TGS Launches Economic Data in the Haynesville Basin Revealing Key Operational and Economic Factors Related to the New Exploration Area
The western Haynesville play in Texas, in Robertson and Leon counties, is emerging as a high-potential natural gas development area, attracting attention from major producers. Expand Energy is closely monitoring this development, led by Comstock Resources and Aethon Energy, as the region represents a shift from the traditional Haynesville focus near the Texas-Louisiana border. Expand Energy's Vice President, Tim Beard, has confirmed the company is evaluating the opportunities in this region. This area’s deeper, high-pressure, high-temperature reservoirs in the Haynesville and Bossier formations have shown remarkable productivity. For example, TGS Well Data Analytics discloses that a typical gas type curve in the area produces an impressive estimated ultimate recovery volume of ~32 Bcf (Figure 3).
The western Haynesville play is seeing a surge in exploration activity, with an average of 24 approved drilling permits issued annually since 2013. In 2024 alone, 18 permits have been granted so far, with an additional eight still awaiting approval. Comstock Resources, Aethon Energy, and Wildfire Energy are leading the charge in securing permits, focusing primarily on horizontal well designs, which account for 90% of applications. Permit depths in this region range from 6,500 to 25,000 feet, reflecting the technical challenges and potential rewards of tapping into the deeper, high-pressure reservoirs (Figure 2).
Comstock Resources and Aethon Energy are achieving remarkable results in the western Haynesville play, underscoring its potential as a major natural gas hub. Comstock’s Circle M #1H well, completed in 2022, has produced 13.4 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of gas over 19 months, with some wells in the area exceeding daily production rates of 35 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) thanks to extended lateral sections. Similarly, Aethon’s River Ranch #1H well delivered over 6.8 Bcf in just 11 months. Targeting the thick, over-pressured shale deposits of the Haynesville and Bossier formations, these successes highlight the region’s capacity for high initial production rates and long-term development.
The western Haynesville play in Robertson and Leon counties is proving to be a game-changer for natural gas development, with type curve data showcasing a gas peak of 25,300 Mcf per day and an estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) of approximately 32 Bcf. Wells in this area benefit from an average lateral length of around 10,000 feet and a low breakeven price of ~$1.87 per Mcf, making it a highly competitive region. In comparison, Haynesville’s traditional development area in Angelina County reports a gas peak of 18,500 Mcf per day, an EUR of about 11 Bcf, and an average lateral length of 7,500 feet, with an estimated breakeven price of ~$3.10 per Mcf. This stark contrast underscores the economic and productive advantages of the western Haynesville, where innovative drilling and extended lateral sections are driving superior outcomes (Figures 1 & 3).
Drilling into the deep, high-pressure reservoirs of the Haynesville and Bossier formations in Texas' western Haynesville play, particularly in Robertson and Leon counties, presents operational challenges. These formations are characterized by extreme overpressure, with the Haynesville Shale exhibiting pressure gradients of 0.85 to 0.95 psi/ft, translating to pressures of approximately 10,200 to 13,300 psi at depths of 12,000 to 14,000 feet. The Bossier Formation, often deeper, can reach pressures as high as 17,000 psi, and bottom hole temperatures in the range of 320-340° Fahrenheit. These high-pressure, high-temperature conditions demand advanced and costly technologies to ensure safe and efficient operations, as they increase the risks of equipment failure and operational inefficiency. Despite these challenges, the compacted and over-pressured nature of these reservoirs makes them attractive for natural gas production.
The exceptional performance of wells by Comstock and Aethon indicates a high-return potential for further investment. As exploration expands westward, the region could become a cornerstone of future resource development, further solidifying the Haynesville Basin’s position as a critical U.S. energy hub.
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Figure 1. TGS Well Data Analytics screenshot highlighting in red the new frontier in natural gas exploration and TGS Haynesville Formation outline in blue.
Figure 2. TGS Well Data Analytics screenshot showcasing permits by well type located in Robertson and Leon Counties.
Figure 3. Gas Type Curves in the Haynesville Formation for horizontal wells put on production after January 2020. Dark red includes wells in Angelina County whereas softer red includes wells in Robertson and Leon counties.
