Tapping wells of resentment[Drilling rigs pop up like prairie dogs in Ft. Worth](TX)

AP ^ | 07 June 2007 | Angela K. Brown

[Jedidah]

Tight rock, using new technology implemented in recent years.

Back in the early 80s that you mention, the Barnett Shale was known to have gas that was considered unrecoverable.

[barry_lee]

Yeah, that’s just a rumor. The hand didn’t tell him he was coming down so it was just as much his own fault as the drillers.

Here’s a good rundown of the Top Drives.
http://www.lariatservices.com/images_large/lariatrig_14.html

This is the actual rig that the accident we’re talking about happened on. You’ll be surprised how quiet they are.

[Jedidah]

Anybody here in the oil industry, with knowledge of the Barnett Shale formation?

I was talking to someone Monday night who said the known boundary is shifting to the east. He was referring to the area north of Denton, and I’d like to know if that is true.

I’ve heard that the easternmost boundary is the Muenster Arch, but exactly how far east is that?

[dirtboy]

Anybody here in the oil industry, with knowledge of the Barnett Shale formation?

Ping to DG.

[stainlessbanner]

Natural gas production can be initially high (depending on the quality of the driller), but usually drops off in the out years. By year 5 or 6, production is about 10% of the first year. Of course, they can refrac and production can go up again.

Gas drilling is hot again b/c the technology allows horizontal drilling and extraction. We won't see the vertical wells like the oil rigs side by side.

I hear they are only extracting 10% of what is down there

More info at the TRR site

[stainlessbanner]

blumtexas has great Barnett and strata maps on his blog

you have freepmail

[Malsua]

there was a casing crew guy killed last week around Fort Stockton, Texas; when he fell on top of the traveling blocks and was cut in half

Ugh, poor fellow. We had a guy on a rig get caught in the chain that drove the rotary table. Caught him right about belt height. Was stepping over the chain instead of walking all the way around like you were supposed to. Was alive for a couple hours so they could get his wife there. Very sad. I was on the roustabout waiting list before that, took my name off afterwards. Was great money at the time. I stuck to pumping the wells, draining saltwater and cutting the weeds.

I imagine OSHA rules and common sense eliminate many of those hazards from back in the day. Still dangerous, I'm sure but some stuff was just over the top dangerous.

[Deguello]

Thanks for the link. My driller buddy won’t be back in town ‘til next week.

[Dog Gone]

Oh man, the Barnett Shale play now essentially extends from the Mexican border in west Texas to at least Tyler, Texas.

Some of that isn’t going to pan out, but it is huge.