Denver-based PDC Energy Inc. earlier this month closed on its $1.3 billion acquisition of crosstown independent Great Western Petroleum LLC and is forecasting production growth of as much as 23% by the end of June

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“We’re ready to start this integration,” CEO Bart Brookman told analysts during the earnings call for the first quarter.

PDC in February announced the Great Western deal, noting at the time the acquisition would add 55,000 boe/d of production in the Wattenberg field of the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin.

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With the acquisition, production during the second quarter should average 235,000-245,000 boe/d, according to management. The...