NDIC's April Dockets

Comments regarding this month's docket hearings:

1. You will see a lot of requests for multiple wells on 2560-acre spacing. 2560-acre spacing is not new. This was being addressed back in March, 2010:

• 12244: Commission; 2560-acre spacing for all future BAKKEN POOL horizontal drilling
• 12245: Commission; 1280-acre spacing for standup and / or laydown horizontal drilling
• 12246: Commission; eliminate/reduce the setbacks currently established for heel and toe of horizontal wells in ND

2. There are scores of pooling cases in this month's hearings. Because I consolidate pooling cases into a single line, it is not as obvious, but there are literally scores of pooling cases, pretty much one of the last administrative steps before drilling.

3. 6 wells on a 640-acre unit. We're used to seeing 6 - 7 wells on a 1280-acre spacing unit, but we don't often see six wells in one section (at this point in the boom; later on it will be routine). One example is case 17434, a request by Hess to place as many as wells in one section in the Manitou-Bakken field. The Manitou field is near the bull's eye of the Bakken; and just west of "ground zero" for the oil industry in North Dakota. Another example is case 17499, in which Hess wants to put 6 wells in a 640-acre unit in Alger field, another very, very good field. By the way, the rumored 12-well pad for $100 million is in Alger field. (You know, when Filloon first rumored this, it seemed like a big deal; no longer such a big deal -- and that was just a week ago or so.)

4. The Lodgepole well north of Williston continues to excite some folks, including me. Case 16897, continued from last month, concerns the Oasis Clark well.

5. Marmon oil field is getting a lot of attention. Petro-Hunt wants the field extended by 18 sections in the township to the west. One section (section 34) is already part of the Otter oil field, so I am not sure how that will work out. Case 17444. Marmon field is about 20 miles west-northwest of Ray, which should end up being a pretty good field.

6. BR wants to put 14 wells on a 2560-acre spacing unit. Case 17446.

7. Some crazy trivia. Petro Uno Resources has one (1) permit in the state of North Dakota, file #15167. Petro Uno has an active well, Beta Race Federal 22-6, drilled back in 2001. In this month's hearing, Petro Uno is asking for temporary spacing for this well. Case 17551. This is a Duperow/Red River well that is producing less than 100 bbls/month; cumulative is about 72K since it was spudded in 2001. Initially targeting the Red River, it last produced from that formation on a regular basis in 2006. It re-entered the Duperow in 2010.

8. Hess is requesting to place as many as 6 wells on 1280-acre spacing units in no less than 16 oil fields in the Williston Basin.

9. I've talked often about the legacy formations (Madison, Red River, Duperow). I've opined often that "they" didn't quit drilling the Madison because it had nothing else to offer; they quit drilling when opportunities got better elsewhere. At $100/bbl, the Madison is looking good again. So, Zenergy is going after the Madison with requests for 17 640-acre units and 8 320-acre units in McKenzie and Williams counties. Cases 17579 - 17581. Petro-Harvester is also going after the Madison, case 17444.

10. More interesting trivia. Zenergy is requesting to create 20 1280-acre units in Foreman Butte. This field is already spaced for the most part as 1280-acre units, and yet almost every well in that field is a short lateral. (It's possible, they were drilled when the field was spaced with 640-acre units and has since been changed to 1280-acre, but I have no idea). Case 17582.

11. This is about as active as I've seen Zenergy in any docket. Zenergy is requesting up to 147 wells in four cases, 17750 - 17753.

12. Remember the Cottonwood field that Fidelity discovered, and then sold to Oasis? Look at case 17456: Oasis is requesting spacing for as many as 54 wells in 9 new 1280-acre units, 6 wells each on those units.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

17432, BEXP, proper spacing for Sandrocks-Bakken, McKenzie
17433, Hess, designate a 1280-acre unit, 6 wells; South Meadow-Bakken, Williams
17434, Hess, add a 640-acre unit; 6 wells, Manitou-Bakken, Mountrail,
17435, Hess, revoke an OXY USA permit, Dunn County
17436, Hess, violated flaring rule, Ross-Bakken, Mountrail
16899, cont'd, Hess, revoke a CLR permit, Williams County
16890, cont'd, Hess, revoke a CLR permit, Williams County
17437, SM, temporary spacing, Nelson 15-11H, McKenzie
17438, SM, to drill Dahl Federal 2-15H within 121 feet of line, Baker-Bakken, McKenzie
16897, cont'd, Oasis, temporary spacing, Clark 12-13H, Williams; enact special field rules as may be necessary; this is the Lodgepole formation well north of Williston
17439, New Millenium Resources, to terminate the Zenith-Tyler "A" Unit, Stark County
17430, cont'd, New Millenium Resources; injection; Zenith-Tyler "A" Unit, Stark County
17440, Petro Harvester, establish a 960-acre unit; Columbus-Madison Pool, 4 horizontal wells; Burke
17441,  Cornerstone Natural Resources, establish a 1280-acre unit, Northeast Foothills-Bakken, Burke
17442, Sequel Energy, establish a 1280-acre unit, McGregor-Bakken; allow 2 hz wells in Temple-Bakken, Williams
17443, Sequel Energy, establish 6 1280-acre units, one well each, Bakken, McKenzie
17444, Petro-Hunt, include 18 new sections in Marmon-Bakken; 5 hz wells on 3 existing 1280-acre spacing units and 5 hz wells on nine proposed 1280-acre units, Williams
17445, BR, establish 3 overlapping 2560-acre units, one or more hz wells between the existing 1280-acre units; Keene-Bakken/Three Forks, McKenzie
17446, BR, establish a 2560-acre unit, 14 wells; up to 7 wells on an existing 1280-acre unit, Sand Creek-Bakken, McKenzie
17447, BR, 2 wells in 640-acre units, Flat Top Butte-Bakken, McKenzie
17364, cont'd, Oasis, establish 2 1280-acre unit; 1 well each, Bakken, Burke
16634, cont'd, Windsor Energy, establish 5 1920-acre units, Van Hook-Bakken, Mountrail
16125, cont'd, XTO, revoke a CLR permit, McKenzie
15676, cont'd, XTO, revoke a CLR permit, McKenzie
16913, cont'd, Whiting, establish a 1280-acre unit, 4 wells, Billings
17448, American Eagle, amending field rules in Colgan-Bakken, Divide
17372, cont'd, CLR, revoke a Liberty Resources LLC permit, Williams
17449, QEP, create 2 1280-acre unit, 1 hz well each, McLean County
17450, QEP,  4 wells in 640-acre unit; 4 wells in another 640-acre unit, Heart Butte-Bakken, Dunn
17451 - 17454, Petro Harvester, pooling
17455, Cornerstone Natural Resources, pooling
17456, Oasis, 6 wells each on 9 1280-acre units, Cottonwood-Bakken, Mountrail (54 wells)
17457, Oasis, 6 wells on a 1280-acre unit, Sanish-Bakken, Mountrail
17458 - 17488, Oasis, pooling
17489, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Rainbow-Bakken, Williams
17490, Hess, 6 hz wells on 2 1280-acre units, Marmon-Bakken, Williams
17491, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Midway-Bakken, Williams
17492, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, White Earth-Bakken, Mountrail
17493, Hess 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Tioga-Bakken, Mountrail
17494, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Pleasant Valley-Bakken, Mountrail
17495, Hess, pooling
17496, Hess, 6 hz wells on 3 1280-acre units, Sorkness-Bakken, Mountrail
17497, Hess, 6 hz wells on 3 1280-acre units, Tyrone-Bakken, Williams
17498, Hess, 6 hz wells on 2 1280-acre units, Baskin-Bakken, Mountrail
17499, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 640-acre unit, and on a 1280-acre unit, Alger, Mountrail
17500, Hess, pooling
17501, Hess, 6 hz wells on  a 1280-acre unit, Capa-Bakken, Williams
17502, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Alkali Creek-Bakken, Mountrail
17503, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Truax-Bakken, Williams
17504, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Robinson Lake-Bakken, Mountrail
17505, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Banks-Bakken, McKenzie
17506, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Lone Butte-Bakken, Dunn
17507, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Jim Creek-Bakken, Dunn
17508, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Beaver Lodgge-Bakken, Williams
17509, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Big Butte-Bakken, Mountrail
17510, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Dollar Joe-Bakken, Williams
17511, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Lone Tree Lake-Bakken, Williams
17512, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Manitou-Bakken, Mountrail, Williams
17513, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Oliver-Bakken, Williams
17514, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Ray-Bakken, Williams
17515, Hess, 6 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Wheelock-Bakken, Williams
17516, BR, pooling
17517, BR, pooling
17518, Petro-Hunt, 5 hz wells on 2 1280-acre units, Dublin-Bakken, Williams
17519, Petro-Hunt, 5 hz wells on 4 1280-acre units, Ellisville-Bakken, Williams
17520 - 17522, Petro-Hunt, pooling
17523 - 17524, BR, pooling
17525, BR, 7 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit, Westberg-Bakken, McKenzie
17526, BR, 7 hz wells on 2 1280-acre units, North Fork-Bakken, McKenzie
17527, MRO, commingling Strommen wells, Dunn
17528 - 17529, American Eagle, pooling
17530, Slawson, Davis Exploration, risk penalty legalese, Mountrail
17531, Slawson, Davis Exploration, risk penalty legalese, Mountrail
17532, KOG, risk penalty legalese, Divide
17533, KOG, risk penalty legalese, Williams
17534, KOG, risk penalty legalese, Williams
17535, KOG, risk penalty legalese, Williams
17536, KOG, risk penalty legalese, Williams
17537, KOG, risk penalty legalese, Williams
17538, KOG, risk penalty legalese, Williams
17539, SBG, SWD
17540, Petro Harvester, SWD
17541, Petro Harvester, SWD
17542, Petro Harvester, SWD
17543, Maverick, SWD
17544, Marquis, SWD
17545, Bosque, SWD
17546, Mann, SWD
17547, SB, SWD

Thursday, April 26, 2012

17548, Fidelity, temporary spacing, Wanner 44-23H, Stark
17549, Slawson, temporary spacing, Condor 1-36-25H, McKenzie
17550, Slawson, a dual lateral in each of 2 640-acre units, Big Bend-Bakken
17210, cont'd, Slawson, establish a 1280-acre unit, 7 wells, Sand Creek-Bakken, McKenzie
17551, Petro Uno Resources, temporary spacing for Beta Race Federal 22-6, Billings
17552, EOG, proper spacing for developemnt of Little Butte-Bakken, Burke
17553, Sinclair, extend and establish a 1280-acre unit, 1 well, Parshall-Bakken, Mountrail
17554, BEXP, temporary spacing, McKenzie
17555, CLR, KOG, proper spacing for Wildrose-Bakken, Divide
17556, CLR, KOG, Newfield, proper spacing for Pembroke-Bakken, McKenzie
17557, CLR, establish a 1280-acre unit, 1 hz well; Antelope-Sanish, McKenzie
17558, CLR, create 4 overlapping 2560-acre units; Brooklyn-Bakken, multiple hz wells; Williams
17559, CLR, create 3 overlapping 2560-acre units; Dollar Joe-Bakken, multiple hz wells, Williams
17560, CLR, create an overlapping 2560-acre unit, Oliver-Bakken, multiple hz wells, Williams
17561, CLR, create 2 overlapping 2560-acre units, Rainbow and Oliver-Bakken, multiple hz wells, Williams
17562, CLR, create an overlapping 2560-acre unit, multiple hz wells, Indian Hill, McKenzie
17563, CLR, create a 2560-acre unit, multiple hz wells, Indian Hill, MeKenzie, Williams
17564, CLR, create an overlapping 2560-acre unit, multiple wells, North Tobacco Garden-Bakken, McKenzie
17565, CLR, create an overlapping 2560-acre unit, multiple wells, Squires-Bakken, Williams
17566, CLR, create an overlapping 2560-acre unit; 2 overlapping 2560-acre units; and, an overlapping 2240-acre unit; multiple wells, Hebron-Bakken, Williams
17567, CLR, create an overlapping 2560-acre unit, multiple wells, Camp-Bakken, McKenzie
17568, CLR, create an overlapping 2560-acre unit, and an overlapping 2880-acre unit, multiple wells; Crazy Man Creek-Bakken, McKenzie, Williams
17569, CLR, create three overlapping 2560-acre units, multiple wells, Banks-Bakken, McKenzie, Williams
17570, CLR, extend, create 2 1920-acre units, 1 well each, Baker and/or Last Chance-Bakken, McKenzie, Williams
17571, CLR, extend, create a 1280-acre unit, 1 well, Little Knife-Bakken, Billings
17572, Encore Energy Partners Operating LLC, create a 640-acre unit, 1 well, Horse Creek-Red River "B", Bowman
17573, Encore, create an overlapping 320-acre unit, 1 well, Buffalo Wallow-Madison, McKenzie
17574, Enerplus, 4 wells on a 1280-acre unit, Eagle Nest-Bakken, McKenzie
17575, Hunt, create  an overlapping 1280-acre unit, 3 wells, Parshall-Bakken, Mountrail
17576, Hunt, create a 1280-acre unit, 1 wells, Bear Butte-Bakken, McKenzie
17577, Hunt, create 2 1280-acre units, 1 well on each, Buffalow Wallow-Bakken, McKenzie
17578, Denbury, alter the stratigraphic limits of the pool, Siverston-Bakken, McKenzie
17579, Zenergy, establish 15 640-acre units; and, 2 320-acre units; 2 wells on each, Nobly Lake, Dore, and/or Assiniboine-Madison pools (34 wells), McKenzie
17580, Zenergy, create 4 320-acre units, 1 well each, Dublin-Madison, Williams
17581, Zenergy, create 4 320-acre units, 1 well each, Marmon-Madison, Williams
17582, Zenergy, create 20 1280-acre units, 7 wells each, Foreman Butte-Bakken, McKenzie
17583, Scott Environmental Services, statewide portable waste treatment
17584, 212 Water Serivces, multiple portable waste treatment plants
17187, cont'd, Chesapeake, temporary spacing for Zent 30-138-95, Stark
15737, cont'd, Legacy Oil, temporary spacing, Bottineau County
16425, cont'd, Zavanna, temporary spacing for Koufax 3-10 1H, McKenzie
17212, cont'd, Liberty Resources, revoke a Zenergy permit, McKenzie
17585, Clean Fluid Solutions, treatment of drilling fluids, Dunn
17586, Sawyer Disposal, portable waste treatment
17587, Atlas Oilfield Construction, operate portable waste treatment
17588, GADECO, complete the Golden 25-13H well, Williams
17213, cont'd, GADECO, establish a 1280-acre uit, 1 well; Williams
17589 - 17619, Slawson, pooling
17620, Slawson, flaring, Ross-Bakken, Mountrail
17621, Slawson, 4 640-acre units, 2 wells each; 2 overlapping 1280-acre units, 5 wells each, Big Bend-Bakken, Mountrail
17622, Slawson, 4 1280-acre units, 6 wells each, Boxcar Butte-Bakken, McKenzie
17623, XTO, pooling
17624, XTO, flaring, Sorkness-Bakken, Mountrail
17625, XTO, 2 1280-acre units, 8 wells each, Bear Creek-Bakken, Dunn
17626, XTO, 2 1280-acre units, 8 wells each, Truax-Bakken, Williams
17627, CLR, risk penalty legalese, Divide
17628 - 17636, CLR, pooling
17220, cont'd, CLR, risk penalty legalese, Divide
17637, CLR, flaring, East Fork-Bakken, Williams
17638, CLR, 3 1280-acre units, 7 wells each, East Fork-Bakken, Williams
17639 - 17640, BEXP, pooling
17641 - 17644, BEXP, flaring
17645, BEXP,  8 wells on a 1280-acre unit, Lake Trenton-Bakken, Williams
17646, BEXP, SWD
17647, BEXP, SWD
17648 - 17689, EOG, pooling
17690, EOG, 3 1920-acre units, 2 wells each, Parshall-Bakken, Mountrail
17691, EOG, flaring
17692, EOG, SWD
17693, EOG, Swd
17694, Arsenal, pooling
17695 - 17697, Triangle, pooling
17698, Hunt, pooling
17699, Hunt, risk penalty legalese, McKenzie
17700, Hunt, risk penalty legalese, McKenzie
17701, Hunt, flaring
17702, Hunt, 3 1280-acre units, 4 wells each, Lake Ilo-Bakken, Dunn
17703, Hunt, 1 1280-acre unit, 4 wells, Bailey-Bakken, Dunn
17704, Hunt, 4 1280-acre units, 4 wells each, Werner-Bakken, Dunn
17705, Newfield, pooling
17036, cont'd, risk penalty legalese, McKenzie
17706 - 17723, WPX, pooling
17724, WPX, a 1280-acre unit, 7 wells, Reunion Bay-Bakken, Dunn
17725, WPX, a 640-acre unit, 3 wells, Spotted Horn-Bakken, McKenzie
17726, WPX, a 320-acre unit, 2 wells, Mandaree-Bakken, Dunn
17727 - 17736, Samson Resources, pooling
17737, Samson Resources, flaring
17738, Samson Resources, commingling Duperow, Red River, and Birdbear pools, Golden Valley
17739, Samson Resources, flaring
17740, Samson Resources, flaring
17741, Samson Resources, flaring
17742, Samson Resources, flaring
17743, Samson Resource, flaring
17744, Baytex, flaring
17745, Baytex, 3 1280-acre units, 7 wells each, Lone Tree Lake-Bakken, Williams
17746, Liberty Resources, flaring
17747, Crescent Point, flaring
17748, Crescent Point, flaring
17749, Zenergy, flaring
17750, Zenergy, 11 1280-acre units, 7 wells each, Banks-Bakken, McKenzie (77 wells)
17751, Zenergy, 5 1280-acre units, 7 wells each, Siverston-Bakken, McKenzie (35 wells)
17752, Zenergy, a 1280-acre unit, 7 wells, Elidah-Bakken, McKenzie
17753, Zenergy, 4 1280-acre units, 7 wells, Painted Woods-Bakken, Williams (28 wells)
17754, Denbury, SWD
17755, Zavanna, SWD
17756, Silver Oak, SWD
17757, Kihle, SWD
17758, Alexander, SWD
17759, Environmentally Clean Systems, SWD
17760, Flatland, SWD
16863, cont'd, Corinthian, commingling, Bottineau