Eagle Ford Shale
The Eagle Ford Shale is located in South Texas producing from various depths between 4,000 and 12,000 feet. It derives its name from the town of Eagle Ford TX where the shale outcrops at the surface in clay form. Often the Eagle Ford is mistakenly spelled as “Eagleford”. The Eagle Ford is still an emerging shale play, however operators have accumulated large acreage positions and well results are promising. Unlike many other shale plays, the Eagle Ford thus far does not exhibit natural fracturing within the formation. The Eagle Ford formation does have a dry gas, a gas condensate, and oil an oil window.
There is a news feed for Eagle Ford Shale Play at this link and an Eagle Ford Shale Jobs Board that can be used for employers or job seekers in the oilfield.
Eagle Ford Shale Companies
Significant producers within the Eagle Ford Shale are:
- Anadarko
- Apache Corp.
- BP
- Cabot Oil& Gas
- Chesapeake Energy
- ConocoPhillips
- El Paso
- EOG Resources
- Exxon-XTO
- Forest Oil
- Goodrich
- Hilcorp
- Lewis Petro Properties
- Murphy Oil
- Newfield Exploration
- PetroHawk
- Pioneer Resources
- Reliance
- Rosetta Resources
- Sharon Energy
- Shell
- SM Energy
- St. Mary Land & Exploration
- Swift Energy
- Talisman
- TXCO Resources
Eagle Ford Shale Geology
The Eagle Ford Shale is a geological formation directly beneath the Austin Chalk formation. It is considered to be the “source rock”, or the original source of hydrocarbons that are contained in the Austin Chalk and the Edwards formation above it. The formation is being targeted for both oil and gas. It produces a liquids rich gas stream as well as oil wells in certain areas of the play. The Eagle Ford Shale is found at depths between 4,000 and 12,000 feet. The shale is up to 250 feet thick in some places, generally without natural fracturing present. Much of the production occurs at the convergence of the Stuart City Reef trend and the Sligo Reef Trend.
Eagle Ford Shale Location
Significant development of the Eagle Ford Shale is found in the following South Texas counties:
- Atascosa County TX
- Bee County TX
- Dewitt County TX
- Dimmitt County TX
- Fayette County TX
- Frio County TX
- Gonzales County TX
- Karnes County TX
- LaSalle County TX
- Lavaca County TX
- Live Oak County TX
- Maverick County TX
- McMullen County TX
- Webb County TX
- Wilson County TX
- Zavala County TX
Additional Reading
- Oil & Gas 101 – General information for mineral rights owners.
Cash Payment for Your Royalty
If you own a producing royalty in this area and would like to consider a no obligation cash offer for your producing royalties, use this sale inquiry form.


