EQT’s Toby Z. Rice Discusses Historic 5.5 Mile Lateral and the Future of American Natural Gas on Longer Laterals

July 8, 2026

Washington, D.C. – The American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC) today released a new episode of Longer Laterals featuring Toby Z. Rice, President and CEO of EQT. The episode explores how EQT achieved drilling the Longwell 9H, a natural gas well located in West Virgina measuring over seven miles in depth with a record-setting lateral length of more than five and a half miles.

Rice and Longer Laterals host Anne Bradbury also discuss what reaching this milestone means for unlocking America’s abundant natural gas inventory and why setting drilling records is easier than building basic energy infrastructure.

Watch the episode.

“We’ve got an amazing challenge in front of us to increase our natural gas production in this country” to meet growing demand both domestically and from our allies around the world, says Rice. It’s “very encouraging that we are able to continue to innovate and push the limits to create safer, cleaner, more reliable, more affordable energy.”
 
But innovation alone can’t overcome the regulatory roadblocks and endless litigation that block access to affordable energy for millions of Americans, according to Bradbury. “Operators are doing everything they can and pushing the boundaries on what can be done below the ground. We need permitting reform to make sure we can build the infrastructure above the ground to move that product.”
 
About Longer Laterals:
Hosted by Anne Bradbury, Longer Laterals takes you beyond the headlines to explore the driving forces shaping U.S. oil and natural gas today. Each episode, Anne sits down with the key energy players to unpack the policies, challenges, and opportunities that impact jobs, communities, and America’s role as a global energy leader.    
 
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