Powerhouse: History of the Eagle Ford Shale

The economic recession hit the U.S. hard in 2008. But it was during this time that a blessing in the form of a shale came for Texas, helping the state get back up on its feet and outperform most of the states economically the subsequent years.

The Eagle Ford Shale is named after the town of the same name where outcrops were first observed. It is a sedimentary rock formation that produces hydrocarbon substances, such as oil and natural gas. It is of utmost significance due to its production capacity, which is greater than many other traditional shale plays.

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Since its discovery in 2008, thousands of wells have been drilled on the 50-mile wide and 400-mile long shale that has a depth of approximately 4,000 to 12,000 feet. Innovation in oil extraction resulted in effective techniques such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. And because of such technology, Eagle Ford Shale has been producing 1.5 million barrels of oil per day as of December 2015.

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The shale is believed to have been formed in the late Cretaceous period. Ninety million years later, its contribution to the economy of the state and the entire nation is unmatched. Based on capital invested, it ranks as the largest oil and gas development in the world. And hundreds of thousands of jobs were, directly and indirectly, created, because of the powerhouse that is the Eagle Ford Shale.  

Brian Alfaro is the founder and president of Primera Energy LLC, an oil and gas industry leader in Texas with major operations in the Eagle Ford Shale. Read more about the industry when you visit this blog.

Natural Gas Surpassing Coal As Primary Source Of Utility Fuel

Six years ago, new proposed rules for clean air energy pushed for the retirement of coal-powered electricity plants. The inevitable shutdown of coal-burning plants risked the occurrences of blackouts and surges in electricity prices. During those times, roughly 44 percent of electricity was generated by coal. 

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Such fears proved unfounded after all, as natural gas, an energy source that emits 50 to 60 percent less carbon dioxide in electricity conversion than coal, has picked up the slack in energy generation. Back then, natural gas was used to produce only 22 percent of total electricity production. And forecasts see natural gas surpassing coal as the leading electricity generation fuel by 2020.

Currently, the percentage share of coal in electricity generation is 33 percent, the same figure as natural gas. It is said that this year will mark the starting point of natural gas surpassing coal as the primary source of utility fuel. And that has happened with the price of electricity being 40 percent lower than it was in 2010. 

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The nation’s shale boom has been a major factor for this trend as natural gas became a cheap and abundant alternative to coal. Additionally, natural gas is seen as the more environment-friendly and efficient option. The growth of natural gas plants has made the drive for sustainability in electricity generation possible. 

Brian Alfaro and his company, Primera Energy LLC, aims to make the country self-sufficient in energy and oil supply by maximizing production and minimizing the energy sector’s impact to the environment. Read more about the industry by visiting this blog.

A Short Guide on Shale Gas Extraction: Future Implications to the Oil and Gas Industry

Hydrofracking is the newest method of shale gas extraction and is now considered the most efficient means of collecting this natural resource. Hydraulic fracking is an improved version of fracking, which is the process of applying high amounts of pressure under a shale rock formation to get it to release gas. The gas is then collected through a tube and then converted into energy through a series of processes.

Many companies in the oil and gas industry began extracting shale gas as an alternative to coal or iron, as these latter natural resources were being heavily depleted and coming under doubt as catalysts of global warming.

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Additionally, environmental analysts began studying the effects of coal as an energy source. It is now generally acknowledged that coal has negative environmental impacts. Shale gas extraction is therefore seen as a transition between fossil fuel manufacturing and clean energy such as solar or wind.

Hydrofracking enables the penetration of areas within the Earth that would otherwise be inaccessible through conventional means. Since the pressure is injected way below the Earth’s surface, it is suggested that less harmful byproducts are released in the air.

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Shale gas extraction is now being vetted as a means to obtain independence from foreign oil. Shale gas can fuel the same area covered by fossil fuels and can be extracted within a country.

This is the main reason shale gas extraction has become such a controversial topic. Many political analysts expressed concern that totally energy-independent countries may lead to could create tension among themselves. Still, oil and gas markets take a more positive outlook and say that shale gas extraction has led to job growth and overall improvement in the local economy.

Brian Alfaro is the founder of Primera Energy LLC, a leading oil and gas company based in San Antonio, Texas. Learn more about energy by following this Twitter account.