Chesapeake Energy oil and gas exploration summary

Chesapeake is in the midst of a transformation in strategy, from a company focused on acquiring and holding land, to one intent on delivering value with every well. A petroleum systems-based approach to identifying new opportunities on its vast U.S. Lower 48 acreage is now in effect, led by using enormous amounts of in-house well and seismic data. Over the past decade, the company has accumulated large acreage positions, funded through joint ventures, asset sales, debt accumulation and alternative financing. Despite a heavy focus on farm-outs and divestments, Chesapeake retains a large inventory of proved reserves in some of the most prolific resource plays in North America. Full-cycle returns over the decade were 16%, somewhat dampened by Chesapeake's initial focus on gas plays. The switch to liquids-rich plays, the emphasis on unlocking opportunities on existing acreage and the use of new drilling and completion techniques, all point to a future with healthier value creation.