Oil and Gas Investor Magazine - June 2011

Cover Story

Rockies Niobrara

Seismic and science are the watchwords for the Niobrara shale this year, as producers work to crack its drilling and completion code.

Feature

Alberta’s Entrepreneurial Spirit

In an interview, Ron Liepert, Alberta’s minister of energy, discusses the province’s fiscal regime and strategies for growth.

B.C.’s ‘Tremendous Opportunities‘

In an interview, Steve Thompson, British Columbia’s minister of forests, land and natural resource operations, discusses the province’s commitment to oil and gas.

Canada’s Energy Powerhouse

The nation’s production is set to grow exponentially.

Chaparral Lives--And Thrives, Too

The strangest things happened on Chaparral Energy Inc.’s way to the public market. Mark Fischer was just trying to grow the company. He did that and more—with private equity, instead.

Classic Ed Cohen

This Philadelphia businessman parlayed drilling partnerships, midstream assets and Marcellus acreage into a sale to Chevron—and he’s not done yet.

D0dd-Frank Revisited

Proposed new rules may affect the oil and gas industry’s efforts to hedge.

Enhanced Oil Recovery

New techniques are unlocking ever more hydrocarbons.

First Calgary, Then The World

Juniors are increasingly seeking developing markets.

Juniors: A Canadian advantage?

Effective exchanges and a welcoming atmosphere await smaller caps.

Mighty Leviathan

This world-class natural gas find in the Levant Basin is a boon to Israel, and the action has just begun.

Natural Gas

Low prices and market challenges bring new approaches.

New Tricks In Royalty Trusts

Royalty trusts have been around for some time, in the U.S. and Canada, but there’s a new spin on the old classic.

Saskatchewan’s Stable Approach

In an interview, Bill Boyd, minister of energy and resources for Saskatchewan, discusses the province’s commitment to a stable fiscal and royalty regime.

South Texas Freebird

Drilling Olmos and Edwards gas has been a sweet love of Lewis Energy’s Rod Lewis for nearly 30 years, but with the Eagle Ford shale rush at hand, Lord knows this bird can change.

The Oil Sands And Heavy Oil

Soaring oil prices draw attention to Alberta’s reserves.

The Service Industry

Canada’s cutting-edge service sector is increasingly global.

At Closing

To The Tuscaloosa

Producers seeking oilier production profiles are following South Texas' prolific Eagle Ford formation east into Louisiana and Mississippi, taking a new look at its deeper neighbor, the Tuscaloosa marine shale. It may now be ripe for modern unconventional-play technology—horizontal wellbores and multi-stage fracture stimulation.

Bright Spots

Meet Carrie Carson

If you want to stay in Houston, it makes sense to be in the industry for which Houston is the world capital," says Carrie Carson, vice president at Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Carson has been with the bank for the past four years, and is now focused on lending to the oilfield services and equipment industry.

Capital Markets

Energy Lenders’ Price Decks

According to Macquarie Tristone's most recent "Quarterly Energy Lender Price Survey" of 39 regional, national and international reserve-based lenders, price forecasts continue to be adjusted for second-quarter 2011 on continued price strengthening.

Company Briefs

Company Briefs

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Oklahoma City, (NYSE: CHK) has agreed to monetize certain of its producing assets in the Midcontinent region through a 10-year volumetric production payment (VPP) made to an affiliate of Barclays Plc for proceeds of approximately $850 million.

Completions

The Other Street

All eyes are on the Middle East as political turmoil in the region could have long-term effects on oil prices and supplies.

E&P Momentum

E&P Momentum

More than 1,700 wells were reported completed in the first quarter of 2011 in unconventional plays in the U.S. Ann Priestman, editor of Hart Energy's UGcenter.com website, compiled the statistics from IHS Inc. data.

Eastern

Eastern U.S.

1 Two Silurian wildcats have been scheduled by Klabzuba Oil & Gas Inc. in Sangamon County, Ill. The Fort Worth-based operator's #12-6-16-3 Etherton is scheduled to be drilled to a total depth of 1,775 ft. in Section 12-16n-3w.

From the Editor-in-Chief

From The Editor-In-Chief

Hart Energy was fortunate to present former president George W. Bush at its 6th annual Developing Unconventional Gas Conference & Exhibition in Fort Worth in April. The president followed up his remarks from the DUG podium with a 30-minute informal chat, to the delight of the 2,100 attendees. It was certainly a great privilege for me to sit down with the president.

Gulf Coast

Gulf Coast

1 A horizontal Eagle Ford well was completed as part of Gates Ranch Field by Rosetta Resources Operating LP in Webb County (RRC Dist. 4), Texas. The #101 Rose B. Gates 09 was tested flowing 6.39 million cu. ft. of gas, 15 bbl. of 62.7-degree condensate and 19 bbl. of water per day through fracture-treated perforations at 8,866-13,827 ft. On a 20/64-in. choke, flowing tubing pressure was 3,972 psi and the shut-in casing pressure was 4,040 psi.

International Highlights

International Highlights

According to Oil and Gas International, a new onshore discovery has been reported by Pemex in Tabasco, Mexico.

Legends

Oil and Gas Investor Legends: Chatting With David Bole

This month, a tireless networker and business builder, David L. Bole, reaches a 50-year milestone in this business. Hardly a major oil industry event goes by without him making the rounds and shaking hands to develop business opportunities and strengthen ties.

MidContinent & Permian Basin

Midcontinent & Permian Basin

1 Denver-based Cimarex Energy Co. completed a horizontal Delaware Basin producer in Culberson County (RRC Dist. 8), Texas.

Trends & Analysis

Regional Spotlight: Utica Shale

In the Appalachian Basin, the Utica shale is rapidly gaining interest as a significant resource of oil and high Btu natural gas.

Western US

Western U.S.

1 Denver independent Bill Barrett Corp. completed a Uinta Basin exploratory test in Duchesne County, Utah, that initially flowed 512 bbl. of oil, 221,000 cu. ft. of gas and 862 bbl. of load water per day.