Macellus Shale Hits Record Daily Production Rate

Morgantown Dominion Post
21 December 2008

Submitted to The Dominion Post

CNX Gas Corp., based in Pittsburgh, reported that its first horizontal Marcellus Shale well is now producing at a rate of 6.5 million cubic feet (MMcf) per day.

This is a record daily production rate for any well in the company’s history, and is believed to be among the highest reported by any Marcellus Shale producer.

The well, in Greene County, Pa., began flowing into the sales meter on Oct. 2, with an initial production rate of 1.2 MMcf per day and 4,000 pounds of backpressure, as previously reported. The backpressure on the well had been gradually reduced, allowing daily production to increase to about 4 MMcf per day until Dec. 12, when the installation of new surface equipment enabled the well to flow at the 6.5 MMcf per day rate, with pressure still being held at 2,640 pounds. Cumulative production from the well prior to Dec. 12 was 106 MMcf.

Nicholas J. DeIuliis, president and chief executive officer, said, “Many investors may not be aware, but CNX Gas had drilled 160 horizontal coalbed methane wells before drilling its first horizontal Marcellus Shale well.”

The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 8,140 feet in the Huntersville Chert, penetrating 83 vertical feet of Marcellus Shale.

The well was logged, then plugged back, and a horizontal section of 3,395 feet was cut for a total measured depth of 10,738 feet. The well was completed with a five-stage slickwater fracture treatment, using 3 million pounds of propellant.

CNX Gas is drilling its second vertical Marcellus Shale well, and will be shortly hydraulically fracturing its second and third horizontal wells.

Info: www.cnxgas.com