How long is the drilling rig in place?
A well in the Barnett Shale typically takes 20 to 30 days to drill. However, depending on the area, multiple wells may be drilled consecutively on one site. When drilling is completed, the drilling rig is removed and a smaller completion rig is put into place. After the completion rig is finished, frac trucks arrive for the fracturing process which takes an additional 4 to 6 days. Finally, a wellhead (or “Christmas tree”) is installed along with a few storage tanks. A Barnett Shale well is expected to produce for 20 to 30 years or more.
