Matador to drill new Delaware basin ...

Matador Resources Co., Dallas, will drill six wells with 2-mile laterals in the Antelope Ridge area of Lea County, NM, under permits newly received from the US Bureau of Land Management.

It will use two of six operated rigs in the Delaware basin to drill the wells from two three-well pads on acreage acquired in a BLM lease sale last September. It calls the area, covering 1,200 gross and net acres, the Rodney Robinson tract.

On other Antelope Ridge acreage, Matador produces 8,900 b/d of oil and 13.2 MMcfd of natural gas from six geologic intervals.

It expects to start production from the Rodney Robinson wells in the first quarter of 2020.

The company awaits approval and permits for drilling of eight wells on 2,800 gross and net acres acquired during the September BLM lease sale in its Stateline area.

It plans to move two of its Delaware basin rigs there to drill four wells each on the eastern and western sides of the tract with 2-mile laterals in the east and 2.5-mile laterals in the west.

Drilling will be from two four-well pads.

Matador hopes to start sales from the Stateline wells in the third quarter of 2020 when expansion is complete of a cryogenic gas processing plant in Eddy County, NM, operated by San Mateo Midstream, of which Matador owns 51%.

Plant capacity is to increase to 460 MMcfd from 260 MMcfd.