The following are from a combination of authoritative sources and first hand observation on the ground in Horn River...just another small piece of the QEC pie.
- development on new wells in the HR has slowed markedly but work on infrastructutre has continued [weather permitting - much of any additional exploration will wait for winter again when the ground is frozen]
- while 5000+ wells are planned in the next few years, current plans for next year are only for 70-100 holes on 12 - 15 pads based on current NG$ and short term projections
- when current infrastructure projects in motion [including the Cabin River Processing facility] are complete there will be enough connected capacity to meet significant demand [including expected demand from Asia via the LNG plant on the coast]
- the taps won't be turned up much 'til NG hits between $5.75 and $6.00 with an expectation that that price will be sustainable.
- the HR will not likely be a significant contributor to the active NG pool in North America in the early stages of Utica commercialization
- the area being thought of as part of the "Horn River play" continues to expand significantly as do estimates for the life of the field [50 years plus] - as the area expands, QEC's holdings cease to be on the fringe of the field and will appreciate in value
- development costs in the HR are at a level where smaller players will have difficulty going it alone making it likely that the QEC property will see either a big player as a partner or become a trading chip
- at the very least QEC's holdings in the patch are a mid-to longer term prospect for drilling and commercialization
- QEC's acquisition in the HR is generally seen as a good move among those in the business locally