April Contents

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Is the Eagle Ford Shale an oil, gas or natural gas liquids play? The short answer is, “All the above!” With strong liquids and gas prices providing plenty of momentum, April’s cover story checks in with independent producers who are finding success across South Texas through amped-up new well drilling programs in both the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk, and restarted refracturing projects. After that, the Logging-While-Tripping report describes how capturing open-hole formation data during drilling and plug removal can offer essential information about proppant distribution and cluster efficiency. April also examines a pioneering technique for transforming drilling mud returns into proppant logs that can guide infill drilling and stimulation design. Meanwhile, April’s report on Drilling Assemblies shows how new motors can help operators reduce trips and reveals data analysis tools that can help drillers shorten learning curves. Industry news includes an Official Convention Section for KOGA. Cover photo courtesy of Ranger Oil Corp. Issue photography courtesy of John Perez Graphics and Corva LLC.

EAGLE FORD ACTIVITY

• COVER STORY: The Eagle Ford Shale has geologically delineated oil, wet gas and dry gas windows that allow operators to selectively target liquids or gas. The region’s relatively shallow Austin Chalk, which overlays much of the Eagle Ford, is an added plus for operators, as it is re-emerging as a highly economic horizontal resource play. With operators seeing simultaneously strong price signals for oil, NGLs and natural gas, activity is on the upswing across all parts of the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk, driving ongoing production growth. Ranger Oil Corp., Crimson Energy Partners,  Devon Energy and SM Energy are among those leading the charge in the region, including testing the upside reward of refracturing mature wells. | by Danny Boyd

LOGGING-WHILE-TRIPPING

• Logging-While-Tripping Provides High-Quality Data to Assess Frac Effectiveness | by Jessica Barhaug and Darby Witt
  Accurately evaluating fracture efficiency can improve cluster productivity in plug-and-perf completions. Early results suggest that logging-while-tripping techniques can deliver invaluable information at an appealing cost.

SPECIAL FEATURE

• Drilling Mud Returns Contain Valuable Insights About Proppant Distribution | By Debotyam Maity and Jordan Ciezobka
  The phrase “clear as mud” soon may take on a different meaning in the oil and gas industry, with initial field testing demonstrating how much proppant concentrations in mud returns can reveal about well spacing and completion design.

DRILLING ASSEMBLIES

• More Detailed Data Accelerates Advances in Drilling Tools, Operations | by Colter Cookson 
  By using downhole sensors, automated bit scanners and digital platforms to collect precise information from every run, the drilling industry is uncovering new ways to push performance forward.

NEWS

• In the Courts: Ruling restores Biden’s GHG metric, but eliminates alleged leasing obstacle; Court cites sage grouse habitat to vacate leases in Montana and Wyoming; Court says EA for midstream project must weigh downstream GHG impacts; States sue EPA over tailpipe emission standards
• Executive Branch: SEC introduces climate disclosure rules; Biden announces unprecedented SPR release; Coalition of 25 AGs urges FERC to drop LNG-by-rail reversal
• Mergers, Acquisitions, Divestments: Whiting, Oasis announce merger of equals; Apache sells assets to bring in $1 billion for Alpine High activity; Petro-Hunt closes on acquisition of Permian wells; Williams expands Haynesville system
• LNG Exports: DOE raises cap for two Cheniere facilities
• Demand Dynamics: U.S gas to help fuel Europe in joint plan
• Pipeline Policy: FERC reclassifies policies to seek stakeholder input
• Industry Explanation: Coalition letter seeks to set Biden straight
• Colorado Regulations: COGA hopes financial assurance rules are properly implemented
• IOGA: Illinois industry leaders recognized
• TIPRO: Association tips its hat to Abbott, Walker unveiled as next chairman
• OTC: 2022 Spotlight winners streamline offshore operations

OFFICIAL CONVENTION SECTIONS

• KOGA: Kentucky industry going strong

COLUMNS

• Tech Connections
• Washington Watch