Yep, fracking been around a long time. Over 1.2 million wells have been fracked.
The real breakthrough was when George Mitchell (Mitchell Energy, since sold to Devon) invented the drill bit that allowed drilling down and then turning and going horizontal. My Dad’s family business (with me in the field) staked wells for George in the 60’s and 70’s. He just passed away a couple of years ago.
Shale oil and gas are deposited in somewhat narrow horizontal layers, vertical drilling won’t work. But you can go through miles of the layer by going horizontal. My current paying wells go several miles through 18-21 owners of acreages of various sizes.
Oh, I see SaxxonWoods just answered my question.
Never mind.
I’m not sure where your wells are. The longest I have worked in the Williston Basin (Bakken formation) were about 12000 ft. of lateral and they were on 2 1/2 section spacings. Most here only go about 9500 ft. of lateral displacement on a 1280 acre spacing with the required setbacks.
I admit that I am ignorant on the geology and business of drilling so tell me if I am wrong. It seems logical that once a fracked well has been exhausted and abandoned that it should start to refill via seepage from the surrounding rocks. What sort of time would be required before such a well would be viable again? Decade, centuries?