Denver-based SM Energy filed 8 drilling permits with the Railroad Commission of Texas during the week of June 17-23 for horizontal wells on 3 leases in Howard and Martin counties. Houston Chronicle said the wells target the Spraberry field at depths of 10,000 to 10,350 feet. Also filing 8 permits was French oil major Total for horizontal wells in natural gas-rich Barnett Shale. Other leaders were ConocoPhillips with 6 permits, Midland’s Diamondback Energy with 5, and Pioneer Natural Resources, PDC Permian and EOG Resources with 4 each.
Also, New Braunfels-based Ranger 40 Petroleum filed 2 permits for vertical wells in Reeves County targeting Jess Burner field in Delaware Basin to 6,500 feet.