Drilled But Uncompleted Wells On the Rise

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)’s monthly drilling report revealed a continuing increase in drilled but uncompleted wells, a trend that began in 2016.

According to the report, there were 8,500 drilled but uncompleted wells, or DUCs, in March of 2019. That was an increase of 26 percent year over year. DUCs include wells where drilling has been finished, but other processes required for production are not yet complete. A majority of these DUCs are oil wells located in the Permian Basin.

While DUCs have been on the rise in areas more closely tied to oil, they have declined in more natural gas-dominated areas. DUCs in the Appalachian and Haynesville regions have been cut almost in half over the pas three years.