PITTSBURGH — CNX Gas Corporation reported that its first horizontal Marcellus shale well is now producing at a rate of 6.5 million cubic feet (MMcf) per day.

This is a record daily production rate for any well in the company’s history and is believed to be among the highest reported by any Marcellus shale producer.

Well details

The well, located in Greene County, Pa., began flowing into the sales meter on October 2, with an initial production rate of 1.2 MMcf per day and 4,000 pounds of backpressure. The backpressure on the well had been gradually reduced since then, allowing daily production to increase to about 4 MMcf per day.

On Dec. 12, the installation of new surface equipment enabled the well to flow at the 6.5 MMcf per day rate, with pressure still being held at 2,640 pounds.

Cumulative production from the well prior to last Friday was 106 MMcf.

According to Nicholas J. DeIuliis, president and chief executive officer, the well was drilled to a vertical depth of 8,140 feet in the Huntersville Chert, penetrating 83 vertical feet of Marcellus shale.

The well was logged, then plugged back, and a horizontal section of 3,395 feet was cut for a total measured depth of 10,738 feet.

No royalty

CNX Gas has a 100 percent working interest in the well and a 100 percent net revenue interest because CNX Gas does not pay a royalty.

Because of the gathering infrastructure already in place from its CBM operations, CNX Gas was able to place the well online immediately after retrieving frac fluids.

CNX Gas is currently drilling its second vertical Marcellus Shale well and will be shortly hydraulically fracturing its second and third horizontal wells.