Corral Creek-Bakken Unit -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA -- A Unit Plan -- A First -- A Model? -- My Math May Be Off -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Graphics

July 13, 2020:

 
Updates

Remember: all wells tested after 7/14 might have been affected by new flaring rules put into effect in 2014.

December 22, 2016: note a comment from a reader today. "PH" in the name of some of the wells noted in this field stands for "PILOT HOLE." Pilot holes were drilled for monitoring purposes; the wells were not planned to be producers; some may be converted to SWD wells once their purpose has been fulfilled.

July 1, 2016: CLR with 18 new permits in the Jim Creek / Corral Creek oil fields.

June 30, 2016: random update of the Corral Creek oil field. 

June 3, 2014: random update of one area of Corral Creek oil field. 

December 29, 2013: new pipeline announced -- Bakken Oil Express -- Killdeer to Dickinson.
December 16, 2012: human interest story on Corral Creek.

The permits have been updated below. Note that "they" are starting to drill the Three Forks, also, in this field. On this date, the field is 60 sections; on the west edge (but outside) of the reservation; mostly T147N-95W; approximately six sections with part or all surface under the river; drilling concentrated in the southwest corner of this field; only one wells in the 17 sections in the north; two rigs now; COP says they will be moving in a third rig in the spring;the most interesting location today is the four-corner area where sections 19-20-29-30 meet:

Sited:

• 6464, PA/298, GPE-ALAQ-19-147-95 BN 1, Duperow (Red River dry); t7/78,  40K total;
• 8298, PA/238, 29-147-95 Burlington Northern 1/Coastal Oil & Gas, Red River, 9/81; 16K total;
• 17308, drl, BR, CCU Meriwether 44-19TFH, 4/12; no IP yet;
• 17313, 68, BR, CCU Williams 14-20H, Bakken; t10/08; cum 129K 10/12;
• 19856, 130, BR, CCU Meriwether 44-19MBH, t7/12; cum 900 bbls 10/12;
• 22814, see below
• 22815, see below
• 24245, see below
• 24246, see below
• 24247, see below
• 24481, see below
• 24482, see below
• 24483, see below
• 24484, see below

 Toe-end of horizontals at the four-corner area:

• 17082, 75, BR, CCU Powell 14-32H, Bakken, t6/08; cum 57K 10/12;
• 17590, 698, BR, CCU Carol 44-31H, Bakken, t3/09; cum 93K 10/12;

And a bit farther to the west, another toe-end:

• 16798, 453, BR, CCU Prairie Rose 24-31H, Bakken, t4/08; cum 196K 10/12;

November 3, 2012: another link regarding minimizing pad drilling in the Little Missouri State Park.

The Little Missouri State Park is a hideaway in western North Dakota with 47 miles of backpacking and horseback trails. But with 10 million barrels of oil beneath the park, it is becoming another target for drilling.

"This area should probably have never been developed anyway. But in a state park, we would think that there would automatically be a a prohibition on oil development," said Clay Jenkinson.

But there is nothing stopping oil companies to develop in the state park. Not even the state can stand in the way because it only owns seven percent of the minerals in the park.

"If the state made a decision that it was not going to lease its minerals, it really could not stop the development. It would just be forgoing revenue. So the best thing to do is sit down with a potential operator and work out an agreement about where the wells are going to be placed so that to the extent possible you keep them out of the way," said Lynn Helms, North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Director.

The state made that agreement with Burlington Resources to create a large 30,000 acre drilling pad known as unitization, that will house 80 wells. Five additional well pads will be located inside the park with up to 15 wells.

May 18, 2012: Five new permits for Burlington Resources in Corral Creek on this date (see below: 22965, 22966, 22967, 22968, and 22970).  Note the "P" designation on one of the wells (#22970).  Whiting is using the "P" designation for the Pronghorn Sand. Is BR targeting three payzones in Corral Creek: middle Bakken, Three Forks, and Pronghorn Sand? This will put three wells in one of these spacing units, and four wells in another spacing unit.

Permits

2020 (none as of April 8, 2020)

2019 (the list is complete)
37260, drl/IA, BR, CCU Pacific Express 32-19TFH-R, API 33-025-03971; Corral Creek, t--; cum --; fracked 3/1/20 - 3/11/20; 9.3 million gallons of water (typical); 86% water by mass; friction reducer, low;
36324,
36236,
36076,
36075,
36074,
36195,
36194,
36193,

2018 (the list is complete)
35295,
35294,


2017 (the list is complete)
33811,
33810,
33809,
33808,
33807,
33806,


2016 -- need to complete
32511, 220, BR, CCU Mainstreeter 6-1-25TFH, Corral Creek, t3/19; bcum 136K 5/20;
32510, conf, BR, CCU Mainstreeter
32509, conf, BR, CCU Mainstreeter
32508, conf, BR, CCU Mainstreeter
32467, 152, BR, CCU Boxcar 8-8-22MBH, Corral Creek, t7/19; cum 207K 4/20; off line 5/20;
32466, conf, BR, CCU Audubon
32465, conf, BR, CCU Golden Creek
32464, dry/dry, BR, CCU Burner 1-1-26TFH,

2015 (list is complete)
32422, 225, BR, CCU Boxcar 6-8-22 MBH, Corral Creek, t6/19; cum 291K 4/20; off line 5/20;
32421, conf, BR, CCU Boxcar
32420, conf, BR, CCU Audubon
32348, conf, BR, CCU Mainstreeter
32347, conf, BR, CCU Mainstreeter
32346, conf, BR, CCU Mainstreeter
32334, conf, BR, CCU Red River
32332, conf, BR, CCU Red River
32331, conf, BR, CCU Red River
32330, conf, BR, CCU Dakotan
32269, conf, BR, CCU Atlantic Express
32268, conf, BR, CCU Pacific Express
32267, conf, BR, CCU Pacific Express
32208, conf, BR, CCU Atlantic Express
32207, conf, BR, CCU Atlantic Express
32206, conf, BR, CCU Pacific Express
32136, conf, BR, CCU Pacific Express
32135, conf, BR, CCU Pacific Express
32134, conf, BR, CCU Atlantic Express
32079, drl, BR, CCU Badger 3-3-14 MBH,
32078, drl, BR, CCU Badger 2-3-14TFH,
32077, drl, BR, CCU Badger 2,3-154MBH, 
32076, drl, BR, CCU Badger 1-3-14TFH,
32005, 1,680, BR, CCU Bison Point 14-34 TFH/CCU Zephyr....t2/17; cum 168K 6/19; off line 6/19; remains off line, 2/20;
32004, 1,272, BR, CCU Zephyr 44-34 MBH, t2/17; cum 374K 2/20;
32003, SI/NC, BR, CCU Zephyr 34-34 TFH, t2/17; cum 268K 3/18; sporadic production since 3/18; remains off line 2/20;
32002, 2,117, BR, CCU Zephyr 34-34 MBH, t2/17; cum 372K 2/20;
32001, 361, CCU Zephyr
32000, 882, CCU Zephyr 24-34 MBH,
31999, 2,035, BR, CCU Zephyr 14-34TFH,
31950, 2,035, BR, CCU Crosby USA 41-6H, t1/16; cum 57K 10/16;
31937, 481, BR, CCU Plymouth 21-29TFH, t2/16; cum74K 10/16;
31936, 2,204, BR, CCU Plymouth 11-29MBH, t2/16; cum 91K 10/16;
31935, 521, BR, CCU Plymouth 11-29TFH, t2/16; cum 91K 10/16;
31934, 2,245, BR, CCU Atlantic Express 41-30MBH, t2/16; cum 128K 0/16;
31906, 1,670, BR, CCU Burner 1-1-26MBH, t12/16; cum 365K 2/20;
31905, 1,065, BR, CCU Golden Creek 2-1-26MBH, t12/16; cum 476K 5/20;
31904, conf, BR, CCU Golden Creek
31760, 2,352, BR, CCU Audubon 3-7-22TFH, t12/15; cum 152K 10/16;
31759, 2,472, BR, CCU Boxcar 4-7-22TFH, t12/15; cum 146K 10/16;
31581, conf, BR, CCU Audubon
31580, conf, BR, CCU Audubon
31579, conf, BR, CCU Boxcar
31402, 1,824, BR, CCU Burner 31-26 TFH; t12/15; cum 94K 10/16;
31401, 1,848, BR, CCU Golden Creek 34-23 TFH; t12/15; cum 78K 10/16;
31180, 3,287, BR, CCU Atlantic Express 23-19 MBH; t2/16; cum 121K 10/16;
31179, 2,124, BR, CCU Atlantic Express 13-19 TFH; t2/16; cum 109K 10/16;
31178, 2,044, BR, CCU Pacific Express 12-19 TFH; t1/16; cum 118K 10/16;
30940, 2,405, BR, CCU Bison Point 34-34MBH; t12/15; cum 126K 10/16;
30939, 2,325, BR, CCU Bison Point 34-34TFH; t1/16; cum 102K 10/16;
30938, 2,445, BR, CCU Bison Point 24-34MBH; t1/16; cum 106K 10/16;
30937, 2,164, BR, CCU Bison Point 24-34TFH, t1/16; cum 134K 10/16;
30780, 2,525, BR, CCU Gopher 22-15MBH, t9/15; cum 149K 10/16;
30779, 2,325, BR, CCU Gopher 1-2-15TFH, t9/15; cum 105K 10/16;
30778, 1,844, BR, CCU Red River 8-2-15MBH, t9/15; cum 135K 10/16;
30777, 1,960, BR, CCU Red River 7-2-15TFH, t10/15; cum 92K 10/16;

Permits issued in 2014 (list is complete)
30367, 2,318, CLR, Brandvik 7-25H2, Corral Creek, t1/19; cum 235K 4/20; off line 5/20;
30366, SI/NC, CLR, Brandvik
30365, SI/NC, CLR, Brandvik 5-25H1,
30364, SI/NC, CLR, State Weydahl
30363, SI/NC, CLR, State Weydahl
30362, 2,575, CLR, State Weydahl 5-36H1, Corral Creek, t1/19; cum 387K 4/20; off line 5/20;
30117, 875, BR, CCU Dakotan 5-8-17MBH, t8/15; cum 150K 10/16;
30116, 1,899, BR, CCU Dakotan 4-8-17TFH, t9/15; cum 110K 10/16;
30115, 1,823, BR, CCU Dakotan 3-8-17MBH, t8/15; cum 153K 10/16;
30092, 2,664, BR, CCU Dakotan 7-8-17MBH, t8/15; cum 178K 10/16;
30091, 2,445, BR, CCU Dakotan 7-8-17TFH, t9/15; cum 118K 10/16;
30089, 2,577, BR, CCU Dakotan 5-8-17TFH, t8/15; cum 106K 10/16;
29982, 1,848, BR, CCU Dakotan 2-7-17TFH, t8/15; cum 134K 10/16;
29981, 2,352 BR, CCU Dakotan 1-7-17MBH, t8/15; cum 166K 10/16;
29980, 1,968, BR, CCU Dakotan 1-7-17TFH, t8/15; cum 100K 10/16;
29979, 1,824, BR, CCU Dakotan 2-7-17MBH, t8/15; cum 133K 10/16;
29555, 1,497, CLR, State Weydahl 4-36H1, t7/15; cum 238K 10/16;
29533, 1,964, BR, CCU Main Streeter 24-24TFH, t3/15; cum 181K 10/16;
29532, 1,924, BR, CCU Main Streeter 14-24MBH, t2/15; cum 187K 10/16;
29220, 2,044, BR, CCU Golden Creek 44-23MBH, t2/15; cum 207K 10/16;
29219, 1,643, BR, CCU Golden Creek 44-23TFH, t2/15; cum 139K 10/16;
29218, 1,643, BR, CCU North Coast 4-8-23TFH, t3/15; cum 126K 10/16;
29217, 2,244, BR, CCU North Coast 4-8-23MBH, t3/15; cum 127K 10/16;
29070, conf, BR, CCU Audubon 31-27TFH,
29069, conf, BR, CCU Audubon 21-27MBH,
29068, conf, BR, CCU Boxcar 34-22TFH,
29067, conf, BR, CCU Boxcar 24-22MBH,
28369, 2,766, BR, CCU Pullman 6-8-7MBH, t116K 10/16;
28368, 2,004, BR, CCU Pullman 7-8-7TFH, t3/15; cum 68K 10/16;
28367, 2,886, BR, CCU Pullman 7-8-7MBH, t3/15; cum 144K 10/16;
28366, 1,403, BR, CCU Pullman 8-8-7TFH, t3/15; cum 92K 10/16;
28365, 1,320, BR, CCU Pullman 6-8-7TFH, t1/15; cum 93K 10/16;
28364, 2,160, BR, CCU Pullman 5-8-7MBH, t/15; cum 128K 10/16;
28363, 2,160, BR, CCU Pullman 5-8-7TFH, t2/15; cum 111K 10/16;
28355, 2,244, BR, CCU Pullman 3-8-7MBH, t2/15; cum 155K 10/16;
28354, 2,445, BR,  CCU Pullman 3-8-7TFH, t2/15; cum 108K 10/16;
28352, 2,445, BR, CCU Pullman 1-8-7TFH, Corral Creek, t2/15; cum 153K 10/16; the file report contains BR's 2014 plan for developing the Corral Creek;
27890, 1,008, BR,  CCU Olympian 11-2TFH, t10/14; cum 106K 10/16;
27889, 1,992, BR, CCU Olympian 11-2MBH, t9/14; cum 202K 10/16;
27808, 2,705, BR, CCU Olympian 31-2MBH, t9/15; cum 129K 10/16;
27807, 2,333, BR, CCU Olympian 31-2TFH, t10/15; cum 116K 10/16;
27806, 2,059, BR, CCU Olympian 21-2MBH, t10/15; cum 139K 10/16;
27754, 1,536, BR, CCU Olympian 44-35TFH, t9/14 cum 161K 10/16;
27753, 1,848, BR,CCU Olympian 44-35MBH, t9/14; cum 190K 10/16;
27745, 2,416, XTO, Brandvik 44X-13C, t11/14; cum 223K 10/16;
27744, 2.026, XTO, Brandvik 44X-13H, t11/14; cum 198K 10/16;
27743, 2,510, XTO, Brandvik 44X-13D, t11/14; cum 219K 10/16;
27742, 2,937, XTO, Brandvik 44X-13G, t12/14; cu 184K 10/16;
27741, 1,649, XTO, Brandvik 24X-13F, t9/14; cum 226K 10/16;
27740, 2057, XTO, Brandvik 24X-13E2, t10/14; cum 218K 10/16;

Permits issued in 2013 (list complete)
27269, 2,324, BR, CCU Red River 24-9MBH, t6/14; cum 168K 10/16;
27268, 1,803, BR, CCU Red River 34-9TFH, t6/14; cum 171K 5/20;
27267, 2,525, BR, CCU Red River 34-9MBH, t6/14; cum 5K 9/14;
27132, 2,164, BR, CCU Corral Creek 31-28MBH, t8/14; cum 13K 9/14;
27130, 1,964, BR, CCU Four Aces 34-21MBH, t8/14; cum 10K 9/14;
27129, 1,362, BR, CCU Four Aces 34-21TFH, t8/14; cum 13K 9/14;
26681, 1,844, BR, CCU North Coast 11-25TFH, t5/14; cum 52K 9/14;
26680, 2,664, BR, CCU Burner 41-26MBH, t4/14; cum 56K 9/14;
26679, 1,776, BR, CCU Burner 41-26TFH, t3/14; cum 38K 9/14;
26439, 2,084, BR, CCU Four Aces 14-21TFH, t4/14; cum 27K 9/14;
26438, 2,405, BR, CCU William 44-20MBH, t4/14; cum 75K 9/14;
26437, 2,124, BR, CCU Corral Creek 11-28TFH, t4/14; cum 25K 9/14;
26436, 1,944, BR, CCU Powell 41-29MBH, t11/14; cum 158K 10/16;
26409, 1,964, BR, CCU Corral Creek 11-28MBH, t8/14; cum 6K 9/14; 
26408, 1,283, BR, CCU Corral Creek 21-28TFH, t8/14; cum 7K 9/14;
26407, 1,884, BR, CCU Four Aces 24-21TFH, t8/14; cum 9K 9/14;
26406, 2,164, BR, CCU Four Aces 24-21MBH, t8/14; cum 8K 9/14;
26390, 1,272, BR, CCU North Coast 21-25TFH, t3/15; cum 102K 10/16;
26389, 1,920, BR, CCU North Coast 21-25MBH, t3/15; cum 232K 10/16;
26388, 1,680, BR, CCU North Coast 31-25TFH, t4/15; cum 80K 10/16;
26387, 2,112, BR, CCU North Coast 31-25MBH, t3/15; cum 150K 10/16;
25910, 2,544, BR, CCU Columbian 33-1MBH, t2/14; cum 16K 4/14;
25909, 2,880, BR, CCU Columbian 33-1TFH, t3/14; cum 12K 4/14;
25908, 2,976, BR, CCU Columbian 43-1MBH, t3/14; cum 14K 4/14;
25907, 2,712, BR, CCU Columbian 43-1TFH, t3/14; cum 8K 4/14;
25822, 1,403, BR, CCU Columbian 24-36TFH, t2/14; cum 6K 4/14;
25821, 2,164, BR, CCU Columbian 14-36TFH, t3/14; cum 14K 4/14;
25784, 1,924, BR, CCU William 14-20TFH, t2/14; cum 3K 4/14;
25783, 2,485,, BR, CCU William 14-20MBH, t2/14; cum 4K 4/14; 
25510, 2,766, BR, CCU William 44-20TFH, t2/14; cum 7K 4/14;
25509, 2,886, BR, CCU William 34-20MBH, t2/14; cum 30K 4/14;
25508, 1,202, BR, CCU Powell 41-29TFH, t815; cum 75K 10/16;
25507, 2,926, BR, CCU Powell 31-29MBH, t2/14; cum 5K 4/14;
25439, 2,979, BR, CCU Bison Point 44-34TFH, t10/13; cum 66K 4/14;
25438, 2,972, BR, CCU Bison Point 44-34MBH, t9/13; cum 75K 4/14;
25280, 1,964, BR, CCU William 34-20TFH, t10/13; cum 61K 4/14;
25279, 2,966, BR, CCU William 24-20MBH, t10/13; cum 84K 4/14;
25278, 2,605, BR, CCU William 24-20TFH, t10/13; cum 59K 4/14;
24982, 2,992, BR, CCU Four Aces 44-21MBH, t11/13; cum 91K 4/14;
24981, 2,559, BR, CCU Four Aces 44-21TFH, t11/13; cum 71K 4/14;
24980, 2,894, BR, CCU Corral Creek 41-28MBH, t10/13; cum 58K 4/14;
24979, 2,982, BR, CCU Corral Creek 41-28TFH, t10/13; cum 31K 4/14;
24906, 2,971, BR, CCU Meriwether 34-19TFH, t7/13; cum 50K 4/14;
24905, 2,846, BR, CCU Prairie Rose 31-30MBH, t8/13; cum 204K 10/16;

Permits issued in 2012

• 22814, 2,365, BR, CCU Powell 31-29MBH, 29-147-95; 2-well pad; t10/12; cum 232K 5/20;
• 22815, 1,643, COP/BR, CCU Powell 21-29MBH, 29-147-95; 2-well pad;  t10/12; cum 66K 4/14;
• 22965, 2,896, BR, CCU Golden Creek 34-23MBH; 4-well pad; t4/13; cum 165K 4/14;
• 22966, 1,648, BR, CCU Golden Creek 24-23MBH; 4-well pad; t4/13; cum 87K 4/14;
• 22967, 2,242, BR, CCU Burner 21-26MBH; 4-well pad; t8/13; cum 4K 4/14;
• 22968, 2,129, BR, CCU Burner 21-26TFH; 4-well pad; t7/13; cum 83K 4/14;
• 22970, dry, BR, CCU Golden Creek 33-23PH, a Birdbear well, single well; sited in an unusual location within the section; PH = pilot hole; drilled as a monitoring hole; never expected to be a production well; some PH wells converted to SWD wells;
• 23133, 2,004, BR, CCU, Prairie Rose 41-30MBH, 3-well pad; t2/13; cum 90K 4/14;
• 23134, 2,124, BR, CCU Powell 11-29TFH, 3-well pad; t2/13; cum 50K 4/14;
• 23135, 1,844, BR, CCU Powerll 11-29MBH, 3-well pad; t2/13; cum 78K 4/14;
• 23208, 240, BR, CCU Boxcar 44-22PH, Corral Creek, single well; t10/13; cum 1K 4/14;
• 23783, 640, CLR, Brandvik 4-25H, 2-well pad (in same section as 2-well pad for #23785), t10/13; cum 74K 4/14;
• 23784, 632, CLR, Brandvik 3-25H, 2-well pad; t10/13; cum 79K 4/14;
• 23785, 400, CLR, State Weydahl 3-36H, 2-well pad (in same section as 2-well pad for #23783); t8/13; cum 84K 4/14;
• 23786, 691, CLR, State Weydahl 2-36H, 2-well pad; t8/13; cum 94K 4/14;
• 24245, 2,445, BR, CCU Prairie Rose 11-30 TFH, Corral Creek, 3-well pad; t7/13; 60K 4/14;
• 24246, 2,164, BR, CCU Meriwether 14-10TFH, Corral Creek, 3-well pad; t7/13; cum 85K 4/14;
• 24247, 2,966, BR, CCU Meriwether 14-19MBH, Corral Creek, 3-well pad; t7/13; cum 69K 4/14;
• 24481, 1,824, BR, CCU Meriwether 24-19TFH, Corral Creek, 4-well pad; t7/13; cum 29K 4/14;
• 24482, 2,963, BR, CCU Meriwether 24-19 MBH, Corral Creek, 4-well pad; t7/13; cum 51K 4/14;
• 24483, 2,840, BR, CCU Prairie Rose 21-30MBH, Corral Creek, 4-well pad; t7/13; cum 63K 4/14;
• 24484, 2,932, BR, CCU Prairie Rose 31-30TFH, Corral Creek, 4-well pad; t8/13; cum 90K 4/14;

Earlier permits of interest:

• 16912, 266, BR, CCU Burner 41-26H, t4/08; cum 367K 5/20;
• 17781, exp-->LOC, BR, Golden Creek 44-23H,
• 18080, 999, BR, CCU North Coast 11-25H, t10/09; cum 111K 4/14;
• 18120, 2,966, BR, CCU Mainstreeter 14-24TFH,t2/14; cum 172K 10/16;

Original Post

Link here.

This is huge, literally and figuratively.

Some time ago, it was reported that all the permits in a certain area of the Bakken, North Dakota, were declared null and void by the NDIC. At the time I opined that the NDIC was working to come up with a solution to minimizing the oil industry's footprint in a state park. It looks like they have come up with a great plan.

North Dakota regulators on Tuesday approved a huge new oil production unit north of Killdeer that includes a state park and thousands of acres of rugged, scenic land in the state’s western Badlands.

The formation of the Corral Creek-Bakken unit, which covers almost 50 square miles, will allow production of up to 43 million barrels of oil while using fewer oil drilling pads and tank storage batteries, said Lynn Helms, director of the state’s Department of Mineral Resources.

“The number of trucks will be much, much less because the gas, the oil and the water are all going to move by pipeline,” Helms said. “It’s much more efficient in terms of the impacts and use of the landscape.”

The unit plan is the first for the Bakken and Three Forks oilfields in western North Dakota, which have been mostly responsible for the state’s boom in energy development.

Some data points:

• Burlington Resources (COP) will manage the unit
• Burlington, the state, and the federal government own more than 60 percent of the unit's mineral production rights
• >60 percent ownership is large enough to seek unit approval
• to drill 80 oil wells over six years or more; already has 12 producing wells
• now, BR says they can finish the unit in 3.5 years
• 30,000-acre unit
• 43 million bbls of oil vs the 28 million if the unit was broken into smaller drilling units
• the unit sits in Dunn County, about 15 miles north of Killdeer, south of the Little Missouri River
• the unit includes the Little Missouri State Park

43 million bbls/30,000 acres --> 1,433 bbls/acre --> 1 million bbls/section: that's the "official" word. Others can correct/review/check the math.

Bakken/Three Forks wells in Dunn County:

• at least four wells/1,280-acre unit
• as many as eight wells/1,280-acre unit
• EURs for a well in the core Bakken approaching 1 million bbls
• 30,000 acres --> close to 50 sections --> 25 1,280-acre units
• I'll let others do the math -- I've already done it

Somewhere my math must be off.