Ft. Worth Star Telegram June 23, 2012
NORTHWEST BARNETT SHALE IS UNDERGOING OIL MINIBOOM
Back in 2008, near the height of the natural gas drilling boom in the Barnett Shale, more than 200 drilling rigs operated in the big North Texas field. With the collapse in natural gas prices this year, that number is down nearly 80 percent from its peak. But not in the northwestern reaches of the field. In Montague, Jack and Wise counties, there is nearly as much drilling activity as in 2008, accounting for half the 48 rigs now in the Barnett. The reason? There's oil in them there hills, oil that simply doesn't exist in quantity in other parts of the Barnett. That's particularly true in Tarrant County, where the natural gas is "dry" -- with little liquid content.