Comments on the NDIC Hearing Dockets for June, 2012

I have completed my usual "summary" of the NDIC hearing dockets.

Some comments:

1. This seemed to be a particularly short docket. Generally, each day has 19 - 20 pages of cases. This time it was about 14 pages each day. It did not take long to summarize the report.

2. For the past several months now there has been a trend toward four to seven wells on each spacing unit. In this month's report, I was surprised to see that Hess is looking to put up to as many as nine wells in each of several 1280-spacing units in Robinson Lake, and as many as nine wells in one 640-acre spacing unit in Cedar Coulee. The Robinson Lake oil field is incredible; click here to see how a Hess 6-well pad is doing. Also, results of a very nice Hess 6-well pad in Robinson Lake here. If you can access the NDIC GIS map server, take a look at the multi-well pads in Robinson Lake. It's quite impressive.

3. I thought this case was interesting:

• 18159: XTO, Corral Creek-Bakken, 8 wells on an existing 1280-acre unit; Dunn

I thought BR was given the responsibility for developing this field.

4. It seems this hearing will be dominated by BEXP, Hess, and Oasis. 

5. Resource Drilling, LLC: first time I saw this company. According to NDIC, Resource Drilling has one well:

• 21171, Halvorson 14-13 1H, Clear Water,

6. Interesting space units:

• 18111: Samson Resources, West Ambrose-Bakken Pool, create a 2080-acre unit, 14 wells; Divide
  18112: Samson Resources, Ambrose-Bakken Pool, create 5 2080-acre units; 14 wells on each unit; 70 wells; Divide;

7. Petro Uno Resources: first time I saw this company. According to NDIC, Petro Uno has one well:

• 15167, Petro Uno,  Beta Race Federal 22-6, Ice Caves

8. 18021: Whiting, Chateau-Three Forks Pool, proper spacing for development of this field; Billings County. I don't understand this. The Bakken Pool incorporates the three Bakken formations (upper, middle, and lower) and the multiple formations of the Three Forks. I don't know why NDIC is calling this the "Three Forks Pool." In this same hearing docket there is another case in which NDIC refer to a "Sanish Pool."