Maximus is Key Exploration’s drilling operation. Maximus drilled this as a vertical well back in 2022. This new permit says they are re-entering to drill a Haynesville horizontal with a TVD of 15,000 feet. I did a W-1 search and this the first horizontal well that Maximus has ever permitted in Texas.
The lateral runs through the Musquiz A-37 and Cook A-161 Surveys. Both these surveys contain acreage included in Key’s two-year seismic options that were converted into leases. In addition, CHK had permitted a vertical well in the Musquiz Survey back in 2007.
Is Maximus fronting for Expand? Maybe. Could be something else. Regardless, it appears we are getting close to finding out who has been leasing acreage in Cherokee County since February 2021.