The Eagle Ford shale formation in South Texas runs from the US-Mexico border north of Laredo in a narrow band extending northeast for several hundred miles to just north of Houston. It is located directly below the Austin Chalk. The average thickness of the Eagle Ford shale is about 475 feet. The more active part of the region is mainly in McMullen, Maverick, Dimmit, La Salle, Karnes, Live Oak, and Atascosa counties. The formation produces both natural gas and oil, but it is the oil-producing and gas condensate areas that are hottest right now.
Houston-based Apache Corp. and EOG Resources are two of the largest lease-holders in the Eagle Ford. Other major players include Petrohawk, Swift Energy, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Murphy Oil, Chesapeake, Cabot Oil & Gas, and Pioneer Natural Resources.
Rosetta completes acquisition of Permian Basin assets from Comstock
May 15, 2013
Houston, TX-based Rosetta Resources Inc. has closed on the previously announced acquisition of Permian Basin assets from Comstock Resources Inc. |
North American liquids production will reach 8 million bbl/d by 2020
May 1, 2013
Liquids production (oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids) from North American shale formations (includes tight oil plays) will most likely reach 8 million barrels per day by 2020, assuming current activity levels will remain constant and only minor changes will occur to the latest reported performance of wells and fleets. |
Eagle Ford most active shale play for M&A activity 1Q13
May 1, 2013
With three major deals in a month and a half, the Eagle Ford shale formation remains significant in the unconventional resources space. |
Crude loves Rock’n’Rail – Gulf Coast destinations – outside The Ship Channel
Apr 24, 2013
In the short term midstream companies with crude-by-rail unloading terminals at the Gulf Coast can deliver cheaper light sweet crudes from the Midwest and West Texas. Once new pipelines come online to deliver that crude direct to Houston that price advantage will disappear. At that point rail terminal operators need to diversify their business to survive. Today we look at the fate of Texas Gulf Coast rail terminal operators. |
Lighthouse Petroleum enters JV with Matmown Oil & Gas
Apr 18, 2013
Lighthouse Petroleum Inc., a growth oriented energy company focusing on the exploration and production of oil and gas, today has entered into a joint venture agreement with Matmown Oil and Gas Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Matmown Inc. |
Lucas Energy names oil and gas finance executive Dale as CFO
Apr 8, 2013
Lucas Energy Inc. (NYSE MKT:LEI), an independent oil and gas company with main operations in Texas, has appointed William J. Dale as CFO, treasurer, and secretary of the company. |
Magnum Hunter sells Eagle Ford Shale assets to Penn Virginia
Apr 3, 2013
Penn Virginia Corp. (NYSE: PVA) entered into a definitive agreement with Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. (NYSE: MHR) to acquire producing properties and undeveloped leasehold interests in the Eagle Ford Shale play for approximately $400 million. |
US natural gas exports to Mexico grow by 24%, reach all-time high
Apr 1, 2013
US natural gas exports to Mexico grew by 24% to 1.69 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) in 2012, the highest level since the data collection began in 1973. |
Kinder Morgan secures additional throughput commitment for condensate processing facility expansion
Mar 28, 2013
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP has entered into a long-term, fee-based agreement with BP North America to underwrite an additional 50,000 barrels per day of throughput capacity at the petroleum condensate processing facility Kinder Morgan is constructing near its Galena Park terminal on the Houston Ship Channel. |
UTSA Study: Eagle Ford generated over $61B for South Texas in 2012
Mar 26, 2013
Development of oil and natural gas in the Eagle Ford Shale added more than $61 billion in total economic impact during 2012, according to a study released today by the Center for Community and Business Research in The University of Texas at San Antonio Institute for Economic Development. |
Sanchez Energy to purchase Eagle Ford assets from Hess for $265M
Mar 18, 2013
Sanchez Energy Corp. has executed a definitive agreement to purchase assets in the Eagle Ford trend of south Texas consisting of approximately 13.4 mmboe of proved reserves, 4,500 boe/d of current production and approximately 43,000 net acres in Dimmit, Frio, LaSalle, and Zavala Counties, Texas from Hess Corp. for approximately $265 million in cash. |
Rosetta Resources buys West Texas assets from Comstock for $768M
Mar 15, 2013
Comstock Resources Inc. (NYSE: CRK) entered into a definitive agreement with Rosetta Resources Inc. (Nasdaq: ROSE) pursuant to which Rosetta will acquire all of Comstock's oil and gas properties in Reeves and Gaines counties in West Texas for a sales price of $768 million. |
NET Midstream to build 124-mile Eagle Ford Shale Pipeline System to Mexico
Feb 22, 2013
NET Midstream subsidiary NET Mexico Pipeline LP will build a 124-mile, 42" diameter natural gas pipeline system to the Texas / Mexico border, with associated compression. NET Mexico will be anchored by a long term firm gas transportation agreement, for up to 2.1 Bcf/d, with MGI Supply Ltd., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Pemex Gas y Petroquimica Basica, the Mexican state-owned gas company. |
Forest Oil closes South Texas property divestiture
Feb 18, 2013
Forest Oil Corp. (NYSE:FST) has closed on the previously announced sale of its properties in South Texas for net cash proceeds of approximately $307 million. |
Too much too soon? Eagle Ford crude and condensate takeaway
Feb 1, 2013
Eagle Ford pipeline takeaway capacity is four times production and local refinery consumption – an excess of over 1.3 MMb/d. More than 20 pipeline projects are already built or under construction to move Eagle Ford production to market. Today RBN Energy reviews recent Genscape research on Eagle Ford infrastructure and assess the takeaway balance. |

The “natural gas revolution” is changing global energy dynamics, including the outlook for energy security in the United States and elsewhere. In his keynote speech to the annual 31st annual CERAWeek Executive Conference in Houston, Peter Voser, CEO of Royal Dutch Shell plc, outlines what the industry and policymakers must do to ensure society fully leverages the many benefits of natural gas. He calls for well-targeted and robustly enforced regulations to ensure tight and shale gas production meets the highest standards. He also urges the industry to do a better job of listening and responding to public concerns about the environmental and operational challenges associated with gas production.
Read the full speech by Peter Voser here.

The total value of US oil and gas mergers and acquisitions increased significantly in 2011 due to continued investment in US shale plays and related infrastructure, sustained interest from foreign buyers, and private equity entrants deploying capital in the energy industry, according to an analysis of energy M&A data by PwC US. A major trend in the energy sector driving the increase in deal value throughout the year was a shift towards more investments in oil and liquid plays as natural gas prices remained depressed amid hitting a 10-year low in 2011.
Read more here.
Can the shale gas r
evolution currently taking place in the US be repeated elsewhere? Although significant volumes of unconventional gas deposits are present in Poland, France, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Turkey, and the UK, shale gas developments are running many years behind their counterparts in the US. Skeptics have pointed out that differences in geology, taxes, public acceptance, environmental regulations and other factors in Europe vs. the US make for a tougher environment in which to develop unconventional resources.
Read the article by Bart J. A. Willigers of Palantir Solutions Ltd. here.