Horsepower

Ending a sluggish start to the year, pressure pumpers are increasing their horsepower work in Lower 48 formations, particularly in the Haynesville Shale, which may lead to a tighter market later this year, according to an analysis by Westwood Global Energy Group.

Superior Energy Services Inc. saw no slowdown in U.S. land activity during the second quarter, with more hydraulic horsepower (hhp) activated and proppant sand volumes climbing by 25% sequentially.

When it comes to the peak U.S. rig count, 900 is the new 2,000, Halliburton Co. President Jeff Miller told investors during the company’s 2Q2016 earnings call Wednesday.

San Diego, CA-based Osage Exploration and Development Inc. reported Monday that it has spudded its fourth horizontal oil well in the Mississippian Lime formation and the rock quality appears promising. The well — the McPhail #2-18H in section 18-18N-3W of Logan County, OK –. is in the 30,000-plus acre Nemaha Ridge project, which is owned by Osage in conjunction with its partners, project operator Slawson Exploration Co. and U.S. Energy Development Corp.

Williams’ Northwest Pipeline Co.’s proposed 178-mile pipeline paralleling an existing east-west line from the Columbia River Gorge across the northern side of the Columbia River in Washington state is getting back on track, a spokesperson told NGI. Company officials are to meet later this month with FERC staff to review pre-filing details. A formal filing is expected by fall.

ANR said the start of horsepower maintenance at its St. John (IN)Compressor Station, which had been scheduled for today (see Daily GPI,Oct. 25) has been delayed untilNov. 2. However, it is still projecting completion of the work forNov. 22. There is still an associated capacity reduction of 100,000Dth/d, ANR said, but it also still thinks nomination cuts may beminimized or eliminated by cooler market area weather.

Due to unscheduled maintenance at its Elmore (AL) CompressorStation, Sonat expects a 5,000-horsepower unit to remainunavailable until April 9. Although no reductions were anticipatedas of Sunday, it may be necessary to cut FT on a pro rata basis,the pipeline said.

Horsepower problems at the Grand Chenier (LA) Compressor Stationare more extensive than originally thought, ANR said, and willdelay completion of required repairs until Dec. 21. ANR hadpreviously expected to complete the work, which is reducing thestation’s normal capacity of 750 MMcf/d by about 150 MMcf/d,Wednesday (see Daily GPI, Dec. 10).

ANR said horsepower problems at its Grand Chenier (LA)Compressor Station, which are restricting combined capacity fromHIOS and near-shore West Cameron production to about 600 MMcf/d,should be repaired by Dec. 15. That will restore capacity to 750MMcf/d, ANR said.