Horizontal

In recognition of the “value gap” between oil and natural gas prices, Chesapeake Energy Corp. will continue to direct a big chunk of its technological and leasehold acquisition expertise to “identify, secure and commercialize” new unconventional liquids-rich plays, CEO Aubrey McClendon said Wednesday.

Natural gas drilling in West Virginia’s Marcellus Shale already has enriched the state through new jobs and more revenue and is on track to create up to 20,000 jobs by 2015, according to a study by West Virginia University’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER).

Trans Energy Inc. has begun drilling the Lucey #1H well, its seventh horizontal Marcellus Shale well in Marshall County, WV, the company said. The drilling of the Keaton #1H well, which was begun by the independent exploration and production company in November (see Shale Daily, Nov. 23, 2010), has been completed. St. Marys, WV-based Trans Energy said it completed the 11-stage hydraulic fracture (frack) of Stout #2H in Marshall County last week and this week will begin the process of drilling out the frack plugs; fracking is scheduled in March for Keaton #1H and in February for Groves #1H, the company said. Trans Energy is moving to a development phase from an exploration phase as it develops its acreage position in northern West Virginia.

A Barnett Shale well operated by Chesapeake Energy Corp. produced on average 17.824 MMcf/d for the month of September, surpassing any of the 14,000-plus wells drilled to date in the North Texas play.

The North American shales have been good to Devon Energy Corp. as evidenced by the company’s strong 3Q2010 earnings revealed this week. The Oklahoma City-based exploration and production (E&P) company said it set new quarterly production records in both its Barnett and Cana-Woodford shale plays.

The pace and extent of development in the Pennsylvania portion of the Marcellus Shale now may be “seen” in animated maps produced by the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research, officials said Tuesday.

The horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques used to tap natural gas production from shales is beginning to “transform” the oil industry, according to a market analysis issued on Monday by Bentek Energy LLC.

Houston-based LINN Energy LLC on Tuesday said its latest two horizontal wells in the Granite Wash play of the Texas Panhandle tested at double-digit initial production (IP) rates. The wells, in which LINN holds 60% stakes, are in the Greater Stiles Ranch area.

A 3% tax on horizontal wells drilled in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays would help close New York state’s $7.4 billion budget gap, according to New York Gov. David Paterson, who last week proposed just such a tax.