the Task Force

“The Eagle Ford Shale has the potential to be the single most significant economic development in our state’s history,” said Commissioner Porter. “We must develop this shale responsibly, finding the proper way to develop these resources while ensuring environmental protection.”

Commissioner Porter has created a Task Force to establish a forum that will bring the community together and foster a dialogue. The mission of the task force is three-fold:

  1. Open the lines of communication between all parties
  2. Establish best practices for developing the Eagle Ford Shale
  3. Promote economic benefits locally and statewide

Eagle Ford Task Force Members

The Task Force is comprised of local community leaders, local elected officials, water representatives, environmental groups, oil and gas producers, pipeline companies, oil services companies (including a hydraulic fracturing company, a trucking company and a water resources management company), landowners, mineral owners and royalty owners. The full list of members is provided in the first press release -here

Eagle Ford Task Force Meeting Agendas and Resources

December 2013

Task Force Meeting Agenda December 11, 2013

March 2013

Report & Summary of Meeting Findings

November 15, 2012

July 18, 2012

  • Task Force Meeting Agenda July 18, 2012
  • Highlights from Vicki Vaughn

May 23, 2012

Task Force Meeting Agenda May 23, 2012

April 18, 2012

Task Force Meeting Agenda April 18, 2012

January 25, 2012

EFTF Meeting Agenda January 25, 2012

November 2, 2011

  • EFTF Meeting Agenda November 2, 2011
  • Eagle Ford Water Supply and Demand - Stephen Jester, P.E.
  • Water Planning in the Eagle Ford - Mike Mahoney

September 28, 2011

EFTF Meeting Agenda September 28, 2011

August 24, 2011

EFTF Meeting Agenda August 24, 2011

Eagle Ford Permits Update July 25,2011

Six oil & gas permits in McMullen County, TX, made it the most active county for new well permits in South Texas over the last week. Also, Pioneer Natural Resources has permitted three 21,000 ft total depth wells in the Sugarkane field in Live Oak County, TX. I'm not sure how long the horizontal portion of the wells will be, but it is definitely pushing past the norm for the Eagle Ford Shale.  

Natural Gas Flaring in the Bakken Shale and Eagle Ford Shale

Natural gas flaring is on the rise as oil drilling expands in areas of the Eagle Ford Shale and Bakken Shale. Operators often test wells before pipelines are built, which means there is no where for the gas to go. It gets flared until a pipeline is connected to the well site. Operators can also get permits to flare gas for extended periods of time if there is no gas infrastructure in the area. The natural gas is essentially viewed as a by product that doesn't add much value to an oil well. In theory, it sounds okay, but you end up with more natural gas being flared than consumed in places like North Dakota.

Flaring of natural gas from wells is on the upswing in Texas and North Dakota as oil and gas producers rush to develop new shale plays, and critics are not happy about it.

Flaring, once a common practice, involves burning off natural gas that cannot be captured and sold in order to produce more valuable oil. It is frowned upon because it causes air pollution, boosts global warming and wastes natural resources.

Read the full news release at reuters.com

 

Schlumberger - Service Demand Strong in the Eagle Ford

Schlumberger CEO Andrew Gould says the service market is supported by liquids production and pressure pumping demand in the Eagle Ford Shale. The Eagle Ford's liquid production demands more services than a typical gas well. The demand for pressure pumping equipment is helping hold prices in the service industry.

In particular, demand for pressure-pumping gear used to extract oil and natural gas liquids from U.S. shale fields such as the Eagle Ford of southern Texas will feed growth and keep pricing firm, Gould said .

These oil and gas fields require more equipment than others — a boon for services providers, he said.

Read the full news release at marketwatch.com

Enterprise Products Pipeline Gets Green Light in Austin County TX

Enterprise Product's Eagle Ford Shale pipeline has gotten the green light from the town of Sealy, TX and Austin County, TX. We're closer to having the needed infrastructure for moving larges volumes of Eagle Ford crude. The pipeline has a planned capacity of 350,000 barrels of oil per day. Hopefully, the pipeline companies stay in front of oil production and we don't see the oil price discounts experienced in North Dakota's Bakken Shale.

"Enterprise Crude Pipeline LLC is making its own play to tap the resource, near Sealy, and Austin County commissioners’ have agreed to proceed with installation of a new pipeline. But, with conditions."“ 'It needs to be contingent on whether we can get everything we need to get it done,” said Precinct 4 Commissioner Douglas King."

"Commissioners agreed, and gave a green light to the project, but only if all supplies are available."

"Enterprise Crude Pipeline LLC is the petitioner, and will be given permission to begin construction as soon as equipment details can be resolved."

"The project is to tap the resources of one of the deepest and oldest shale plays in the nation, the Eagle Ford Shale, of which Austin County is a part."

Read the full news release at SealyNews.com