The Barnett Shale

Since I've returned to North Texas I've been amazed by the proliferation of natural gas rigs in this area, particularly at D/FW airport and northwest into Tarrant and Denton county. Traditionally, the Dallas-Fort Worth area isn't an energy producing region. However, high natural gas market prices, together with advances in drilling technology, have touched off a natural gas boom. North Texas lies over a prehistoric mineral formation known as the Barnett Shale.

The Barnett Shale is a 330 million year old geological formation of sedimentary rock that contains natural gas. Experts suggest that it may be the largest onshore natural gas field in North America. The Barnett Shale has already produced 3.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas with expectations to produce an additional 30 trillion cubic feet. The formation is estimated to stretch across 17-20 counties in north central Texas, covering approximately 5,000 square miles. The major portion of the development, also known as the "sweet spot of the shale" is located in Tarrant County (Fort Worth), about a mile underground.

Natural gas drilling in north central Texas became economically feasible for development in the early 2000s, when advanced drilling and completion techniques were developed. Horizontal drilling enables production companies to tap into natural gas reserves in the Barnett Shale. While much of the rest of the country appears to be in recession, this region continues to add exploration, drilling and production-related jobs. Not to mention the many millions in royalties already being received by property owners. As horizontal drilling has become reality, even suburban homeowners have received royalty offers from drilling companies. There is a great deal of buzz in the Tarrant - Denton county area about which homeowner associations have received the best signing bonuses and rates for gas to be extracted from deep beneath the manicured suburban streets!