Haynesville Shale Oil & Gas Production
The Haynesville Shale produces about 15.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day (2025). Straddling Louisiana and East Texas, the Haynesville is a deep, hot, high-pressure dry-gas play — and it sits closer to the Gulf Coast LNG export terminals than any other major gas basin, which has made it a preferred supply source as US LNG export capacity has expanded.
Key Figures
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas output (#3 of tracked US basins) | 15.5 Bcf/d | 2025 · EIA DPR |
| Active rigs (Haynesville) | 57 (+1 wk) | 2026-10-09 · Baker Hughes · 9% of US rigs |
| Character | Deep (often 10,500–13,500 ft), high-pressure, high-temperature dry natural gas | EIA |
| States | Louisiana and East Texas | EIA |
| Strategic position | The closest major US gas basin to Gulf Coast LNG export terminals, keeping pipeline distances and costs low | EIA |
Every major US shale basin compared side by side, plus the breakeven-vs-WTI chart, decline curves and water use: how fracking works.
Built for LNG Exports
Depth and cost
- Haynesville wells are drilled deeper and at higher pressure and temperature than most other US shale-gas plays, which raises well costs but also yields high per-well flow rates.
- Because it is entirely a dry-gas play, its economics move with Henry Hub gas prices rather than with crude oil.
Why LNG demand favors it
- Its proximity to Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast LNG terminals means shorter, cheaper pipeline runs than gas sourced from Appalachia or the Rockies.
- As US LNG export capacity has grown, that proximity has made the Haynesville one of the more actively drilled gas basins even when domestic gas demand alone would not justify it.
Major Producers in the Haynesville Shale
| Company | Type | Ownership | Ticker |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP | Integrated major | Publicly traded; no controlling shareholder. | BP |
| Comstock Resources | Independent producer (public) | Publicly traded and controlled by Jerry Jones: entities he controls held 70.9% of the common stock as of 7 April 2026 (proxy statement). | CRK |
| Expand Energy | Independent producer (public) | Publicly traded; no controlling shareholder. | EXE |
| Matador Resources | Independent producer (public) | Publicly traded. | MTDR |
| Adamas Energy (formerly Aethon) | Private producer | A wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, which closed its purchase of Aethon's Haynesville business in July 2026. | — |
| Black Stone Minerals | Mineral & royalty company | Publicly traded limited partnership. | BSM |
Companies with a material producing position in this basin, from the oil company directory (hand-curated from company filings; positions change with deals, so check the latest filing before relying on it). It is not a production ranking.
Haynesville Shale FAQ
How many rigs are drilling in the Haynesville Shale?
Baker Hughes counted 57 active rigs in Haynesville Shale (Haynesville) in the week of Oct 9, +1 week on week and 9% of the 603 active US rigs.
Who are the biggest operators in the Haynesville Shale?
Companies in this site's directory with material producing positions in the Haynesville Shale include BP, Comstock Resources, Expand Energy, Matador Resources, Adamas Energy (formerly Aethon), Black Stone Minerals (some hold non-operated interests). Ownership and the other basins each one works are in the producer table above and in the oil company directory.
How much natural gas does the Haynesville Shale produce?
The Haynesville Shale produced about 15.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day in 2025 (EIA DPR). Deep, hot, high-pressure dry gas; the closest big play to the Gulf Coast LNG terminals.
Why does the Haynesville matter for LNG exports?
It sits closer to Gulf Coast LNG export terminals in Louisiana and Texas than any other major US gas basin, so its gas reaches those terminals with shorter, cheaper pipeline runs. That proximity has made it a preferred supply source as US LNG export capacity has expanded.