Encana to Expand Eagle Ford Inventory

Chesapeake Released 2015 Q1
Encana Q2 Report

Encana announced strong second quarter performance along with plans to expand Eagle Ford operations.

In a press release last week, Encana Corp reported that the second quarter of 2015 marked seven consecutive quarterly increases. Total company production averaged 389,000 (BOE/d) with Encana's four strategic assets contributing approximately 223,000 BOE/d (57%).

"Following our successful portfolio transformation in 2014, we continue to lower costs, improve well performance and increase well inventory in our four most strategic assets," said Doug Suttles, Encana President & CEO. "We exited the second quarter with significant operational momentum and we expect to accelerate liquids growth through the second half of the year."

Encana is relatively new to the Eagle Ford and purchased 45,500 acres in a $3.1 billion deal in May of 2014. Suttles said that though adverse weather and flooding in Texas impacted the quarter, Eagle Ford inventory has almost doubled and the company plans to expand even more.  Eagle Ford highlights include:

  • Reducing D&C costs by almost 30%
  • Averaged $6.2 million well cost
  • Significant improvements to our artificial lift systems
  • Expect our total Eagle Ford production will be exceeding 50,000 Boe a day shortly. This represents a 15% increase from Q3 2014.
  • Undrilled well inventory stands at over 600 locations- a 70% increase since we acquired the asset
  • Ramping up production in the Permian and Eagle Ford where we expect to bring on approximately 40 wells in July and an additional 36 wells over the balance of the third quarter

Encana's recent announcement that they will layoff over 200 employees will be would not affect the Eagle Ford operations.

Read more at encanacorp.com

Is the Eaglebine Ready To Take Off?

Halcon Resources Eaglebine Map
Halcon Resources Eaglebine Map

Drilling results in the Eaglebine have been relatively quiet, but operators have leased aggressively in Brazos, Leon, Madison, Walker, and Grimes counties for a few years now.

Halcon Resources will be driving the charge. The company plans to spend almost $500 million and will run 5-7 rigs in the area this year. Encana plans to run a rig as well.

With a few rigs running, we'll know a lot more sooner than later. A ZaZa Energy representative shared his thoughts on the play at an AAPG meeting in San Antonio this past week.

Thomas Bowman, Geophysics at ZaZa Energy, stated "This is everything you want except for six months of production"

I take that to mean well results look promising. The main operators with permits and significant acreage include:

  • Crimson Exploration
  • Encana
  • Halcon Resources
  • EOG Resources

Read more from Jennifer Hiller at mysanantonio.com