Rigs working in the Barnett Shale kept falling this week, dropping by two to 27, the lowest in more than 10 years as producers continue to migrate toward fields that hold more profitable crude oil. Even Wise County, which has led the Barnett in drilling for several years since natural gas prices dropped sharply, tapered off, with seven active rigs compared to 11 a week ago, according to RigData. Montague County, which like Wise has areas rich in oil and natural gas liquids, had four rigs, as did Denton and Tarrant counties.
Nationally, the rig count slipped by one to 1,761, even though rigs seeking gas rose by seven to 428, said Baker Hughes Inc. of Houston. Rigs seeking oil were down eight to 1,329. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes counted 1,981 working rigs. — Jim Fuquay
Rigs in the Barnett Shale took a big drop this week, falling by seven to 29, the lowest since at least January 2003, according to RigData. Nearly all the field’s active rigs are in areas holding crude oil or natural gas liquids. Wise County leads with 11, followed by Montague with four, and Denton and Johnson with three each.
Nationally there were 1,762 active rigs, up three, said Baker Hughes. Gas rigs declined by four to 421, and oil rigs rose seven to 1,337.
Active drilling rigs in the Barnett Shale rose by three to 40, the third straight week of gain and a rebound from the 30 rigs that were running the week of Dec. 28, the lowest for the field in years. It's the busiest for the field since the week of Nov. 9, when there were also 40 active rigs, according to RigData. As has been the case for the past two years, activity was concentrated in Wise and Montague counties, which had 18 rigs seeking the oil and natural gas liquids found in that part of the Barnett. Tarrant, Denton and Jack counties each had four rigs.
Wise County's 10 active rigs pushed the Barnett Shale rig count to 36, up three from a week ago, according to RigData. Well over half the North Texas field's rigs are in the wet and "oily" portion of the field's northwest reaches, including Wise, Montague with six and Jack with five. Palo Pinto County, which doesn't often enter the picture, had a new vertical well by G&F Oil Inc., which also has a rig in Jack County. Johnson County had three active rigs, up from the one or two the former hotspot has been running in the past year. Devon Energy as usual is the busiest operator, with nine rigs, followed by EOG Resources with four and EnerVest Operating with three each
Nationally, rigs actively looking for oil and natural gas was down a dozen to 1,749. Houston-based Baker Hughes said iFriday. There were 1,316 rigs were exploring for oil and 429 for gas. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago there were 2,008 active U.S. rigs.
Even as drilling activity has plummeted in the Barnett Shale from 2008's highs, rigs continue to work in the oil window of the big North Texas field. EOG Resources started it, but more companies are looking for oil and valuable condensate in an area that made its name in natural gas. The Star-Telegram takes a look at the play in Montague, Wise and other counties in the northwest reaches of the field. The story is here.
A Wise County family filed a lawsuit in Dallas today against several companies involved in natural gas drilling, alleging that more than 50 drilling rigs operating around their home poisoned their blood, caused various ailments and forced them to move out.
Lisa and Bob Parr said they have suffered through a two-year nightmare due to the drilling activity around their 40-acre property in Allison, a farm community in eastern Wise County. More than 50 natural gas wells operate within two miles of the property, according to the suit.
The couple blames various spills and emissions of hazardous wastes and toxic gases for their health problems. The suit lists more than 20 symptoms the Parrs say they have experienced since 2008, including nose bleeds, migraines, open sores, arrhythmia, abdominal pain and coughing.
In April, an environmental health specialist conducted various tests on Lisa and Bob Parr and their daughter, Emma, and found “natural gas chemicals, compounds, and/or metals” in their bodies, according to the suit. That prompted the family to move out of their home. Brad Gilde, the couple’s lawyer, declined to identify the specialist.
Speaking at a press conference in Dallas, Bob Parr described the lawsuit as “a last resort.”
“I have no choice,” Bob Parr said. “I need to protect my family and my way of life.”
The suit was filed in Dallas County court against Aruba Petroleum of Plano, Ash Grove Resources of Topeka, KS, Encana Oil & Gas of Calgary, Halliburton of Houston, Republic Energy of Dallas, Ryder Scott Company of Houston, Ryder Scott Oil Company of Wichita Falls, Tejas Production Services of Victoria and Tejas Western Corp. of Granbury.
Ryder Scott Company, a Petroleum Consultant, said their presence in the lawsuit is a mistake, as the company has no ownership or business interest in the drilling operations around the Parr's home. Company spokesman Mike Wysatta said he believed the lawyers thought his company was still connected to Wichita Falls-based Ryder Scott Oil Company. The two companies have not had any connection for over 50 years, Wysatta said.
The Parr family said they don’t want to leave their home in Allison and relocate elsewhere.
“We were forced to move," Lisa Parr said, fighting to speak through tears. “This is our home. This is where we want to be.”
EOG Resources, the No. 3 producer of natural gas in the Barnett Shale, caused a stir Thursday with its announcement it intends to produce oil from 250,000 acres it has leased in Montague, Clay and Archer counties. That's on the northern fringe of the Barnett Shale, where the formation has a higher content of crude oil than elsewhere. EOG's activities there won't affect the "core" area of the Barnett Shale, made up largely of Tarrant, Johnson and Denton counties, where the rock contains mostly natural gas.
For a full report, see the Star-Telegram's news story here.
Residents of Wise County and Johnson County view natural gas drilling as a net positive, but are dissatisfied with a number of issues relating to quality of life, a new study says. Staff writer Jim Fuquay reports.
