Operators entering maintenance mode as E&Ps wait out direction in commodity prices.
Though drilling activity has held up in dry gas basins such as the Barnett, Fayetteville and Haynesville, rig rates are following the price cuts in oil-dominated markets.
After spending more than $5 billion in the Marcellus and buying assets from Statoil and WPX, the company plans to divest up to $800 million to overcome a cash flow gap.
A process begun in October to sell the Fayetteville Shale gas assets in Arkansas has been halted on lower oil prices.
Pioneer puts proceeds from a Barnett sale to work in the Spraberry/Wolfcamp.
Southwestern is targeting total net gas and oil production of 970-980 Bcfe in 2015, up about 28%.
Larry Prado, Hart Energy's activity editor, summarizes some of the recent activity in the shales.
Southwestern Energy is credited with being the first to discover the economic viability of the play and produce its natural gas.
'We will only divest the field if it maximizes value for shareholders,' CEO Andrew Mackenzie said.
The assets acquired include 162 compression units with a total horsepower of approximately 110,000.