The Haynesville Shale spans northwest Louisiana and East Texas and ranks among the most important dry natural-gas plays in North America. It is notable for its depth and pressure: at roughly 10,500 to 13,500 feet, it is one of the deepest major shale plays, with high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) conditions that make wells technically demanding but highly productive.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | NW Louisiana & East Texas |
| Produces | Natural gas (dry gas) |
| Reservoir type | Unconventional shale |
| Geologic age | Upper Jurassic |
| Depth | ~10,500–13,500 ft (HPHT) |
Deep, hot and high-pressure
The Haynesville is an Upper Jurassic shale that sits far deeper than most US plays. Its HPHT environment delivers strong initial flow rates, but the depth and temperature demand robust well designs, premium casing and careful completion engineering. These conditions raise drilling costs but are offset by the high deliverability of individual wells.
Haynesville production exceeds 15 billion cubic feet of gas per day, making it the second-largest gas-producing shale play in the US behind the Marcellus.
A pillar of US gas supply
With output topping 15 Bcf/d, the Haynesville is second only to the Marcellus in US gas production. Its location near the Gulf Coast is a strategic advantage: it sits close to LNG export terminals and industrial demand, giving its dry gas short, direct access to both domestic and international markets.
That proximity to export infrastructure has made the Haynesville a swing supplier — activity tends to rise and fall with global gas prices and LNG demand growth.
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Frequently asked
The Haynesville lies at roughly 10,500 to 13,500 feet, making it one of the deepest major shale plays in the US, with high-pressure, high-temperature conditions.
Primarily dry natural gas. Its location near Gulf Coast LNG terminals gives that gas direct access to export and industrial markets.
It produces more than 15 billion cubic feet per day, ranking second in US gas production behind the Marcellus Shale.