There’s a showdown brewing out in the Permian Basin, one pitting large independent exploration and production companies against oil majors.
Scale is becoming more important in making the West Texas shale play economic, a factor which has large independents and oil majors jockeying for dominance by filing ever-larger batches of drilling permits.
Exxon Mobil is preparing to 25 horizontal wells in spread out in Glasscock, Loving, Pecos, Reeves and Winkler counties. The oil major has filed for 470 drilling permits in the Permian so far this year.
Not be outdone, Endeavor Energy Resources, an independent oil company owned by wildcatter billionaire Autry Stephens, filed for permits to drill 25 horizontal wells in Howard, Midland and Reagan counties. The Midland company has filed for 203 drilling permits so this year.
Over the past week, Chevron has filed for permits to drill three horizontal wells in Martin County. The oil major has filed for 145 drilling permits so far this year.
Permian Basin
Dallas oil company Triple Crown Resources is preparing to drill six horizontal wells on its Halcomb A lease in Irion County. The wells target the Lin field of the Wolfcomp geological layer down to a total depth of 9,000 feet.
Eagle Ford Shale
One month after filing for bankruptcy, Sanchez Energy is getting back in the game.
The Houston oil company has filed for its first drilling permits of the year – five horizontal wells on its Piloncillo lease in Webb County targeting the Briscoe Ranch field of the Eagle Ford geological layer down to a total depth of 9,000 feet.
Haynesville Shale
Houston oil company Rockcliff Energy is preparing to drill three horizontal wells on three leases in Panola County. The wells target the Carthage field of the Haynesville geological layer down to a total depth of 12,000 feet.
Barnett Shale
Houston oil company Lime Rock Resources is preparing to drill a horizontal well on its BJ Tindale AH2 lease in Denton County. The well targets the Newark East field of the Barnett geological layer down to a total depth of 8,600 feet.
Conventionals
Inland Ocean of San Antonio is preparing to drill a pair of vertical wells on two leases along the Coastal Bend in Wharton County. The wells target various fields of the Yegua geological layer down to a total depth of 11,300 feet.
This article first appeared on the Houston Chronicle – an Energy Voice content partner. For more from the Houston Chronicle click here.