Despite a steep decline in rig count in the play (26, according to the most recent Hart Energy Unconventional Activity Tracker) a unique study released at the end of February by the University of Texas forecasts the Barnett shale will continue to be a leading source of gas at least through 2030.

The study’s findings lie “between some of the more optimistic and pessimistic predictions of production,” according to a UT news release.

Production in the play peaked in 2012 at 2 trillion cubic feet per year. The study projects ...