Financial Services Operators

Barnett-Woodford holds largest undeveloped oil resource in the Midland Basin

EIR highlights 6,400+ locations and ~3 Bbbl of undeveloped recoverable oil as well performance strengthens across basin

byJon Haubert

CALGARY, Alberta (Oct. 7, 2026) — Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR), a subsidiary of Enverus, the leading energy data analytics platform, is releasing a series of reports on inventory, economics and development trends across key North American oil and gas basins. Building on EIR’s recent analysis of North American drilling inventory and resource life, the series examines how those trends unfold basin by basin. The organization’s latest report focuses on the emerging oil-directed Barnett-Woodford development opportunity in the Midland Basin.

EIR estimates this play holds more than 6,400 locations representing approximately 3 Bbbl of undeveloped recoverable oil resource, making it the largest source of undeveloped oil among interval groups in the basin. For comparison, that resource is equivalent to approximately 75% of what remains in the Middle Bakken and Three Forks across the U.S. Williston Basin.

The opportunities have developed rapidly. EIR notes the Barnett-Woodford was absent from most operator and investor models as recently as 18 months ago, while development activity has accelerated as early results have supported broader programs. Average Barnett-Woodford well performance exceeded the Midland Basin base by more than 30% since 2025. At $800/ft well costs, EIR estimates breakevens of approximately $41/bbl, in line with the recent Midland and Delaware Basin averages.

“The Barnett-Woodford has quickly transitioned from a relatively underappreciated interval group into a material source of genuinely incremental Midland Basin oil inventory. With more than 6,400 identified drilling locations and well economics increasingly competitive with established Midland targets, the play represents the largest oil-directed expansion opportunity in the Lower 48,” said Stephen Sagriff, EIR director and report author.

Key takeaways:

  • The Midland Basin Barnett-Woodford contains more than 6,400 locations and approximately 3 Bbbl of undeveloped recoverable oil resource, according to EIR.
  • The estimated resource is approximately 75% of what remains in the Middle Bakken and Three Forks across the U.S. Williston Basin.
  • Average Barnett-Woodford well performance exceeded the Midland Basin base by more than 30% since 2025.
  • At $800/ft well costs, EIR estimates Barnett-Woodford breakevens of approximately $41/bbl, broadly converging with the Midland and Delaware Basin averages.
  • After normalizing for development maturity, wells per section and timing, EIR ranks Ector, Crane and northwestern Upton counties as the strongest-performing region, with recent wells averaging a ~$42/bbl breakeven, followed by southeastern Andrews, southwestern Martin and western Midland counties at about $46/bbl.

Figure 2 | Undeveloped Oil Resource by Midland Flow Unit

Midland Basin undeveloped oil by flow unit and breakeven price band
Source | Enverus Intelligence® Research, Enverus Placed Well Intelligence, Enverus Forecast Analytics

EIR’s analysis pulls from a variety of products including Enverus ONE™.

You must be an Enverus Intelligence® subscriber to access this report.

Full copies of EIR research reports cannot be distributed to members of the media. Journalists interested in learning more about this analysis are encouraged to use the Request Media Interview button to schedule a time to meet with one of our expert analysts, who can provide context, insight, and deeper discussion of the findings.

About Enverus Intelligence® Research
Enverus Intelligence ® | Research, Inc. (EIR) is a subsidiary of Enverus that publishes energy-sector research focused on the oil, natural gas, power and renewable industries. EIR publishes reports including asset and company valuations, resource assessments, technical evaluations and macro-economic forecasts; and helps make intelligent connections for energy industry participants, service companies and capital providers worldwide. Enverus is the most trusted, energy-dedicated SaaS company, with a platform built to create value from generative AI, offering real-time access to analytics, insights and benchmark cost and revenue data sourced from our partnerships to 95% of U.S. energy producers, and more than 40,000 suppliers. Learn more at Enverus.com.

Picture of Jon Haubert

Jon Haubert

Jon Haubert is the communications director at Enverus. Members of the media should use our Request Media Interview option on the Enverus Newsroom page to schedule an interview with one of our expert analysts.

Related News

EQT Builds an Appalachian Super Producer with $13.8B Range Buy
Newsroom
Analyst Takes, Financial Services+1
  • Operators
ByAndrew Dittmar

EQT’s nearly $14 billion acquisition of Range Resources creates America’s largest natural gas producer, combining scale, premium inventory and infrastructure to compete in an increasingly complex North American gas market.

EIR’s model shows powered-land can rise more than 20-fold in value as data center sites reach energization
Newsroom
Financial Services, Power & Renewables
ByJon Haubert

Explore Enverus Intelligence® Research’s six-stage powered-land valuation framework, including how utility power commitments and development risks shape site value as projects advance toward energization.

Transmission upgrade timelines vary more than 3x across owners
Newsroom
Financial Services, Power & Renewables
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research finds transmission upgrade timelines vary more than threefold by owner across four U.S. power markets, highlighting delivery risks for large-load projects.

U.S. power grid set for 1,080 GW generation expansion by 2050
Newsroom
Financial Services, Renewable Developers
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research projects 1,080 GW of new U.S. power capacity through 2050, led by 376 GW of battery storage as grid reliability shapes the energy mix.

Established operators lead ERCOT large-load queue
Newsroom
Financial Services, Power & Renewables
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research finds that 81% of identified hyperscaler capacity is classified as ERCOT base-load, compared with 31% for new entrants, highlighting differences in transmission readiness.

Anadarko Basin offers leading economics as inventory expands
Newsroom
Financial Services, Operators
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research finds the Anadarko Basin leads major Lower 48 plays on full-cycle economics at $60/bbl, with expanding inventory, growing private-operator participation and production expected to rise through 2030.

Oil sands M&A returns with Cenovus’ Athabasca purchase
Newsroom
Analyst Takes, Financial Services+1
  • Operators
ByMichael Berger

Cenovus Energy's acquisition of Athabasca Oil marks a major oil sands M&A transaction. Analysis from Enverus Intelligence® Research highlights rising asset valuations, limited acquisition targets and the growing premium placed on long-life Canadian oil sands resource.

Montney liquids scarcity grows as Canadian natural gas supply expands
Newsroom
Financial Services, Operators
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research estimates high-liquids regions hold about 30 years of inventory versus roughly 90 years in lean-gas areas as associated supply adds pressure to AECO.

Appalachia Ample resource beyond depleting cores
Newsroom
Financial Services, Operators
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research examines how maturing Marcellus and Utica core inventory is being offset by adjacent fairways, new delineation and deeper resource across Appalachia.

Find Out How Enverus Can Help Your Business
Subscribe to the Energy Blog

A weekly update on the latest “no-fluff” insight and analysis of the energy industry.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Get Started

Sign up for our Blog

Ready to Subscribe?

Ready to Get Started?