>Operators find it darn near irresistible, given that recent wells have registered IP rates exceeding 20 MMcf/d.

Woops, spoke too soon.

Devon Claims Highest Rate Haynesville Shale Well
Devon Energy Corp. 11/2/2009
URL: http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=82017

Devon announced the results of a successful Haynesville Shale well in San Augustine County, Texas. The Kardell Gas Unit 1H achieved an average continuous 24-hour flow rate of approximately 30.7 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day through a 37/64-inch choke. Flowing pressure was 6,824 pounds per square inch.

The Kardell well was drilled to a total measured depth of 18,350 feet, including a horizontal lateral section of approximately 4,500 feet. Devon operates the well with a 48 percent working interest. Crimson Exploration Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CXPO) owns the remaining 52 percent working interest.

Following the outstanding success of this first well in San Augustine County, Devon plans to accelerate drilling activity in the area. Devon's southern Haynesville Shale acreage comprises 47,000 net acres principally located in the Texas counties of San Augustine and Sabine and in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Devon holds a 100 percent interest in its primary term leases in the southern area.

Devon holds approximately 570,000 net acres in the greater Haynesville trend of east Texas and north Louisiana. The company began defining its Haynesville acreage by drilling in the Carthage area in Texas. Devon has operated in the Carthage area for many years, where it owns interests in more than 1,800 producing wells. The company holds approximately 110,000 net acres in the greater Carthage area.

Devon has previously drilled eight horizontal Haynesville wells in the greater Carthage area, where it believes it has established a repeatable, economic Haynesville play. To date, Devon has identified about 950 risked drilling locations at Carthage.

"With a flow rate of more than 30 million cubic feet per day, we believe the Kardell well is the highest rate well ever drilled in the Haynesville Shale. This is clearly a very positive development for the southern portion of the Haynesville Shale play," said David A. Hager, executive vice president of exploration and production. "We plan to go to a five-rig program in 2010 in this southern play area. Our longer-term objective is to continue to systematically evaluate and de-risk our entire Haynesville Shale position."

Haynesville Shale

Depth: 10500-13000 ft
Temp: 260-380F
Pressure: .91 psi/ft
TOC: 2%-4%
Thickness: 475'
Porosity: 6-10%
Permeability: 300 to 600 nanodarcies

Mako Trough Lower Endrod:

Depth: 15534 to 16650 ft
Temp: 347 F
Pressure: ~1 psi/ft
TOC: up to 5%
Thickness: 1,115 ft
Porosity: 16%
Permeability: ???

From Halliburton:

The Haynesville shale formation, with an estimated 168 tcf of natural gas, is currently the fourth largest producing gas field in the world. No one better understands the Haynesville shale and its challenges – or has more experience in this play – than Halliburton. With tremendous opportunities and rewards to be had, our proven strategies and first-hand experience can help increase your production success.

Difficult challenges. Optimal solutions

The Haynesville shale play is thick, hot, and heterogeneous. At depths of 10,500 ft in the northwest to 13,500 ft in the southeast, this play is deeper than typical shales which creates hostile downhole conditions. Vertical and horizontal wellbore temperatures can range between 260° F and 380° F. Wellhead treating pressures often exceed 11,000 psi. This formation is heterogeneous across the geographic extent, and also on the smaller scale of the horizontal wellbore.

Wells drilled here typically demand twice the hydraulic horsepower. They also require rugged, high pressure and high temperature logging and drilling tools, plus more advanced fluid chemistry than that used in other shale plays. Through our years of experience working with the majority of operators active in this play, we know what to expect and which Halliburton solutions and services are needed to achieve success in the extreme conditions of the Haynesville.