Lessons from the Barnett Shale suggest caution in other shale plays

When they tell you about the FREE MONEY, don’t believe them. Here is a differing and more realistic opinion that John Baen presents.

Lessons from the Barnett Shale suggest caution in other shale plays

I am disturbed that public companies and investment analysts make fantastic claims about the rates and reserves for new shale plays without calibrating them to the only play that has significant production history. Almost every assumption used by the industry to support predictions about the Haynesville or Marcellus Shale plays is questionable based on well performance in the Barnett Shale. While it is true that every play is different and the Barnett Shale does not perfectly predict what will happen in other plays, it seems reasonable to temper and calibrate our uncertainty with what is known. There are many lessons we can learn from the Barnett Shale, and they all suggest a cautious approach to developing new shale plays.