DECEMBER 2022 Volume 65 No. 12 1222 Cover_Layout 3 12/1/2022 11:39 AM Page 1 THE ISSUE The " Better Business " Publication Serving the Exploration / Drilling / Production Industry DECEMBER 2022 Natural Gas Outlook Eagle Ford Playmakers Well Control & Insurance Completion Technology As temperatures drop and the crispness of autumn gives way to the cold of winter, all eyes are on the domestic and international natural gas markets. In December's cover story, the Natural Gas Supply Association explores five market fundamentals that will influence the general direction of domestic prices this winter. Next, the issue content heads to South Texas to talk with Eagle Ford Playmakers, who share the business strategies and technical innovations that are enabling them to maximize the multifaceted play's enviable economic returns. After that, the Well Control & Insurance reports open by examining how innovative well control solutions are helping operators reduce risk and identify and mitigate relatively minor problems long before they can spiral into serious incidents. The same section also outlines a powerful technique for securing insurance collateral. Completion Technology rounds out the special sections with a look at a new chemical tracer injection technique that provides greater insight into cluster performance. Industry news includes a GO-WV convention section. Cover photo design by Amanda DeMoss. Issue photography courtesy of Marathon Oil Corp. and JH Blades and Company. Happy Holidays! NEWS 16 | Executive Branch: Lesser Prairie Chicken listed under ESA; U.S. signs on to climate reparations fund 18 | State Regulations: Industry cheers changes to Texas critical infrastructure rule 18 | Around the Industry: Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma gathers for fall conference; NAPE announces award to benefit veterans' groups; COGA elects 2023 leaders 20 | Acquisitions and Announcements: U.S. Energy, Eagle Ridge make Barnett purchase; Stakeholder Midstream plans to double San Andres facility; Williams, Sempra look to link Haynesville with Gulf Coast LNG; Iron Horse to increase Anadarko Basin capacity 30 | EPA Methane Proposal: Additional regulatory details fail to reassure 80 | U.S. EIA: Winter gas prices project to top $6 an MMBtu 80 | Texas Trends: TIPRO says industry employment still climbing OFFICIAL CONVENTION SECTION 35 | GO-WV: Industry's intertwined interests illustrated in West Virginia COLUMNS 25 | Tech Connections 27 | Washington Watch DEPARTMENTS 11 | Calendar 14 | Oil & Gas Counts 16 | Industry Digest 82 | Industry Focus 89 | Classified Advertising 90 | Advertisers Index