An overview of the Haynesville Shale and the economic benefits it has brought to the local economy as well as the national economy.

1. Haynesville Shale
Overview / Geology of Play
The Haynesville Shale is a rock formation
that lies beneath East Texas, Southern Arkansas
and Western Louisiana. It spans over 9,000 sq
miles and can be found at depths ranging from
10,500 ft to 13,500 ft with a thickness around 200
to 300 ft thick. It is an organic rich shale that ages
back to the Upper Jurassic geologic time period.
Recent History
For a long time it has been known that this
shale contained a large amount of natural gas but
has not been able to be extracted in economic
amounts due to technological barriers. In the early 2000s however efforts with horizontal
drilling and hydraulic fracturing allowed a similar shale
play in the Barnett in Texas to be exploited at an
economic level. Using these technologies in the
Haynesville has allowed for this play to become a major
source for natural gas as is the case with many similar
shale formations around the U.S. With the first well just
being drilled in the Haynesville back in 2005, it has already
become the 2nd largest source of natural gas in the U.S.
behind only the Marcellus which is located in the
Northeast.
Local Impact
The recent activity involved with the Haynesville Shale is not just good news for the U.S.
energy industry but for the local economy as well. The ability to now drill in the region that this
play exist has brought over 57,000 jobs alone to just Louisiana and has stimulated the local
economy which is not limited just to the energy business. Leases and royalty checks have made
many local residents very wealthy along with local businesses that are adjusting to the new
boom in activity in the area. Mineral rights and royalties have now become a hot commodity in
this area and for those who are interested in selling them can do so to make a quick profit to
companies that are willing to buy them.

2. Future of Play
It is hard to predict how long this shale gas boom
will last as it is for a lot of things involved in the oil and
gas industry. Natural gas prices as of recent have caused
a decline in the number of wells being drilled in the region
but people are hopeful that prices will raise and drilling
will once again become a very familiar site. It is still very
early in this whole shale gas era and many people don’t
really know what all of this means for the future for the
U.S. in regards to its energy needs. For now however, the
economy is benefiting greatly not just from the
Haynesville Shale but similar plays all over the U.S.