OREANDA-NEWS. In the fourth quarter 2013, EOG increased its U.S. crude oil and condensate production by 53 percent, while total company crude oil and condensate production rose by 50 percent over the same prior year period. Total company liquids production - crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids (NGLs) - climbed 41 percent.

For the full year, total company crude oil and condensate production increased 40 percent year-over-year, driven by 42 percent growth in the U.S. Total company liquids production increased 34 percent, while total natural gas production decreased 11 percent. Overall total company production increased 9 percent compared to the prior year.

The single largest source of EOG's extraordinary crude oil production growth in 2013 was its mammoth South Texas Eagle Ford play. EOG increased well productivity and initial production rates by augmenting its technical knowledge of shale resources and the associated completion processes. Based on these significant improvements, EOG increased the net potential recoverable reserve estimate on its crude oil acreage by 45 percent to 3.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BnBoe) from 2.2 BnBoe. While continuing to decrease spacing between wells in certain areas, the average net reserves per well increased to 450 thousand barrels of crude oil equivalent (Mboe) from 400 Mboe.

Recent Eagle Ford wells include the Boothe Unit #3H, #4H and #17H in Gonzales County, which began initial production during the fourth quarter at 2,630 to 3,375 barrels of crude oil per day (Bopd) with 365 to 520 barrels per day (Bpd) of NGLs and 2.1 to 3.0 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) of natural gas. The Rudolph Unit #1H was turned to sales at 4,230 Bopd with 505 Bpd of NGLs and 2.9 MMcfd of natural gas. The Nichols Unit #3H had an initial crude oil production rate of 3,830 Bpd with 390 Bpd of NGLs and 2.3 MMcfd of natural gas. In Karnes County, the Fleetwood Unit #1H and #2H began production at 3,630 and 3,435 Bopd with 345 and 350 Bpd of NGLs, respectively, and 2.0 MMcfd of natural gas each. EOG has 100 percent working interest in these seven wells.

The Wilde Trust Unit #1H, #2H and #3H, completed in the second quarter 2013, had combined cumulative production of over 960,000 barrels of crude oil over a 200-day period. EOG holds a 100 percent working interest in these Gonzales County wells.

Southwest of Gonzales and Karnes counties, the Naylor Jones Unit 42 #1H, #2H and 60 #2H began production at rates ranging from 1,755 to 2,050 Bopd with 195 to 205 Bpd of NGLs and 1.1 to 1.2 MMcfd of natural gas in McMullen County. In La Salle County, the Further Unit #1H and #2H had initial crude oil production rates of 2,605 and 2,550 Bpd with 125 and 155 Bpd of NGLs and 725 and 900 thousand cubic feet per day (Mcfd) of natural gas, respectively. EOG has 100 percent working interest in these five wells.

In North Dakota where EOG focused drilling activity on two key areas, the Bakken Core and Antelope Extension, 2013 results surpassed expectations. Ongoing improvements in drilling and completion techniques transformed what was a steady development drilling program into a high rate-of-return crude oil growth play. By confirming downspacing economics in the Bakken Core, EOG ramped up its drilling plan from one to four wells per section, while increasing the average recoverable resource per well.

In the Bakken Core in Mountrail County, the Wayzetta 30-3230H and 31-3230H, in which EOG has 59 percent working interest, began production at 2,510 and 2,540 Bopd, respectively. The Wayzetta 35-1920H, in which EOG has a 60 percent working interest, had an initial production rate of 2,240 Bopd with 1.2 MMcfd of rich natural gas.

In the Antelope Extension, EOG drilled the Hawkeye 2-2501H in McKenzie County. The well, in which EOG has 80 percent working interest, began production with 2,075 Bopd and 3.8 MMcfd of rich natural gas.

EOG's Permian Basin activity also was a solid contributor to its overall 2013 domestic crude oil production growth. Although EOG tested the prospectivity of multiple target zones in its three distinct horizontal resource plays last year, it initially concentrated on the Midland Basin Wolfcamp, followed by the Delaware Basin Leonard and Wolfcamp. Based on compelling well results, EOG shifted activity to the Delaware Basin Leonard during the second half of 2013.

In Lea County, New Mexico, two Leonard wells were drilled and completed in the second half of 2013 and turned to sales early in 2014. The Vaca 24 Fed Com #5H and #6H had initial crude oil production rates of 1,520 and 1,380 Bpd with 265 and 170 Bpd of NGLs and 1.5 and 0.9 MMcfd of natural gas, respectively. EOG has 89 percent working interest in these wells.