In a market where most oil companies are finding it difficult to maintain their production levels because of resource depletion, Anadarko's
Hitting pay dirt
The discovery is considered one of the largest in recent years. The reservoir is expected to hold more than 1 billion barrels of recoverable oil and natural gas, which is mind-blowing and places Wattenberg in the league of major shale plays like Bakken and Eagle Ford.
Anadarko is confident it can drill 1,200 to 2,700 wells in northeast Colorado and expects an average annual production growth rate of 20% from the area between 2010 and 2012. The fact that Anadarko also operates pipelines and gas processing plants in the region gives it an added advantage.
The find can help Anadarko turn its fortune. At the end of last year, Anadarko had 2.42 billion barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves. The Colorado discovery, along with the discovery of 10 trillion cubic feet of gas off the East Africa coast, assures Anadarko a longer field life and provides a great opportunity to increase production.
The bigger picture
Shale field finds have revived U.S. oil and gas output after four decades of decline. The advent of new technologies, including horizontal drilling of wells and hydraulic fracturing, is the main reason behind such huge discoveries. Anadarko, along with peers Carrizo Oil & Gas
Foolish takeaway
The discovery has boosted Anadarko's prospects by guaranteeing higher production and increased field life. The Wyoming field may also turn out to be a high-reserve area.
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