Posted on May 29, 2008.
PetroMax completes record-breaking well
By Sandra Cason, News Messenger
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Petromax Operating Co. Inc. of Garland recently announced the completion of a record-setting natural gas well in western Harrison County.
The Hudman No. 8H is the second horizontal Cotton Valley well drilled by the company east of Longview.
"The No. 8H had an initial production of 4.87 million cubic feet daily (MMCF/D), the highest initial production for a Cotton Valley well in the history of Harrison County," said company spokesman Colby Crane.
"This is certainly a big deal for us," Crane said, "since it is our most productive well to date. I can't speak by way of comparison to other wells or companies, but I do know this is very significant for us and for the oil and gas industry in East Texas."
A six-stage Packer Plus fracture stimulation treatment was completed on April 4, using 1,821,500 pounds of frac sand, and 33,963 barrels of water, Crane said.
The well was turned into the sales line at 3 p.m., April 9, with an initial flowing rate of 4.87 MMCF/D (5,070 million British Thermal Units) while continuing to blow back 70 barrels of water per hour.
"Comparing similar flowing pressures and volumes, Hudman No. 8H appears to be 55 to 63 percent stronger than our first horizontal well, the Hudman No. 7H," Crane said.
Gas from the new well is flowing into the Texas Eastern pipeline.
"Hudman No. 8H has set a record high in Harrison County for initial production by a Cotton Valley well," Crane said, "topping the previous high by a margin of more than 15 percent."
A PetroMax Web site said the company's "East Texas development program should continue to yield long-term benefits.
"Acquisition of core lease positions in the six counties that comprise the very active 50-plus-year-old Cotton Valley Trend field of East Texas has grown to more than 9,000 acres," it said, noting the area "is one of the most active onshore drilling plays in the United States." There are more than 100 rigs in operation.
The company Web site notes the field has averaged a 98 percent successful completion rate during the past 20 years and estimates are that Cotton Valley wells will continue to produce for another 15 to 20 years.
Well spacing requirements have contributed to increased drilling activity in the area and wells can also produce from the Pettit, Travis Peak and Cotton Valley lime zones that add significant reserve potential, the site adds.
PetroMax reports that its natural gas extraction process has a minimal impact on the environment and the changes that do occur are short term in nature, according to an independent study by Risk Management & Engineering, Ltd. (RME).
"The natural gas extraction industry is heavily regulated and must comply with environmental regulations enforced by the Railroad Commission of Texas and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," the Web site says, adding: "PetroMax fully complies with all regulations."
Contact Sandra Cason: scason@coxmnm.com or 903-927-5969.
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