The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says the Permian Basin may hold sizable additional oil and natural gas resources in the deeper Woodford and Barnett shale formations beneath West Texas and New Mexico. In a new assessment released Wednesday, the agency estimated about 1.6 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil and 28.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas—volumes it said equate to roughly 10 weeks of U.S. oil use and about 10 months of U.S. gas consumption at current rates.
For producers, the assessment highlights why some Houston-based operators are increasingly looking beyond established drilling “landing zones” as they plan for longer-term supply. Researchers at the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology noted the Woodford and Barnett targets are deeper and hotter than many conventional Permian plays, which can raise costs and increase associated gas volumes. The Barnett also contains more clay, creating additional drilling hazards, and companies still need to pinpoint the most productive “sweet spots” before development can scale. For a practical overview of exploration steps mineral owners may hear about, see How to Find Oil on Your Land and Ranger’s Oil & Gas Royalties guide.
Source: Houston Chronicle
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