Unconventional Resources
The number of rigs prospecting for unconventional resources has
remained relatively stable since midyear. As of early December, there
were 783 rigs drilling in unconventional plays, compared to 751 in mid-
July, according to The Land Rig Newsletter’s Unconventional Drilling
Report. There were 158 active rigs in the Haynesville, down from 180
in July, and 106 units in the Eagle Ford, up from 73 in July. The
Marcellus saw the second greatest jump, as its count surged by 28 to
139. Meanwhile, the Bakken continues to impress, as the play
attracted another 14 rigs, bringing its total to 125. The Land Rig
Newsletter team expects the number of rigs drilling for unconventional
resources to remain range-bound in the near term, tracking 750–800
units. As long as commodity supply/demand fundamentals continue to
remain irrelevant, the overarching theme is one of asset-driven drilling
for natural gas, coupled with renewed interest in liquids for liquid’s
sake.
Excerpted from www.rigdata.com
