Operators reported record-breaking production from the Marcellus Shale in 2011, producing more than 1 Tcf from the Pennsylvania portion of the play, according to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) data.

The 615 Bcf produced from the Pennsylvania Marcellus in the second half of 2011 is 41% higher than the 435 Bcf produced in the first half of the year, a 127% increase from 271 Bcf in the second half of 2010 and a 217% increase from 194 Bcf produced between July 2009 and June 2010, according to revised production figures.

According to the data, the play produced 487,438 bbl of condensate and 20,685 bbl of oil in the latter half of 2011, down from 196,896 bbl of condensate and 364,183 bbl of oil in the first six months. The DEP had reported condensate production of 492,533 bbl for the first half of 2011 when it first released the data last August.

The play produced 320,069 bbl of condensate and 41,674 bbl oil in the second half of 2010, according to revised figures; the DEP initially reported condensate production of 549,143 bbl for the second half of 2010. The play produced 187,856 bbl of condensate and 453,378 bbl of oil between July 2009 and June 2010.

The stark revisions are the result of some operators initially reporting condensate in gallons instead of barrels, or reporting flowback as condensate, according to DEP.

The dry gas corridor of northeastern Pennsylvania continued to lead production. Neighboring Bradford, Susquehanna and Tioga counties combined for 337.6 Bcf during the second half of 2011, up from 260.2 Bcf during the first half of the year. Nearby Lycoming County produced 59.7 Bcf, up from 21.5 Bcf in the first half of 2011.

The wet-gas corridor of southwestern Pennsylvania saw a smaller increase. The core counties of Washington, Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland combined to produce 164.4 Bcf during the period, up from 114.5 Bcf during the first half of the year, while recent expansion into nearby Armstrong, Butler and Indiana counties produced 12.6 Bcf during the reporting period, compared to 7.6 Bcf during the first half of 2011.

The northeast and southwest regions of Pennsylvania have historically been the two main Marcellus hotspots in the state. Central Pennsylvania showed tremendous growth in the first half of 2011, only to flatten somewhat in the last half of the year. Clearfield, Clinton and Centre counties produced 17.7 Bcf during the period, up slightly from 15.9 Bcf during the period, but more than triple the 5.1 Bcf produced in the second half of 2010.

Washington County accounted for most of the condensate and oil production.

Of the top producers in the state, Chesapeake Energy Corp. produced 95.1 Bcf from 191 wells during the reporting period, up from 80.9 Bcf from 114 wells in the first half of the year. Talisman Energy Inc. produced 85.3 Bcf from 264 wells (up from 70.3 Bcf from 185 wells); Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. produced 83.5 Bcf from 147 (up from 54.5 Bcf from 117 wells); Range Resources Corp. produced 68.8 Bcf from 339 wells (up from 42 Bcf from 241 wells); and EQT Corp. produced 36.4 Bcf from 68 wells (up from 27 Bcf from 49 wells).

The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Act 15 in March 2010, requiring Marcellus producers to post production data from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 and provide updates every six months thereafter. This is the third six-month update.

With 1.78 million net acres, Chesapeake is the largest acreage holder in the Marcellus Shale. Range follows with 1.048 million net acres, while National Fuel Gas Co. subsidiary Seneca Resources Corp. has 745,000, Chevron Corp. has 714,000 and ExxonMobil Corp. is fifth with 707,000.

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