The Haynesville Shale offers great potential, but there are also many challenges both on the drilling and completions side. With respect to drilling, the impact-prone formation characteristics of the play, comprising interbedded limestone, anhydrite, shales and sandstone, significantly affect ROP, thus increasing time on hole.

Even with recent technological advancements, horizontal wells in the Haynesville Shale can cost anywhere between $7 million and $12 million, depending on lateral length, rig costs and several other factors. While many strides have been made on the completions side to drive costs down and improve well performance and economics, drilling advancements that significantly increase ROP and reduce rig time have remained relatively stagnant for the better part of the last decade.

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