Mewbourne Oil’s activity in Block 43T4S, Crane County, Texas follows a disciplined, textbook unconventional development cadence: permit → drill → validate → build facilities → scale. The data strongly supports the conclusion that this program began with a small pilot phase, progressed through technical validation, and has now transitioned into a full multi-well development campaign.
Phase 1: Pilot Permitting and Technical Validation (2024)
The first licenses for the Block 43T4S program were issued on September 5, 2024, covering two initial wells. These wells were likely designed to validate reservoir quality, lateral performance, and completion design before committing to broader capital deployment.
Drilling activity for these pilot wells began shortly after, with the first recorded activity date on October 7, 2024. Both wells are marked as Completed in the dataset, although no completed dates were reported—consistent with early-stage pilots where completion reporting lags or is consolidated internally.
At this stage, Mewbourne limited operational exposure:
- A single target field (PEART – Barnett)
- 100% horizontal wells
- Tight depth range (~9,700–11,500 ft)
- Limited rig usage (primarily Patterson 809)
This reflects a controlled pilot program focused on technical validation rather than production scale.
Phase 2: Licensing Expansion and Program Confidence (2025)
Following the success of the initial wells, Mewbourne significantly expanded its licensing activity. The dataset shows:
- 14 total well permits
- 79% of wells not yet drilled, indicating forward-looking inventory
- A full licensing window from September 5, 2024 to October 6, 2025
- An average license date of July 25, 2025, marking the midpoint of scale-up planning
Licensing cadence spans 396 days, signaling deliberate pacing rather than speculative leasing. This is consistent with Mewbourne’s reputation for methodical capital deployment.
Surface data confirms pad-based development, with multiple wells concentrated in the same Block–Abstract–Section combinations and a small number of core leases hosting most wells. This clustering lowers per-well costs and simplifies facility design.
Phase 3: Facility Buildout as the Scale Trigger (December 2025)
The most important confirmation of project validation occurs with the facility air permit, received on December 10, 2025. The permit—filed as an OGS New Project Notification for New Registration—covers oil and gas production facilities in Crane County and was approved the same day, with a status of COMPLETE UL CONEJO C-34 VCTB 1.
This timing is critical.
Facilities are rarely permitted unless:
- Initial wells meet or exceed expectations
- Additional drilling is planned
- Centralized handling (compression, separation, storage) is required
The facility almost certainly supports:
- The two completed pilot wells
- The upcoming multi-well development inventory
In short, the facility marks the formal transition from pilot to manufacturing mode.
Phase 4: Full Development Drilling (2025–2026)
Drilling activity extends through December 9, 2025, creating a 428-day active drilling window. The average spacing between drilling events—214 days—indicates batch-style development, not continuous drilling. This suggests Mewbourne is:
- Aligning drilling with capital cycles
- Sequencing pad builds
- Coordinating completions with facility readiness
With 11 of 14 wells not yet drilled, the bulk of the program remains ahead.
Estimated Project Completion Timeline
Based on observed cadence:
- Final licenses issued: October 6, 2025
- Facility permitted: December 10, 2025
- Drilling still underway as of December 2025
Estimated drilling and completion window for remaining wells:
➡️ Q1 2026 – Q3 2026
Estimated full project buildout completion:
➡️ Late 2026
This aligns with Mewbourne’s typical development tempo for multi-pad unconventional projects.
Estimated Total Project Cost
Using conservative Permian Basin benchmarks:
Drilling & Completion
- ~10,300 ft average well depth
- Estimated $7.5–9.0 million per horizontal well
- 14 wells × ~$8.25M = ~$115 million
Production Facilities
- Centralized production facility, compression, tankage, flowlines
- Estimated $15–25 million
Estimated Total Project Cost
➡️ $130–140 million
Final Takeaway
Mewbourne Oil’s Block 43T4S program exemplifies disciplined shale development:
- Pilot wells to validate the reservoir
- Rapid transition to pad-based inventory
- Facility construction timed precisely after technical confirmation
- Scaled drilling staged over multiple capital cycles
This is not exploratory drilling—it is manufacturing-grade unconventional development, with the heaviest activity still ahead.
