Devon Banking on High Returns from Eagle Ford Investment

May 28, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

After closing its $6 billion transaction with GeoSouthern for 82,000 net Eagle Ford acres at the end of February 2o14, Devon says its current net daily production in the play is 64,000 boe/d. In the second quarter, the company anticipates it will average between 65,000 and 70,000 boe/d, with more than 100,000 boe/d by next year.

Devon is banking on high returns from its hefty Eagle Ford investment, and so far, the company appears to be confident it will achieve a lucrative pay off.

At the UBS Oil & Gas Conference at the end of May of 2014, the company's COO, David Hager, revealed the Lavaca County acreage is performing better than expected. Currently, the company has 300 total preliminary locations targeted in the county. In DeWitt County, the company has 900 preliminary locations targeted.

“When we acquired [the Eagle Ford acreage], we placed over 90% of the value from an internal standpoint on DeWitt County. We didn’t put as much value on Lavaca County initially []. What we’re finding is the results aren’t quite as good as DeWitt County, but there are a lot better than we originally anticipated.”

— David Hager

Recently, another Eagle Ford operator, Penn Virginia, revealed strong results from two of its Upper Eagle Ford test wells in Lavaca County. One of the wells had an initial production (IP) rate of 2,165 boe/d. Company officials for Penn Virginia said in a quarterly update that the two wells have the highest wellhead flowing pressures the company has seen to date in the Eagle Ford, with GORs (gas-oil-ratios) of 5,000 – 6,000 standard cubic feet per barrel.

In 2014, Devon will drill approximately 230 wells across its Eagle Ford acreage position. About 200 of those wells are slated to be drilled in DeWitt County under a 50/50 partnership with BHP Billiton. The other 30 wells are to be drilled in Lavaca County, where Devon has a 100% working interest in the majority of the acreage. Also in 2014, look for Devon to drill some Upper Eagle Ford wells.

Sundance Energy Acquires 11,000 Net Eagle Ford Acres for $33-Million

May 27, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

In late May of 2014, Australian-based Sundance Energy announced the acquisition of 11,000 net acres in Dimmit and Maverick counties for $33-million and a four gross Eagle Ford well drilling commitment to the seller. The deal adds 115 gross (69 net) locations to the company's Eagle Ford drilling inventory and approximately 200 boe/d in production. Sundance now has approximately 19,500 net Eagle Ford acres covering 295 gross (196 net) drilling locations.

This acquisition is the company's second strategic move to add Eagle Ford acreage to its portfolio in just over a month's time. In late April 2014, the company announced the completion of a lease acquisition and development agreement for Eagle Ford acreage in McMullen County. That deal added 4,800 net acres and 50 gross locations to the Sundance’s Eagle Ford drilling inventory.

Sundance Building a Core Eagle Ford Operating Area

In late May of 2014, Sundance also announced the sale of its acreage in the DJ Basin in Colorado for $116-million. The company is shifting its assets to build a core operating area in the Eagle Ford, and a portion of the funds from this sale will be re-allocated to the play.

“This sale of a non-core project allows the company to not only crystalise an attractive return on its DJ Basin investment, but provides a significant opportunity to reinvest capital into accelerating growth in our core projects in the Eagle Ford and Mississippian/Woodford.”

— Sundance's Managing Dir., Eric McCrady

undance's most recent acquisition in Dimmit County is for a 60% working interest, and a 30% working interest in the Maverick County acreage. Dimmit County wells are prospective for the Eagle Ford formation, while the Maverick County wells are targeting the Georgetown formation.

“We are very excited to add a second core Eagle Ford area to our development inventory. Dimmit County has seen significant activity and strong results from some of the leading Eagle Ford operators such as Anadarko.”

— McCrady

In the purchase and sale agreement, Sundance secured an option to buy the remaining 40% interest in the Dimmit County acreage, and an additional 20% interest in the Maverick County acreage. Sundance did not disclose any information about the seller. Closing is expected in late June or early July of 2014.

Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count Decreases by Seven to 262

May 26, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

The Eagle Ford Shale rig count decreased by seven to 262 rigs running across our coverage area by the end of last week.

In recent Eagle Ford news, Houston-based Sanchez Energy Corporation announced in May of 2014 that it has entered a deal with Royal Dutch Shell subsidiaries in the Eagle Ford to purchase 106,000 net acres for $639-million. The acquisition increases Sanchez’s total net Eagle Ford acreage to 226,000, and adds 60 MMBOE of proved reserves, nearly doubling the company’s acreage position and proved reserves in the play.

The U.S. rig count decreased by four to 1,857 rigs running by the end of last week. A total of 325 rigs were targeting natural gas (one less than the previous week) and 1,528 were targeting oil in the U.S. (three less than the previous week). The remainder were drilling service wells (e.g. disposal wells, injection wells, etc.). 889or ~48% of rigs active in the U.S. were running in Texas.

Baker Hughes rig count is quoted here. Baker Hughes also releases its own Eagle Ford Rig Count that covers the 14 core counties (213 rigs). The rig count published on EagleFordShale.com includes a 30 county area impacted by Eagle Ford development. A full list of the counties included can be found in the table near the bottom of this article.

Eagle Ford Oil & Gas Rigs

The natural gas rig count decreased by one to 13 rigs running by the end of last week. Average rig counts for natural gas production in 2012 were around 82 and then dropped to around 41 in 2013. Natural gas prices stayed relatively flat from the previous week at $4.40/mmbtu on Friday afternoon.

The oil rig count decreased by six to 249 rigs running by the end of last week. WTI oil prices increased by ~$2, trading at $104.37/bbl on Friday afternoon. Eagle Ford light crude traded at $100.75/bbl on May 23rd.

A total of 235 rigs are drilling horizontal wells, 12 rigs are drilling directional wells, and 15 rigs are drilling vertical wells. Karnes, La Salle, De Witt, and Webb counties each have at minimum 26 rigs running. Karnes County has the highest rig count this week at 36. See the full list below in the Eagle Ford Shale Drilling by County below

South Texas Oil & Gas News:

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Eagle Ford Shale Drilling 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 Baker Hughes and not solely wells targeting the Eagle Ford formation. 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.

Karnes County Couple Fights for Eagle Ford Shale Property

May 23, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

In a KENS-TV report, a Karnes County couple, Michael and Cassandra Harms, are left homeless, after Regency Field Services LLC, a subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners LP, claims their property. The couple, who purchased the Karnes County property in 2007, said they began to get sick when Regency began operating a gas well facility on a neighboring property. After finding high levels of arsenic in their water, The Harms hired a San Antonio Lawyer, Jon Christian Amberson, who the Harms' say told them to vacate their home. Ultimately, Amberson reached a settlement for the couple, whereby Regency paid the Harms' nearly $46,000 in damages and the remainder of the couples' $129,000 mortgage on the property. But the story doesn't end there. When the Harms tried to move back into their home, Regency had posted no trespassing signs and claimed the property belonged to them, citing a special warranty deed, which was signed by the couple. The Harms claim they never signed the deed.

Eventually the Harms' home on the property was razed. Now the couple is at a loss, and unsure of what their next move will be to re-claim their property.

Sanchez Nearly Doubles Eagle Ford Acreage in $639 Million Deal with Shell

May 22, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

Houston-based Sanchez Energy Corporation announced in May of 2014 that it has entered a deal with Royal Dutch Shell subsidiaries in the Eagle Ford to purchase 106,000 net acres for $639-million. The acquisition increases Sanchez's total net Eagle Ford acreage to 226,000, and adds 60 MMBOE of proved reserves, nearly doubling the company's acreage position and proved reserves in the play.

During the first-quarter, the acquired assets had production of 24,000 boe/d (60% liquids). Sanchez estimates there are at least four years of drilling inventory from 200 "de-risked" wells in the new acreage, which extend across Dimmit, La Salle and Webb Counties.

“The addition of this asset includes at least 200 identified drilling locations and up to 800 additional potential locations that can be added through our planned appraisal work on the rest of the asset and will take us to a total of almost 3,000 potential drilling locations. The estimated 200 de-risked ready-to-drill locations will provide at least four years of drilling inventory at a 50-well-per-year pace. We expect that this drilling activity will generate well-level rates of return in excess of 35% - 50%.”

— CEO, Tony Sanchez III

This most recent acquisition is the largest for Sanchez in a string of acreage deals beginning early last year. In March of 2013, the company purchased 43,000 net acres in Dimmit, Frio, La Salle, and Zavala counties from Hess Corporation for $265-million. At that time, the acquisition from Hess also doubled the size of the company. In June of 2013, Sanchez stuck another deal for Eagle Ford acreage, acquiring 10,300 net acres in Fayette, Lavaca, and Gonzales counties for $28.8-million.

Shell Exiting the Eagle Ford

In September of 2013, Shell announced it had plans to sell 106,000 acres in the Eagle Ford. The oil giant, unlike many other companies in the Eagle Ford, didn't meet its internal targets for size and profitability in the play. With the divestiture of its primary Eagle Ford assets, Shell retains 147,000 acres of non-operated leases in Maverick County.

The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014, with an effective date of January 1, 2014.