Eagle Ford Shale

The U.S. natural gas rig count dropped one unit to 102 for the week ended Friday (Aug. 13), while a surge in the oil patch drove a sharp increase in the combined domestic drilling tally, according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR). Ten oil-directed rigs were added in the United States for…

The Eagle Ford Shale and Williston Basin led a surge in U.S. onshore drilling activity during the week ended Friday as the domestic rig count rose nine units to an even 500, according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR). Ten oil-directed rigs were added in the United States for the week, offsetting…

Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Wednesday strengthened its commitment to boost natural gas output, announcing an acquisition to bolt on acreage in the Haynesville Shale and laying out early plans to focus heavily on the play and other gas-rich assets in the Appalachian Basin next year. The company’s plan to acquire Vine Energy Inc. for $2.2…

It’s already completed a big Lower 48 takeover this year, but Devon Energy Corp. isn’t ruling out making a bid on more oil and natural gas assets, the CEO said Wednesday. Over the last couple of weeks, rumors have swirled that Royal Dutch Shell plc may sell its Permian Basin portfolio, estimated to be worth…

Ovintiv Inc., whose portfolio stretches from Western Canada to West Texas, is seeing costs for materials and labor rising, but inflationary pressures and capital guidance are being kept in check with operational efficiencies, executives said Wednesday. CEO Doug Suttles, who is retiring, presided over his final conference call on Wednesday, ushering in a new era…

The battle to become a top oil and natural gas producer is no longer being waged by Jett Rink-like roustabouts toiling in the sun off of caliche roads in West Texas, but rather by algorithm experts sitting in darkened, air-conditioned offices in Houston. Exploration and production (E&P) companies looking for the edge to elevate their…

U.S. oil and gas drilling permitting has risen sharply from a year ago, but the gains are uneven, with the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) and Powder River basins drying up, while Haynesville Shale activity has increased, according to data compiled by Evercore ISI. The domestic permit count climbed by 32% in June from a year earlier, and…

Eagle Ford Shale pure-play Penn Virginia Corp. has agreed to buy Lonestar Resources Inc. in a deal that would expand its South Texas leasehold. Once completed, the Houston-based independent would control 143,000 net acres within the Eagle Ford, including Lonestar’s 53,000 net acres. Total sales volumes would be around 38,000 boe/d, up by about 13,000. …

Eagle Ford pure-play Hawkwood Energy LLC is set to be acquired by private equity-backed platform WildFire Energy I LLC, the firms announced Thursday. The transaction, slated to close in the third quarter, values Denver-based Hawkwood at about $650 million.  Hawkwood’s liquids-weighted gross production currently stands at about 15,000 boe/d, spanning 160,000 net acres in the…