Longer Wells Fuel Permian Gas Growth Amid Lower Drilling
Permian Basin producers are increasingly adopting horizontal wells that stretch more than three miles in length. This shift is helping operators extract more hydrocarbons per well and supporting associated natural gas growth, even with a reduction in rigs working the region.
The use of super-laterals, as these long laterals are called, has gained traction in the Permian Basin, particularly in the Delaware sub-basin. This trend is contributing to an increase in associated gas output, which is natural gas produced alongside oil during drilling operations.
As wells become longer, operators can tap into more reserves and extract more hydrocarbons per well. According to data, this approach has helped Permian Basin producers maintain growth even as the number of rigs working in the region has decreased.