Interest in the Haynesville has recently seen an uptick, driven by a steady stream of A&D activity and rising rig counts.

Additionally, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released estimates earlier this year that both the Haynesville and Bossier formations collectively contain more than quadruple the amount of natural gas thought to be in place in 2010 as well as 4 billion barrels (bbl) of conventional oil resources.

Collectively, the USGS said the Bossier and Haynesville assessments outstrip estimates made earlier in the decade of the Marcellus and Utica shales, making it the largest continuous natural gas assessment the federal agency has ever conducted.

Below Larry Prado, Hart Energy’s activity editor, summarizes recent action by E&Ps in the Haynesville throughout the Ark-La-Texas region, including high-volume completions by Comstock.

Haynesville Activity Highlights: September 2017 Map

1. GEP Haynesville: 6/21/17

Three Haynesville Shale completions in Section 33-14n-10w of Red River Parish, La., were announced by GEP Haynesville LLC, which is a joint venture formed by The Woodlands, Texas-based GeoSouthern Energy LP and funds managed by GSO Capital Partners LP.

The #1-Alt McFarms 28H flowed 14.21 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of gas from fracture-treated perforations at 12,953 ft-17,529 ft. It was tested on a 19/64-in. choke and the flowing casing pressure was 8,620 pounds per square inch (psi). The well was drilled to 17,741 ft, 12,503 ft true vertical, and bottomed to the south in Section 28.

The offsetting #2-Alt McFarms 28H was tested through fracture-treated perforations at 12,980-17,556 ft flowing 14.421 MMcf of gas per day. It was drilled to 17,770 ft, 12,516 ft true vertical, and the horizontal lateral also bottomed one mile to the north in Section 28.

About one-half mile to the east is Section 33, #3-Alt McFarms 28H was tested flowing 13.566 MMcf/d of gas from perforations at 13,035 ft-17,127 ft. The 17,834-ft well bottomed a mile to the north in Section 28. The true vertical depth is 12,592 ft.

2. Vine Oil & Gas: 5/23/17

Vine Oil & Gas LP completed two Haynesville Shale wells from offsetting locations in Section 1-8n-13w in Sabine Parish, La.

IHS Markit reported that #1-Alt Olympia Minerals 1-36HC is producing 12.1 MMcf of gas and 135 bbl of water per day through perforations at 12,670 ft-18,020 ft. The north-trending well was horizontally drilled to 18,143 ft, 12,269 ft true vertical, and bottomed to the north. It was tested on a 12/64-in. choke, and the flowing casing pressure was 8,960 psi.

The #1 Olympia Minerals 1 flowed 12 MMcf of gas and 170 bbl of water through perforations at 12,766 ft-17,508 ft. The well was drilled to 17,622 ft, 12,544 ft true vertical, and bottomed to the north in Section 36-9n-13w.

The Plano, Texas-based company’s wells are in Bayou San Miguel Field.

3. Tellus Operating Group: 3/21/17

In Smith County, Miss., Tellus Operating Group LLC has started drilling the first of two planned Haynesville Shale wildcats.

In Section 1-2n-8e, #1 Quail 1-2 is being directionally drilled to a proposed total depth of 16,000 ft. In nearby Section 36-3n-8e, #1 Quail 36-14 also has a planned depth of 16,000 ft.

The permits for the two directional tests were filed in late 2015. There is no Haynesville Shale gas production in this part of Mississippi.

Nearby production is from a Smackover well, the #1 R.H. Hester Heirs, completed in 1967 in the abandoned Shongelo Creek Field that was tested flowing 328,000 cubic feet per day.

4. Blackbeard Operating: 2/16/17

Two Haynesville Shale wells have been permitted by Blackbeard Operating LLC in Columbia County, Ark.

The #1 Smith will be located in Section 1-20s-21w and in nearby irregular Section 12-20s-21w will be #4 Akin-Heard. Both Cypress Field tests will be vertically drilled to 10,700 ft.

Midland, Texas-based Blackbeard has also submitted an application to drill a third well in the field at #6 McDonald in Section 2-20s-21w.

5. Comstock Resources: 9/30/16

A high-volume Haynesville Shale gas well has been completed in Louisiana’s DeSoto Parish by Frisco, Texas-based Comstock Resources Inc. (NYSE: CRK), according to IHS.

The #1-Alt Homes 29-20 is producing 24.3 MMcf of gas and 1,060 bbl of water per day from acidized and fracture-treated perforations at 12,018 ft-19,469 ft. The Belle Bower Field discovery is in Section 29-13n-16w and was horizontally drilled to 19,556 ft with a true vertical depth of 11,473 ft. Gauged on a 30/64-in. choke, the flowing casing pressure was 6,863 psi. The lateral bottomed more than one mile to the north in Section 20.

6. Indigo Minerals: 9/30/16

Two Haynesville Shale tests are planned in Grand Cane North Field by Houston-based Indigo Minerals LLC.

The prospects, #1 L.C. Blunt Jr. 17-8H and #2 L.C. Blunt Jr. 17-8H, in Section 17-12n-14w, will be drilled from offsetting surface locations in De Soto Parish, La.

The horizontal laterals are slated to bottom about 1.5 miles to the north in Section 8. Each development test is scheduled to be drilled to 20,000 ft, 12,500 ft true vertical.

The last activity in the field occurred in 2011 when Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s (NYSE: CHK) operating subsidiary completed four gas wells about five miles to the north. Chesapeake’s horizontal wells in the field produce through perforations at 12,200 ft-16,500 ft.

Additionally, numerous shallow Paluxy oil wells in Grand Cane Field surround Indigo Minerals’ planned drillsite.

7. Comstock Resources: 6/13/16

A Comstock Resources horizontal Haynesville discovery has produced 22 MMcf of gas and 1,230 bbl of water per day.

The Benson Field well, #1-Alt Jordan 16-21 HC, is in Section 16-10n-14w in DeSoto Parish, La. Production is from acid- and fracture-treated perforations at 11,546 ft-18,976 ft. The 19,603-ft well has a true vertical depth of 11,397 ft and bottomed to the south in Section 21. Gauged on a 28/64-in. choke, the flowing casing pressure was 7,190 psi.

Larry Prado, activity editor, can be reached at lprado@hartenergy.com.