Southwestern Energy Co. has upped its capital spending for 2008 to $1.7 billion from $1.46 billion, with most of the extra funding to be directed at its core leasehold, the Fayetteville Shale. The Houston-based independent also closed its sale of some noncore properties in the Arkansas shale to XTO Energy Corp. (see Daily GPI, April 4). The $518 million in proceeds is expected to fund the higher spending plan this year. Of the $245 million increase in planned capital investments, $153 million is dedicated to the Fayetteville Shale. The company now expects to participate in around 520 wells this year (75% operated), up from a previous guidance of 475 wells. About $30 million of the new capital is slated for more exploration in East Texas, $34 million is for gathering systems for the midstream operations and $28 million is for other projects. Southwestern also has increased its 2008 production guidance to 172 Bcfe from a previous forecast of 168 Bcfe, which would be 50% above its total 2007 production.

©Copyright 2008Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.