Encouraged by an initial production of nearly 4 MMcf/d — froma well which three months later is still going strong at more than3 MMcf/d – Mitchell Energy & Development has started up afull-fledged infill drilling program at its East Texas NorthPersonville field.

Depending on rig availability, Mitchell plans to spud 18 to 24infill wells this year, and could ultimately drill 110 infilllocations there. North Personville and several smaller fieldscomprise the company’s largest producing area. Almost 300 wellshave been drilled there since the late 1970s, targeting primarilythe Cotton Valley limestone.

Because of the high current production, Mitchell expects theinfill program to increase current daily production by 25% to 50MMcf by year’s end, with reserves incrasing as much as 100 Bcf.

“We’re excited about the potential of the North Personvilleinfill program,” says George P. Mitchell, chairman and chiefexecutive officer. “This is a good example of our ability toexploit our large lease blocks using new technology and operatingexpertise.”

Mitchell plans to extend its application of light sand fracturecompletion technology there, a technique perfected in the past twoyears at the company’s North Texas drilling operations. The newtechnology has reduced the cost to drill and complete a typicallimestone well by almost $350,000, or 30%. The sharply reducedcosts will allow Mitchell to economically reduce well spacing toincrease production, and reserve recovery. Only 33% of the gas nowin place at the East Texas site is being recovered on the current160-acre spacing pattern.

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