Update on the Scanlan 3-5H, #18770, Truax Field

Someone asked about the "Scanlan 3-5H."

Assuming we are talking about:

• 18770, 819, North Plains Energy, LLC, Scanlan 3-5H, Truax field, Middle Bakken; 21 stages; 2.1 million lbs

Here is the most recent NDIC data:

• This well was spudded on 6/4/10.
• The IP was tested on 9/8/10.  (Again, three months from spud date suggests a short, but not excessively long delay in fracking,)
• The IP was 819.

Production data:

• In September, 2010, for 23 days it produced 19,039 bbls;  published "runs": 18,400 and no natural gas produced or sold or flared
• In October, 2010, 27 days, it produced 11,789 bbls; published "runs" of 11,770 bbls; 102,000 cubic feet of natural gas produced; 77,000 cf flared; none sold
• In November, 2010: 18 days; 6,319 bbls produced; published "runs" of 6,252 bbls; 2 million cubic feet of natural gas produced; most of it flared
• In December, 2010: 31 days; 10,860 bbls produced; published "runs" of 10,483 bbls; 17 million cubic feet of natural gas, and all of it flared, not of it sold
• In January, 2011: 31 days; 9,474 bbls produced; published "runs" of 9,493 bbls; 21 million cubic feet of natural gas produced and all of it flared.

The well has produced a cumulative of 57,481 barrels (if I did not make any typos, adding up monthly production should total cumulative production), in less than five full months. Someone elsewhere has said he/she uses 100,000 barrels as the breakpoint for paying for the well (at the wellhead). For me, this would be a very, very good well. Maybe not great compared to some in the Bakken, but if this wells pays for itself in 18 months, and then runs for 25 - 30 years, that's not bad.

It is my understanding that "runs" is the amount of oil "run" into the pipeline to be sold.

As a rule of thumb, one can divide cubic feet of natural gas by 6,000 to get rough estimate of "oil equivalent."  Thus, 21 million cubic feet of natural gas equates to 3,500 barrels of oil equivalent.  I could be wrong on this last point and if I am wrong, I am sure that someone will write in to tell me I'm wrong. This sounds like a lot of boe but Lynn Helms says natural gas is not economical for North Dakota Bakken wells.

I also could have made typographical errors on this but I will correct them if I find them or someone points them out to me.

This well is still flowing on its own; no pump (or assisted lift) yet, although that will eventually happen (based on experience in the Bakken). Its total depth was 18,955 feet which means it was a long lateral, and its spacing is two sections (1280 acres).