Not Looking Good . . . Yet. Makes me as Mad as Raccoon Scat in My Tomato Garden!

Close in around Lipan, the petroleum engineers and drillers have yet to develope the horizontal technique to successfully flow the gas in the outer and thinner layers of the Barnett Shale. From the scuttlebutt that has come my way regarding the 5 wells to the east of town (Ward, Ator [2], Williams and Thorman), none of the wells seem to have shown sufficient promise.

Surely some valuable info has been learned from the millions spent! And, that field knowledge will benefit the area in time.

Those looking for new mineral tax values to help finance the stalled Lipan ISD gymnasium albatros, they need to turn their focus to recruiting a larger (and state subsidised)enrollment. The marketing campaign might highlight the pretty girls and charming boys whose traditions in basketball, FFA, and rodeo are literally second to none! Oh well. I'm guilty again of digressing!

Activity Abounds. Pipeline Completions Near.

Pictures from 2006.

Calibre Energy has interesting Overview of Lipan Country Barnett Shale Challenges

Good Overview of Barnett Shale Geology affecting Lipan Country

The presentation puts Lipan Country in Tier 2 of the Non-Core area, and seems to heavily discount the long term economic value this far west of the thick Core Area.

Tier 2. Geographically, this area is West and South of Tier 1. (counties include parts or all of Jack, Erath, Palo Pinto, Parker, Hood, Somervell, etc). This is the riskiest area in the Barnett Shale. Conventional analysis has suggested that much of the Barnett Shale in Tier 2 has the likelihood to produce oil (uneconomic volumes) instead of gas based on the thermal maturity of the Barnett in these areas. This results in lower amounts of gas-in-place and recovery per section than the Core or Tier 1 areas. There is no long-term production performance. Uncertainties surrounding the gas window and the lower resource potential due to a thinner and shallower reservoir make widespread commercial development less certain in Tier 2. These uncertainties increase significantly as the industry tries to push the play even further West and South (into counties such as Comanche and Stephens).

Barnett Shale frac job to be done by B J Services Company on Ator Lease east of Lipan on Hwy 4

B J Serices Company website

Devon rig on Nora Williams #1H 2.5 miles east of Lipan on Highway 4

Rig moved on lease during the week of October 23rd. This 655 acre lease is located within sight of the Ator leases. The Railroad Commission drilling permit was submitted and approved October 13th. Total drill length is 9,000 feet which is the same as Devon's Ator leases just to the west.

Ator Lease drilling completed, Frac jobs pending

Devon reports that the fracing of at least one of the Ator lease wells is likely to occur in November. That well has "frac valve" tops now in place (shown in picture). For the time being, the other well has a different "christmas tree" top until the frac process is to begin. As is normal, estimates of the economic potential of these wells is not being disclosed by the company. Even so, the completion of successful frac jobs are necessary to make a determination.