Savvy Operators Bring Mature Barnett Wells Back To Industry Forefront By Paul Munding, Ted Garner and Nancy Choi FORT WORTH-The unconventional revolution began in the gas-rich Barnett Shale of North Central Texas. But as the first commercial resource play, the Barnett is also the most mature, with the vast majority of wells at least 10 year old. As in other shale plays, where pressure support from the low-permeability matrix is low, when fractures deplete and bottom-hole pressure becomes dependent on matrix diffusion, mature Barnett wells often lack the necessary downhole pressure to efficiently unload liquids. Consequently, many wells now require some means of unloading liquids to increase gas velocity above the minimum critical rate needed to flow gas and carry liquid droplets to surface. Using gas-assisted plunger lift (GAPL) to inject compressed gas down the annulus and into the tubing string for enhanced plunger efficiency is a proven solution for unloading gas wells. MARCH 2022 53