The US shale industry keeps showing impressive efficiency gains coming from multiple sources. The western portion of the Permian Basin, Delaware, has lately been particularly exposed to the steep learning curve. According to Rystad Energy’s latest research, while the number of active frac spreads in the sub-basin slowed down from the peak level of 89 crews seen in the third quarter of 2018, the number of fracked wells per active crew per quarter increased by 50% between the first quarter of 2017 and the second quarter of 2019. As of today, the average frac crew in Delaware is able to finalize more than 10 wells per quarter, thanks to zipper frac penetration and a substantial reduction in non-productive time. As completions are still getting more intensive, the average pumping speed exhibits even larger growth.

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Contacts
Artem Abramov
Head of Shale Research
Phone: +47 22 00 42 00
artem.abramov@rystadenergy.com

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Media Relations
Phone: +47 951 98 742
morten.bertelsen@rystadenergy.com

About Rystad Energy
Rystad Energy is an independent energy research and business intelligence company providing data, tools, analytics and consultancy services to the global energy industry. Our products and services cover energy fundamentals and the global and regional upstream, oilfield services and renewable energy industries, tailored to analysts, managers and executives alike. Rystad Energy’s headquarters are located in Oslo, Norway with offices in London, New York, Houston, Aberdeen, Stavanger, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, Bangalore, Tokyo, Sydney and Dubai.