Geologic analysis of the Upper Jurassic Haynesville Shale in east Texas and west Louisiana: Discussion

Abstract

Hammes et al. (2011) provide an excellent technical compilation of the geology of the Haynesville shale-gas play in east Texas and west Louisiana. However, their citation crediting Chesapeake Energy Corporation solely with the commercial discovery and naming the play is poorly founded. The article cited (Durham, 2008) does not support that conclusion beyond the fact that Chesapeake was one of the first to announce the play. Furthermore, Durham's article in the AAPG Explorer did not attempt to document the discovery of the play, but instead was an interview of companies who, at that time, had publicly announced their interest. Brittenham (2010, slide 9) presented the early history of Encana in the play, which predates the activities and announcements by Chesapeake and others. Hammes et al. (2011) also do not mention the significant potential of the mid-Bossier Shale (Brittenham, 2010, slides 16, 20, and 24) that overlies the Haynesville Shale over much of the area mapped by Hammes et al. A summary of the events and timelines from publicly available data sources (IHS Energy) illustrates that, remarkably, at least three companies had an early knowledge of the play, drilled wells in vastly separate areas, and had early well-production test data with sufficient gas flow …