SAN ANTONIO—A series of sales and acquisitions have given Titan Energy LLC the opportunity to exploit its promising Eagle Ford acreage, according to the firm’s vice president of operations.

Christopher Walker told attendees at Hart Energy’s DUG Eagle Ford conference Titan has a bright future as a result of these “transformative” A&D moves. “We’re very pleased with these recent developments and we’re actively pursuing further acquisitions” in the Eagle Ford, he said.

This year’s property sales included an $84 million spinoff in June of 8,400 wells in five Appalachian states. The firm, a part of Atlas Energy Group LLC, retained interests in some Ohio leases with Utica play exposure and additional acreage in Indiana. In August, it sold interests in northwestern Colorado’s Rangely play for $105 million to Chevron, which has a CO2 enhanced recovery operation there. It also holds interests in several coalbed methane plays and the Midcontinent.

Following those moves, Titan has focused on developing its Eagle Ford acreage. Through early November, it had drilled six Eagle Ford wells this year, including four wells in the second quarter that averaged a 30-day IP of 810 bbl/d. “The last 11 Eagle Ford wells have met or exceeded the type curve,” Walker added.

Titan entered the South Texas play in 2014 by acquiring interests in 10,600 gross acres that included 22 producing wells and 10 DUCs in Atascosa County, Texas. Since then it has leased interests in an additional 3,500 gross acres. It has drilled and completed 24 wells since then and completed 10 DUCs. “We’re actively pursuing opportunities to grow our Eagle Ford position,” he said.

Operating efficiency has been a major goal and has contributed to improved production. The firm has cut its cost-per-foot-drilled by half since moving into the play three years ago, he said, while it reduced completion costs by 30%. It has increased in proppant loading by 50% to 1,300 to 1,900 pounds per foot with a 50% decrease in cluster spacing.

Titan has extended lateral and tried staggered targeting on tighter spacing intervals. It has optimized its frack design, using 30-, 60- and 100-mesh sand and diversion technology. It also carefully manages choke size on flowback to maximize well performance.

Its Lower Eagle Ford target rock typically has an 82-foot gross thickness and Titan targets two landing zones that result in 400- to 500-foot offset spacing. Tight placement of wellbores in similar rock aids in minimizing variations in treating pressures, Walker explained.

“We’re standardizing our facilities through pre-fabrication,” Walker said. A strong field team has been a plus, particularly important in an area with significant H2S concerns. Also, Titan has “ample infrastructure in place that provided excellent market optionality and pricing.”

Looking ahead, Walker said Titan plans to complete two of its two DUC wells in the immediate future. It is seeking bolt-on acreage that will expand its Eagle Ford footprint and plans to continue testing well spacing and wine-rack staggering of laterals as it seeks to further refine its frack design.