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Inside a Growing Oil and Natural Gas Company: An Interview with Bret L. Boteler of EnerMax, Inc.

In the 1950s, drilling for hydrocarbons usinghorizontal drilling, are penetrating zones
traditional methods carried a 50/50 risk, andthat were previously considered unreachable.
even "successful" wells (oil or gas found)For example, EnerMax is scheduled to drill a
were often commercially impractical. Thatwell this summer in a suburban neighborhood
reality has changed over the past twentyin Tarrant County, Texas, where they plan to
years. Advancements in technology anddrill in the prolific Barnett Shale to a
geophysical studies have transformed softdepth of 6,500 vertical feet and 2,400
speculation into real, hard science. The U.S.horizontal feet. The 2,400' horizontal leg
Department of Energy describes the recentwill extend underneath nearby homes, allowing
triumphs of the oil and gas industry asEnerMax to penetrate their target zone while
"logic defying".It's not just about drillingleaving the neighborhood undisturbed. EnerMax
fewer dry holes. New methods are extendingwill apply advanced frac and completion
the life of wells, allowing more reserves toprocedures to ensure the maximum recovery of
be extracted and boosting economic returns.hydrocarbons.Technological advantages require
As a result, much broader group of investorssignificant financial resources. In 2004,
now has access to oil and gas as a viableEnerMax entered into an agreement with
investment option. I asked Bret L. Boteler,American Energy Partners, Inc. (AEPI) to join
President of EnerMax Inc., to help methem in their efforts to reprocess 3-D data
understand some of the principal changes inconcentrated primarily along the Texas and
today's oil and gas industry.Since many of usLouisiana Gulf Coast. Because unprocessed 3-D
know very little about the industry, I askedseismic information can contain shadows and
him to start simple and work towards the moremisleading images caused by equipment during
complex. Bret Boteler began by defining histhe original recording, it is necessary to
company's business for me in layman's terms:filter the data for clearer results. Geotrace
"If someone asked me what we do, I'd sayTechnologies, Inc., an industry leader in
we're a joint venture manager. We putimaging and analyzing subsurface data, has
together joint ventures that develop, drill,been selected to reprocess the data using
and manage oil and gas drillingadvanced analysis techniques such as High
programs."Bret Boteler began EnerMax out ofFrequency Imaging (TM) (HFI(R)), Frequency
his home office in 2001. Five years later,Absorption Response (FAR), and Amplitude
Mr. Boteler and EnerMax occupy over 3,400versus Offset Analysis (AVO). Even though the
square feet of office space where he enjoysreprocessing carries a significant price tag,
the company of seven employees. Last yearit is well worth the price when you consider
marked the fourth straight year that Bret L.the 20-30% increased success rate.When I
Boteler's company has earned 50+% annualasked Mr. Boteler about difficulties facing
gains. Mr. Boteler attributes EnerMax'sthe industry today, he told me that one of
substantial growth and success to two things:the main issues is rig availability. Recent
his talented, reliable staff and their use ofhurricanes and tropical storms damaged
modern technology.Mr. Boteler described fordrilling rigs and oil refineries along the
me the significant role that today'ssouthern coast. The resulting reduction of
technology plays and the advantages won overoil and gas production in the United States
methods twenty years ago. EnerMax Inc.heightened the disparity between supply and
participates in drilling wells discovered bydemand. Oil and gas companies are pushing to
reprocessed 3-D seismic data - a revolutiondrill more wells while commodities are high,
in the drilling business. Companies thatso there are times when a few months pass
choose drill sites based on reprocessed 3-Dwhile waiting for a rig to drill your well.
seismic data are 75-80% accurate on average,Yet in the light of the uncertainties oilmen
as opposed to the 50-55% accuracy rate offaced in decades past, Bret Boteler counts
older, two-dimensional data that has not beenhimself and his company very blessed.Daniel
reprocessed. And according to Boteler, theDessinger is a writer in the Dallas / Fort
majority of small, independent oil andWorth area. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
natural gas companies still use the old-styleDegree in English from Dallas Baptist
data, thus falling under the 55% shadow.TheseUniversity. In addition to his CultureFeast
technologies also allow exploration companiesblog, he writes for various marketing firms,
to more accurately assess potential reserves,corporations, and small businesses. Daniel's
helping them select projects that fit awriting services include SEO friendly
favorable risk/reward profile. Some of theinteractive press releases, search optimized
best projects identified would have beenwebsite copy, industry-specific articles,
condemned only a few years ago due tocreative ads, copy editing, and online public
accessibility barriers. However, advancedrelations consulting.
drilling techniques in use today, such as



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