Producers work hard to squeeze energy out of rocks

TULSA, Okla. America's thirst for energy is forcing some of Oklahoma's biggest producers to look for natural gas in deposits of shale in hopes of meeting demand.

Encouraged by the explosive growth of natural gas production in North Texas' Barnett Shale, Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corporation and Devon Energy Corporation have entered new shale activity in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Geologists and industry officials believe the Caney, the Woodford and the Fayetteville shale formations, known to have large deposits of gas, could be as prolific as the Barnett Shale.

The Barnett now produces about one-point-two (b) billion cubic feet of gas a day. Production is sure to grow as producers acquire thousands of undeveloped acres.

 

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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