By A. Lee Graham Approach Resources Inc. of Fort Worth reports 15 percent higher preliminary production in first-quarter 2013 compared to the same period last year. Preliminary production for first-quarter 2013 reached 754 million barrels of oil equivalent compared to 654 million in first-quarter 2012. Meanwhile, estimated oil production for first-quarter 2013 surged 63 percent to 310 million barrels compared to 191 million barrels in first-quarter 2012. Estimated first-quarter 2013 production breaks down to 41 percent oil, 28 percent natural gas liquids (NGLs) and 31 percent natural gas. That’s compared to 29 percent oil, 33 percent NGLs and 38 percent natural gas in first-quarter 2012. Impacting first-quarter 2013 production was a third-party NGL fractionation facility repair and maintenance, which the company said lowered its average volumes by about 6.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent per day beginning the second week of March. As of April 6, 2013, almost all production was back online, the company reported. More quarterly performance information, including comparisons to fourth-quarter 2012, is expected when the company releases full first-quarter 2013 results on Thursday May 2. Approach Resources Inc., an independent oil and gas company with core operations, production and reserves in West Texas’ Permian Basin, operates about 148,000 net acres in that region. More information is available at www.approachresources.com. lgraham@bizpress.net