Although oil prices have declined to their lowest levels in years, 2014 was a record-breaking year for shale producers and specifically, the Eagle Ford play. The June 2014 production from Texas actually passed Iraq’s oil production and south Texas production averaged about 1.6 million barrels per day.

With the help of Eagle Ford discoveries and production, the U.S. passed Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world’s largest oil producer. According to a November Wood Mackenzie report, the Eagle Ford production surpassed the one billion barrel production mark. In December, the EIA reported that Texas became the largest producer of gas from shale. While the low oil prices make 2015 uncertain, most analysts predict that U.S. shale production will remain strong.

A 24/7 Wall St. report indicated that EOG Resources Inc. is the largest oil producer in the Eagle Ford play. The Houston-based company has a current market capitalization value of $48.97 billion. In 2014, it averaged 170,000 barrels a day in crude oil and with gas products, produced 220,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day.

EOG also holds the largest leased acreage position in the Eagle Ford at 632,000 net acres along with 656 drilling permits in the area.

The number two permit holder is Chesapeake Operating Inc., which has 546 Eagle Ford permits.

1 SM Energy 01/06/15

Denver-based SM Energy has a horizontal Eagle Ford discovery in Walker County (RRC Dist. 3), Texas. The #1H Ben Unit flowed 5.18 MMcf of gas, 200 bbl of 44.3-degree-gravity oil and 1.19 Mbbl of water per day. Production is from perforations at 13,945-20,111 ft. Gauged on a 21/64-in. choke, the flowing casing pressure was 3,566 psi and the shut-in casing pressure was 3,630 psi. The horizontal well was drilled to 20,168 ft, 13,143 ft true vertical, in Pierre Blanchett Survey, A-7. The lateral was drilled out of a 14,234-ft pilot hole and bottomed 1.5 miles to the north.

2 1776 Energy Operators 12/30/14

A horizontal Eagle Ford Shale discovery was announced by Houston-based 1776 Energy Operators. The #2H Niestroy Unit is in Andres Hernandez Survey, A-4, of Karnes County (RRC Dist. 2), Texas. It was tested flowing 3.287 Mbbl of 43.2-degree-gravity crude, 3.034 MMcf of gas and 867 bbl. of water per day. Production is from acid- and fracture-stimulated perforations at 11,017-15,163 ft. It was tested on a 32/64-in. choke with a flowing tubing pressure of 1,895 psi. The Eagleville Field completion was drilled to 15,290 ft, 11,306 ft true vertical, and bottomed to the southeast.

3 Strand Energy LLC 12/29/14

A horizontal Eagle Ford Shale well was completed by Strand Energy LLC in Zavala County (RRC Dist. 1), Texas. According to IHS Inc., #1H Lewis was tested flowing 209 bbl of 35-degree-gravity oil, 85 Mcf of gas and 254 bbl of water per day. Production is from commingled acid- and fracture-treated perforations in Austin Chalk at 5,032-5,251 ft and Eagle Ford Shale at 5,292-10,425 ft. The flowing tubing pressure was 60 psi when tested on a 30/64-in. choke. The Briscoe Ranch Field well was drilled to 10,425 ft, 5,516 ft true vertical, in Section 293, Juan Armendaris Survey, A-622. It bottomed a mile to the northwest. Strand Energy is based in Houston.

4 EOG Resources Inc. 12/16/14

Two horizontal Eagle Ford discoveries by EOG Resources Inc. were completed in Wilson County (RRC Dist. 1), Texas. The #1H Ali Unit produced 885 bbl of 30-degree-gravity oil, 75 Mcf gas and 3.16 Mbbl of water per day through acid- and fracture-treated perforations at 8,500-16,175 ft. The Southwest Texas Eagleville Field well is on a 640-acre lease in Section 223, John M. Wade Survey, A-349. The 16,287 ft-well has a true vertical depth of 8,696 ft. Flowing tubing pressure was gauged at 924 psi on a 34/64-in. choke. Offsetting #1H Ali is #1H Foreman Unit in the same survey. The well flowed 564 bbl of 30-degree-gravity oil, 59 Mcf of gas and 3.55 Mbbl of water through acid- and fracture-treated perforations at 9,267-16,175 ft. This 16,292 ft-well has a true vertical depth of 8,666 ft. Tested on a 34/64-in. choke, flowing tubing pressure was 914 psi. EOG’s headquarters are in Houston.

5 EOG Resources Inc. 12/01/14

In Atascosa County (RRC Dist. 1), Texas, Houston-based EOG Resources Inc. completed four Eagleville Field-Eagle Ford wells. The #1H Emil Unit flowed 1.916 Mbbl of 31-degree-gravity oil, 746 Mcf of gas and 1.511 Mbbl of water through fracture-stimulated perforations at 8,937-14,787 ft. Tested on a 32/64-in. choke, the flowing tubing pressure was 1,224 psi and flowing casing pressure was 676 psi. The 14,884-ft (8,410 ft true vertical) well is in Section 821, E.G. Howell Survey, A-413 and the horizontal leg bottomed 1.25 miles to the north in Section 1702, I&GN RR Co Survey, A-444. The offsetting #1H Malian Unit flowed 1.158 Mbbl of 32-degree-gravity oil, 238 Mcf of gas and 3.06 Mbbl of water per day through fracture-treated perforations at 9,114-15,412 ft. Tested on a 32/64-in. choke, the flowing tubing pressure was 736 psi. It bottomed 1.25 miles to the south at 15,515 ft, 8,859 ft true vertical. The #1H Markowitz Unit flowed 814 bbl of 33-degree-gravity oil, 200 Mcf of gas and 4.05 Mbbl of water per day through fracture-treated perforations at 9,280-15,729 ft. The horizontal well was drilled to 15,820 ft, 8,937 ft true vertical. The #1H Puente Unit flowed 761 bbl of 38-degree-gravity oil, 304 Mcf of gas and 2.91 Mbbl of water per day from acid- and fracture-treated perforations at 9,080-13,531 ft. The well was drilled to 13,615 ft, 8,828 ft true vertical.

6 EOG Resources Inc. 11/24/14

Two Eagle Ford Shale-Eagleville Field discoveries in Atascosa County (RRC Dist. 1) Texas, were announced by Houston-based EOG Resources Inc. The #1H Elds produced 451 bbl of 33-degree-gravity oil, 170 Mcf of gas and 1.6 Mbbl of water per day through fracture-treated perforations at 8,300-13,343 ft. The well was drilled to 13,435 ft, 8,260 ft true vertical. It is in Section 7, J. Poitevent Survey, A-714 and bottomed to the south. The offsetting #1H Kansu Red flowed 396 bbl of 30-degree-gravity oil, 111 Mcf of gas and 1.33 Mbbl of water per day through acid- and fracture-treated perforations at 8,566-13,265 ft. The well was drilled to 13,355 ft, 8,265 ft true vertical. The lateral runs parallel to #1H Elds and bottomed to the east.

7 EOG Resources Inc. 11/03/14

In Gonzales County (RRC Dist. 1), Texas, EOG Resources Inc. completed two horizontal Eagleville Field-Eagle Ford wells. The first, #2H Petty Unit, is in John A. Coe Survey, A-146. It was tested through fracture-treated perforations flowing 2.715 Mbbl of 41.8-degree-gravity crude, 1.024 MMcf of gas and 2.5 Mbbl of water per day. Drilled to 14,419 ft, 10,281 ft true vertical depth, it was perforated at 10,246-14,329 ft and bottomed almost a mile southeast. Tested on a 32/64-in. choke, the flowing tubing pressure was 1,488 psi and the flowing casing pressure was 469 psi. To the west is #1H Petty Unit, in John R. Hubert Survey, A-268. This discovery produced 2.698 Mbbl of 40.7-degree-gravity crude, 974 Mcf of gas and 3.3 Mbbl of water per day. It was drilled to 15,670 ft, 10,251 ft true vertical, and production is from perforations at 10,291-15,575 ft. It bottomed a little over a mile south. Gauged on a 32/64-in. choke, the flowing tubing pressure was 1,712 psi and the flowing casing pressure was 765 psi.