# Apache boosts Alpine High exploration and production in Delaware basin
**URL:** https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200
**Category:** Reeves County, TX
**Created:** [August 6, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200 "2018-08-06T18:41:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lawrence\_Rayburn](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Lawrence_Rayburn)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/1 "2018-08-06T18:41:54Z")
# Apache Prepares To Boost Production At Delaware’s Alpine High
Optimization efforts are leading to strong performance in the Delaware Basin play, Apache executives say.
[Velda Addison](https://www.ugcenter.com/user/185550) Senior Editor, Digital News Group Hart Energy
Thursday, August 2, 2018 - 2:09pm
With completion design changes in hand, spacing and pattern tests underway and costs down, Apache Corp. (NYSE: [APA](https://www.oilandgasinvestor.com/hart-energy-stock-details-761686?ticker=APA)) said production growth is entering the acceleration phase at its Permian Basin Alpine High development.
The Houston-based company reported production at Alpine High jumped 23% to average 32,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in second-quarter 2018, compared to a year earlier. By the end of July, production had already climbed by 70% to 54,000 boe/d as optimization continues.
“For 2018 our Alpine High production is on track to achieve 45,000 boe/d, which is the midpoint of our previous guidance,” Apache CEO John Christmann said on a conference call Aug. 2. “The benefits of pad drilling coupled with continual progress on well costs and well productivity are driving a positive bias to our production outlook for next year. As a result, we anticipate that 2019 production from Alpine High will trend toward the high end of 85,000 to 100,000 boe/d guidance range that was established in February.”
The emerging oil and gas play sits in the Delaware Basin, mostly in Reeves County, Texas. The company announced the discovery in September 2016, estimating 75 trillion cubic feet of rich gas and 3 billion barrels of oil in place in the Barnett and Woodford formations plus potential in the shallower Pennsylvania, Bone Springs and Wolfcamp formations. Apache puts its drilling inventory for the play at more than 5,000 wells, but Christmann called the inventory count “conservative” based on results of landing zone and spacing tests.
The 2018 Alpine High program includes pad and pattern development tests, geographic delineation and acreage retention drilling, Christmann said, noting the move to large pad drilling. A steep production increase is on course for third- and fourth-quarter 2018 following a completion ramp-up that Apache said is in progress. Plans are for the company to place about 90 wells on production this year as well as conduct tests on the southern flank to delineate the play.
So far, optimization efforts appear to be paying off based on recent Alpine High well results shared in the company’s operations supplement.
Blackfoot, a 12-well pad that is testing 660-ft spacing and three Woodford landing zones on a half section, flow tested at 99 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMcf/d) and 200 barrels of oil per day, and is improving, said Tim Sullivan, executive vice president of operations support for Apache.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Blackfoot…12 well pad on 320 acres…!!!..I gotta go check this out.
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### Author:  [@Melissa\_Avery](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Melissa_Avery)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2018, 11:16am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/2 "2018-08-07T11:16:06Z")
A lot of Apache leases must be up for renewal by early 2019.
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### Author:  [@Lawrence\_Rayburn](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Lawrence_Rayburn)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2018, 3:00pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/3 "2018-08-07T15:00:39Z")
Yes, there will be a rush to get wells drilled to hold the leases with production…and that’s why Apache is ramping their drilling program up.
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### Author:  [@traces](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/traces)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/4 "2018-08-07T19:54:47Z")
Mine is up in November. Anxiously waiting…
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### Author:  [@Melissa\_Avery](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Melissa_Avery)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/5 "2018-08-07T21:27:32Z")
My lease stipulates they need to do “something” within 160 days of the lease expiring.
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### Author:  [@Aubrey\_Trayler](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Aubrey_Trayler)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/6 "2018-08-07T22:01:35Z")
Tracey, My lease with Apache is also up in November, Block 13, Section 59. I am also wondering what they are going to do?
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### Author:  [@traces](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/traces)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/7 "2018-08-10T19:02:43Z")
I don’t even know who to call to inquire about it.
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### Author:  [@Melissa\_Avery](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Melissa_Avery)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/8 "2018-08-10T19:53:38Z")
Do you have contact info for the landman who signed you up? Good place to start. Also, if Apache holds your lease, go to their website. There is a link to owners info. Call the office and they can help you.
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### Author:  [@Aubrey\_Trayler](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Aubrey_Trayler)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2018, 3:34am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/9 "2018-08-11T03:34:05Z")
Melissa, Good advice—thank you
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### Author:  [@traces](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/traces)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2018, 12:12pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/10 "2018-10-16T12:12:00Z")
Finally got ahold of someone at Apache regarding our upcoming lease expiration. This is the reply I got:
At this time, it is APA’s direction to extend the lease. We are evaluating the area by the drilling of wells around this area so we will need extra time to study our findings.
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### Author:  [@Buzz\_Van\_Meter](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Buzz_Van_Meter)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2018, 12:38pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/11 "2018-10-16T12:38:10Z")
Traces – do you care to indicate where your lease is located? Thanks – Later – Buzz
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### Author:  [@traces](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/traces)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/12 "2018-10-16T13:19:27Z")
Hi Buzz - See below: Sec. 3 Block C-15/C-14 Sec. 1 Block C-15 Sec. 6 Block 13 Sec. 25 Block C-15 Sec. 2 Block C-15 Sec. 27 C-15 Sec. 26 C-15 Sec. 17 Block 55 Sec. 18 Block 55
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### Author:  [@Buzz\_Van\_Meter](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Buzz_Van_Meter)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2018, 1:21pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/13 "2018-10-16T13:21:57Z")
– I couldn’t resist this topper… Mont Blanc pad is up to 26 wells/permits and growing on 734 acre SEC 24 BLK 57 TWP 7 T&P, A-5615. Later – Buzz
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### Author:  [@Lawrence\_Rayburn](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Lawrence_Rayburn)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/14 "2018-10-16T16:22:03Z")
Thanks, Buzz! That certainly supports my contention that Apache is ramping up their drilling operations along the FM2903 corridor and around Toyah in Reeves County, Texas. I have an idea Primexx and Noble are about to do something similar in Block 13 around Sections 182-184, and east along County Roads 331 and 112.
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### Author:  [@MRFAdmin\_SV](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/MRFAdmin_SV)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/apache-boosts-alpine-high-exploration-and-production-in-delaware-basin/31200/15 "2025-01-11T17:08:47Z")