Barnett Shale gas production, Fort Worth Basin: Issues and discussion

Abstract Newark East (Barnett Shale) field, Fort Worth Basin, Texas, is currently the most productive gas field in Texas in terms of daily production and is growing at an annual rate of more than 10%. However, despite the fact that the Barnett play has been studied intensely by very capable geologists and engineers from several companies over a period of many years, there continues to be several misunderstandings concerning fundamental factors controlling the success of the Barnett play of north Texas. Barnett gas production is poorer in areas near faults and structural flexures (anticlines and synclines). Fractures, which are most abundant in these structural settings, are detrimental to Barnett production.…