Fracking Sand -- Rigzone -- October 9, 2016

This article was previously linked to highlight another aspect of the shale boom. This short post highlights fracking sand:

Many operators have optimized their completion designs using higher intensity fracs with longer laterals and higher proppant volumes.

Sand suppliers will continue to keep a close eye on the DUC inventory, especially with nearby transload and rail facilities in Permian, STACK, SCOOP and Williston.

The longer lateral trends are clear in the Eagle Ford, Permian and Williston. The average lateral length in each basin increased from 2014 to 2015.

The graph below is hard to read, but if you click on it and then zoom in, maybe you can make it out more easily. Spend some time on this graphic; lots of interesting items to note.

In other words:

• more frack sand per stage
• more stages per linear foot
• longer horizontals; and, 
• less ceramic?

This is not rocket science.

Also from the linked article:

Today, there are few operators continuing to drill and complete wells.

Most notably, Pioneer Natural Resources stated a “no backlog” stance in a recent investor call.

Several other operators, including Continental Resources, EOG Resources, Oasis Petroleum and Whiting Petroleum have started completing DUCs or expect to as oil returns to $50/bbl.

The increase in the number of DUCs is likely due to the increase in rig count along with the market volatility.

The horizontal rig count reached a low of 307 the week of May 20 this year (2016) and as of the latest Baker Hughes rig count, there are 396 active horizontal drilling rigs, a 29 percent increase.

The Permian Basin accounts for 50 of the 96 horizontal rigs added during this time.

Just as the Permian has led the drilling activity, expect the DUC inventory reductions to occur first in the Permian.

Whiting idled a lot of great producing wells in August, 2016. One wonders if they are idling some wells as they start completing DUCs.