EOG Nomenclature

EOG appears to have at least seven (7) series of wells in the Parshall field in North Dakota: the 100 series, the 101 series, the 102 series, the 108 series, the 111 series, the 129 series, and the 142 series.  Maybe they are not "series" of wells, but simply some type of chronological numbering system. And maybe they are just there to confuse us.

More to follow as "we" begin to sort this out.

More hints:

April 30, 2010: Another Liberty "LR" well, #18979, EOG, Liberty LR 14-23H ("R" under the river?)

March 18, 2010: EOG has a new abbreviation ("LR")  for one of its wells in the Van Hook -- Liberty LR 16-36H.

It appears every "simple" named well in the Parshall for EOG, is a development well, such as Van Hook 8-36H, or Liberty 10-36H.  Within the same township (151-91) EOG has two names for their wells, "Van Hook" and "Liberty." Are they targeting different formations?

Examples
Examples of 108, 111, 129, and 142
18767, EOG, Wayzetta 108-08H, Mar 3, 2010
18807, EOG. Wayzetta 111-30H, Mar 15, 2010
18808, EOG, Wayzetta 142-30H, Mar 15, 2010
18850, EOG, Wayzetta 129-08H
Note: 18807 and 18808 are in same section but with different series, 111 and 142. Likewise, 18767 and 18850 are in same section (8) but one has a 108 number and the other a 129 number. My understanding was that producers had to number their wells chronologically but I can't believe there are going to be 142 wells in Wayzetta.

BEXP With Operational Update

In a press release today, BEXP announces that it has purchased 10,000 net acres in the Rough Rider Project Area. The RRPA is in the area north and west of Williston and going into Montana. The CEO says that he expects BEXP to purchase additional acreage.

BEXP also announced three "additional high initial rate completions."

18547, Jerome Anderson 15-10 #1H, Ross project area, 3,115, Alger Field, 30 frac stages
18522, Papineau Trust 17-20 #1H, RRPA, 3,042, 29 frac stages
18456, Kalil 25-36 #1H, RRPA, 1,586, 30 frac stages

BEXP says it "has  now completed 16 consecutive long lateral high frac stage Bakken and Three Forks wells with an average 24 hour peak rate of approximately 2,417 boepd."

The Jerome Anderson: highest IP for BEXP in the Ross area

The Papineau well: first BEXP well in McKenzie with more than 19 frac stages

Going to 30 stages from 19 stages has significantly increased IPs (61% in the Papineau-over-Figaro comparison). What was left unsaid was the significant decline rate in Bakken wells after the initial month of production. 

Additional Acreage

The "additional acreage adds over 23 net potential Bakken drilling locations assuming 1280-acre spacing and 3 wells per spacing unit....BEXP plans to drill its first operated Rough Rider Three Forks well during the second quarter of 2010, and, if successful....adds over 23 net potential Three Forks locations to BEXP's inventory."

The 10,000 acre-purchase could mean 46 more wells, half in the Middle Bakken and half in the Three Forks Sanish.

To see the press release, go to BEXP news release page and click on press releases.

Biggest Bakken Stories of the Past Week

Week 10, 2010 (Mar 7 - Mar 14, 2010)

1. We're starting to see more Dakota Candles and Orion Belts: multiple-well sites.

2. We hit a new record in number of active rigs in North Dakota: 104 on March 12 2010.

3. North Dakota puts forth plan to draw water from Missouri River for fracking.

4. More stories on horizontal drilling in the Spearfish formation. EOG is bringing their Canadian experience targeting the Spearfish to Bottineau County in North Dakota.

5. Slawson and NOG announce another test to see if Bakken and TFS communicate.

6. American Oil and Gas (AEZ) sold all its holdings in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, to become a pure play in the Bakken.

7. North Dakota stomps California in honey production. North Dakota retains its number one position; South Dakota leaps to second place, pushing California to third.

8. The Birdbear formation gets acknowledged as another oil producing target in this boom.

9. March 8, 2010: the century mark! 100 active rigs in North Dakota.

10. February state lease sale second highest in history.

.... and, of course, folks could begin ordering the Apple iPad for home delivery, April 3, 2010.

DKRW and North American Natural Gas Shortage

September 1, 2010: I have not heard back from DKRW after asking about their outlook for natural gas which is the first thing one sees on their home page:

"The most conservative estimates of North American natural gas supply demonstrate a serious shortfall in production for the foreseeable future. With short supply driving prices higher, we are now seeing some of the highest natural gas prices in the world here in the Southwestern United States and Mexico. With so much of our energy infrastructure and industry tied directly to natural gas, it is necessary to identify and deliver more competitive supply options in order for the US and Mexican economies to grow."

Fact: "we" are swimming in natural gas, more is being found every day, and price of natural gas is at or near historic lows.

March 21, 2010: Update: I have not heard back from DKRW after asking about their outlook for natural gas which is the first thing one sees on their home page:

"The most conservative estimates of North American natural gas supply demonstrate a serious shortfall in production for the foreseeable future. With short supply driving prices higher, we are now seeing some of the highest natural gas prices in the world here in the Southwestern United States and Mexico. With so much of our energy infrastructure and industry tied directly to natural gas, it is necessary to identify and deliver more competitive supply options in order for the US and Mexican economies to grow."

March 16, 2010: I sent my inquiry to DKRW on March 15, 2010. On that same date they acknowledged receipt; to date no response.

*****

Is it just me or do others find this opening statement at their home page by DKRW confusing, or worse?

"The most conservative estimates of North American natural gas supply demonstrate a serious shortfall in production for the foreseeable future. With short supply driving prices higher, we are now seeing some of the highest natural gas prices in the world here in the Southwestern United States ..."

Everything I read suggests just the opposite, specifically: North America is swimming in natural gas; and, the price of natural gas continues to deteriorate.

Just after I posted the above, I came across this link: energy companies moving away from natural gas.

Clear Water Field Update

 News

April 27, 2010: #18961, EOG, Kandiyohi 5-30H, new permit.

April 14, 2020: Perhaps this is a non-story, that EOG is simply going to apply for a new lease with slightly different parameters. But on the other hand, the Clearwater has not been stellar and maybe EOG's cancellation of Clearwater 11-18H, #18597, suggests EOG issues with the Clearwater.

March 21, 2010: The Bakken pool (Bakken/Three Forks Sanish) is the play in Clear Water field, but it should be noted that the field, "owned" by EOG along with some Hess wells, is relatively close to Bottineau County where there is a huge interest in the Spearfish formation. 

March 20, 2010: Sidonia Township (T158N-90W) Update; also see comment section at that same link for update on Clear Water Township (T157N-90W update.

Permits
2015
30592, loc, EOG, Sidonia 56-2932H,
30591, loc, EOG, Sidonia 110-2932H,
30589, loc, EOG, Sidonia 104-2932H,
30588, loc, EOG, Sidonia 105-2932H,
30587, loc, EOG, Sidonia 52-2932H,
30586, loc, EOG, Sidonia 53-2932H,

2014
None

2013
None

2012
22932, 334, EOG, Redmond 28-2917, t4/13; cum 152K 11/14;
22931, 142, EOG, Redmond 27-2932H, t4/14; cum 157K 11/14;
22208, 823, EOG, Sidonia 45-0409H, t8/12; cum 114K 11/14;

2011
21430, EOG,
21362, Hunt
21171,
20972, Petro-Hunt,
20873, Hess,
20836, Hess
20598, EOG,
20471, EOG,
20448, EOG,
20445, EOG,
20440, EOG,
20432, EOG,
20430, EOG,

 

Clear Water Field

The Clear Water field is another interesting field due to its location. It is about as far east and as far north in the North Dakota Bakken that has been found to be productive. And, again, it appears that it was EOG who quietly but aggressively went into the area signing a huge number of leases in late 2009. I was so surprised how quickly and aggressively EOG moved into this area, that I put most of these wells on my "Wells to Watch" list. For that same reason, I posted a pretty good summary of what was going on in the Sidonia Township (Clear Water field) on February 21, 2010.

To date, based on IPs, the wells have not been exciting. Certainly these IPs, in the 400 bbl range, are nothing compared to the EOG wells in the Parshall, where 1,000 bbl-IPs were the norm.

The Clear Water field is also referred to as the "Corridor 50" because ND State Highway 50 runs east-west through the northern boundary of the field.  The Clear Water is immediately north of the small town of Palermo (although Palermo itself is inside the Ross oil field).

The Clear Water is a relatively small field, composed of two townships, and about half of a third township. The townships, south to north are: Clearwater (157-90); Sidonia (158-90); Kandiyohi (159-90). In addition, there are eleven and twelve sections respectively in 157-89, and 158-89.

After getting those permits and signing those leases, EOG has quickly moved into the Clear Water. Two new wells are almost complete -- the big rigs have been moved off -- and there are currently five rigs on site inside the Clear Water (March 15 ,2010), as well as a sixth rig, a wildcat, just on the north edge of the Clear Water field (20-159-90).

There are about 27 new permits. There are ten (10) producing wells, two of those are long laterals, and eight are short laterals. With a few exceptions, there is a permit/well in every section of the Clear Water. The exceptions are in the far north and the east. 

Something else to put into perspective: EOG's activity in the Clear Water field is 25 miles directly south of their (EOG) Bottineau wells and their (EOG) wells in southwest Manitoba where EOG is going horizontally into the Spearfish formation.

Going forward, the Bakken Shale Discussion Group might follow this activity at this thread.