Refining completion techniques has helped Petrohawk Energy Corp., Houston, (NYSE: HK) boost its Fayetteville shale production rates by 4- to 5 million cubic feet equivalent per day.

The company has drilled 45 operated and 36 non-operated wells in the third quarter in the Fayetteville shale. Of the 22 operated wells completed and tested, four wells tested in excess of 3.9 million cubic feet equivalent per day, with one of these wells testing greater than 5 million.

These higher results have been attributed to improved completion techniques including longer laterals and cemented liners with more perforations, which the company has made standard on new well completions, Petrohawk reports.

The company recently completed one of its wells with a 10-stage cemented liner fracture stimulation on a well with a lateral length greater than 3,700 feet and is preparing to frac a well with about 15 stages covering a lateral length greater than 5,500 feet.

During the third quarter, gross operated production has exceeded 115 million cubic feet equivalent and net production reached approximately 65 million.

Production from the Fayetteville shale has been restricted due to a construction delay on the Boardwalk pipeline. The current estimate for the pipeline to be operational is mid-November.

The company also drilled 39 operated wells and 15 non-operated wells during the third quarter in Elm Grove and Terryville fields in northwestern Louisiana. Three operated rigs are currently running in Elm Grove, as well as two operated rigs in Terryville field. The company's 2008 Cotton Valley horizontal program concluded during the third quarter, with an average initial production rate of 7.3 million from three wells completed. In the Terryville Bossier/Lower Cotton Valley program, seven wells with an average initial production rate of 4.1 million have been completed.

The second well in the new horizontal development program at the West Edmond Hunton Lime Unit in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, produced 1.5 million—220 barrels of oil and 175,000 cubic feet of gas per day. A third well has completed drilling and is expected to be placed on production in mid-October. Petrohawk is currently operating two horizontal rigs in the field.

Petrohawk’s properties are concentrated in North Louisiana, Arkansas, East Texas, Oklahoma and the Permian basin.—JAS