Railroad Commission Announces Eagle Ford Shale Task Force

Railroad Commissioner David Porter announced the members of the Eagle Ford Shale task force and its mission. The group will meet monthly to help promote economic activity and establish best practices across the play. The Eagle Ford Shale will likely become one of the largest economic boosts to the economy that we've seen in history. The task force includes members from a wide variety of backgrounds, including representatives from the oil & gas industry. 

“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:

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

'We received an overwhelming amount of feedback from talented and credible applicants, so the selection process was not an easy one,' said Commissioner Porter. 'However, I am confident we have chosen the right group to lead us through the development of the Eagle Ford Shale. We have done our best to ensure each stakeholder group is represented and all voices are heard.' ”

"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."

Leodoro Martinez – Middle Rio Grande Development Council, Executive Director, Cotulla

Kirk Spilman – Marathon Oil, Asset Manager Eagle Ford, San Antonio

The Honorable Jaime Canales – Webb County Commissioner, Precinct 4, Laredo

Teresa Carrillo – Sierra Club, Executive Committee Member – Lone Star Chapter, Treasurer – Coastal Bend Sierra, Corpus Christi

James E. Craddock – Rosetta Resources, Senior Vice President, Drilling and Production Operations, Houston

Erasmo Yarrito – Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Rio Grande Valley Water Master, Harlingen

Steve Ellis – EOG Resources, Senior Division Counsel, Corpus Christi

The Honorable Daryl Fowler – Dewitt County Judge, Cuero

Brian Frederick – DCP Midstream, Southern Unit Vice President for the East Division, Houston

Anna Galo – Vice President, ANB Cattle Company, Laredo

The Honorable Jim Huff – Live Oak County Judge, George West

Stephen Ingram – Halliburton, Technology Manager, Houston Business Development & Onshore South Texas, Houston

Mike Mahoney – Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District, General Manager, Pleasanton

James Max Moudy – MWH Global, Inc., Senior Client Service Manager, Houston

Trey Scott – Trinity Minerals Management, LTD, Founder, San Antonio

Mary Beth Simmons – Shell Exploration and Production Company, Senior Staff Reservoir Engineer, Houston

Terry Retzloff – TR Measurement Witnessing, LLC, Founder, Campbellton

Greg Brazaitis – Energy Transfer, Vice President, Government Affairs, Houston

Glynis Strause – Coastal Bend College, Dean of Institutional Advancement, Beeville

Susan Spratlen – Pioneer Natural Resources, Senior Director, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Dallas

Chris Winland – Good Company Associates; University of Texas at San Antonio, Interim Director, San Antonio Clean Energy Incubator, Austin/San Antonio

Paul Woodard – J&M Premier Services, President, Palestine

Read the full news release at rrc.state.tx.us

Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count - July 29, 2011

Drilling Rig

The Eagle Ford Shale rig count rose to 227 rigs drilling from 226 active drilling rigs in the prior week. The number of natural gas rigs working dropped two back down to 109 gas rigs drilling, while the oil rig count jumped to 117 active rigs from the previous week's 113 rigs. 1 rig is drilling an disposal well in Milam County, TX. Horizontal rigs account for 206 of the 227 rigs drilling in the South Texas region. In an operations update earlier in the week, Anadarko Petroleum released details on a well where the company drilled a horizontal lateral over 8,000 ft. We're beginning to see more laterals extend beyond the common 4,000-5,000 ft range drilled on a typical 640 acre unit. With service costs rising, we'll likely see more long laterals like the one drilled by Anadarko. Check out the news section to read more on Anadarko's Eagle Ford Shale Operations Update

Stay tuned each week for an update on the South Texas rig count. Better yet, Subscribe by RSS.

Drilling Rig Count by County

What is the Rig Count?

The Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count is an index of the total number of oil & gas drilling rigs running across a 30 county area in South Texas. The South Texas rigs referred to in this article are for ALL drilling reported by SmithBits and not solely wells targeting the Eagle Ford Shale.

All land rigs and onshore rig data shown here are based upon industry estimates provided by the Baker Hughes Rig Count and/or Smith Service Co's (Schlumberger) Smith Rig Count.

Tropical Storm Don Threatens the South Texas Eagle Ford Shale

Will Tropical Storm Don impact the South Texas Eagle Ford Shale? Our estimate is no, but hurricanes have been known to bring winds and flooding that forces operators to shut in production for days at a time in South Texas. It's still early in the hurricane season, so don't rule out the possibility of another storm later in the year. If a hurricane Ike or Katrina hits land, you can bet operators will begin shutting in wells to protect from the increased risk of operations.

Gonzales County Schools Benefit from the Eagle Ford Shale

Gonzales ISD is getting ready for boon in property and sales tax revenues from the boom of Eagle Ford Shale Drilling. The state is making cuts across the board and the education system is being hit hard this time around. Gonzales County, TX, is shielded from the remains of a recession and is benefiting from the Eagle Ford oil boom. Oil and gas development brings jobs, investment, and much needed tax revenues. 

While school districts around Texas are wrestling with how to deal with a decrease in foundation funding from the state, Gonzales and neighboring districts are sitting on a gold mine which could greatly offset much of the monetary shortage: the Eagle Ford Shale.

Retired petroleum engineer David Thiede gave a presentation to Gonzales ISD trustees during Tuesday’s budget workshop session and indicated that Gonzales and several surrounding districts stand to reap immense benefits from the explosion in oil and gas exploration resulting from hydraulic fracturing technology.

“Economically, we’re sitting in the sweet spot,” Thiede told the board. He said there are currently some 150 working wells in Gonzales County, but “we could easily end up with 4-5,000 wells in this county.”

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Laredo Energy - Record Eagle Ford Production in Webb County

Eagle Ford Shale gas wells are performing above expectations for Laredo Energy in Webb County, TX. The company provided an update on its operations today. Eagle Ford Shale production reached 40 mmcfd following the completion of two new wells and the company has three wells awaiting completion in late August. Those three wells that will likely increase production beyond current levels. 

Laredo release the production information after the Puig 3H, and the Bruni-Summers 1H wells were tied into the EEG system. "We now have 25 horizontal completions in Webb County, where we have a 120,000 acre position," said Glen Hart, Laredo Energy's president and CEO. "We are continuing to develop our Eagle Ford position while adding horizontal completions in the shallower Austin Chalk, Olmos, and Escondido formations.

Laredo Energy currently has 16 horizontal wells producing in the Eagle Ford Shale. three in the Austin Chalk formation, one in the Olmos and five in the Escondido formation.

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Read the full press release at laredoenergy.com