Extremely Esoteric -- Water Flooding -- Unitization Spacing -- Red River -- Encore -- North Dakota, USA

Other Examples/Updates

After the original post, "Brian" sent me another example of a well that benefited from water flooding.

• 14212, 4,331, Denbury Onshore, Heart River 1-4, Lodgepole well

This well was spudded in 1996. Based on the well file it looks like water flooding began in late 2000/early 2001. Prior to November, 2000, this well produced no water. The spacing for this well is "U" (unitized).

The well has produced a total of 2,130,700 bbls of oil to date and is still producing anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 bbls/month. It has produced a total of 2,330,113 bbls of water during this period. (A side note: an entry into the Three Forks with this same well was DRY.)

Original Post

The question is this: are there any companies using water flooding as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique in North Dakota? The answer is "yes." Water flooding has been used in formations other than the Bakken. In addition, air injection has also been used, but that's another story for another time, perhaps.

For those interested in additional details regarding water flooding and Encore wells mentioned earlier, the following may be an example.

This is an older well targeting the Red River formation in Horse Creek oil field in Bowman County. 

If I understand it correctly, the spacing is "U" -- unitized.

Note the amount of water: 867,648 bbls which suggests water flooding.

In addition, in the well file itself, there is a comment to the effect that "flooding will continue." It does not state specifically that it was water flooding, but I can't imagine anything else.

This was the first (and only such) well I've looked at so far to see how it matches a possible explanation for "water production" by Encore wells.

NDIC File No: 14703     API No: 33-011-00897-00-00     CTB No: 405200
Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 3/9/1998     Wellbore type: Horizontal
Location: NESE 31-129-104     Footages: 1400 FSL 1100 FEL     Latitude: 45.949042     Longitude: -103.726155
Current Operator: ENCORE ENERGY PARTNERS OPERATING LLC
Current Well Name: HILTON 3-31
Elevation(s): 3179 KB     Total Depth: 11939     Field: HORSE CREEK
Spud Date(s):  12/27/1997
Casing String(s): 9.625" 2232'   7" 9411'  
Completion Data
   Pool: RED RIVER     Perfs: 9411-11939OH     Comp: 3/9/1998     Status: AL     Date: 3/9/1998     Spacing: U
Cumulative Production Data
   Pool: RED RIVER     Cum Oil: 115828     Cum MCF Gas: 519394     Cum Water: 867658
Production Test Data
   IP Test Date: 3/9/1998     Pool: RED RIVER     IP Oil: 10     IP MCF: 0     IP Water: 420

Monthly Production Data

Pool	Date	Days	BBLS Oil	Runs	BBLS Water	MCF Prod	MCF Sold	Vent/Flare
RED RIVER	5-2011	30	645	648	3989	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	4-2011	28	847	863	3785	1120	0	1120
RED RIVER	3-2011	2	40	0	303	80	0	80
RED RIVER	2-2011	28	11	0	0	1120	0	1120
RED RIVER	1-2011	28	509	444	3666	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	12-2010	31	588	699	2528	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	11-2010	30	541	444	2434	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	10-2010	31	580	683	2542	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	9-2010	30	577	452	2404	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	8-2010	31	628	680	2832	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	7-2010	31	613	670	2942	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	6-2010	29	593	674	3976	1160	0	1160
RED RIVER	5-2010	31	571	433	4658	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	4-2010	30	615	669	4653	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	3-2010	31	659	658	4726	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	2-2010	26	530	455	4112	1040	0	1040
RED RIVER	1-2010	22	459	459	2486	880	0	880
RED RIVER	12-2009	30	432	450	2654	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	11-2009	30	539	442	3562	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	10-2009	31	592	666	3777	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	9-2009	30	579	661	3402	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	8-2009	31	629	674	3448	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	7-2009	31	595	465	3468	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	6-2009	30	587	703	3379	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	5-2009	31	493	686	3494	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	4-2009	30	815	455	3426	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	3-2009	31	315	491	3694	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	2-2009	28	561	471	3431	1120	0	1120
RED RIVER	1-2009	31	415	701	3922	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	12-2008	20	522	454	2214	800	0	800
RED RIVER	11-2008	30	592	467	3139	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	10-2008	31	614	689	3246	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	9-2008	30	593	473	3385	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	8-2008	31	624	678	3509	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	7-2008	27	416	459	3382	1080	0	1080
RED RIVER	6-2008	30	647	677	3440	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	5-2008	29	533	424	3037	1160	0	1160
RED RIVER	4-2008	30	339	429	3178	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	3-2008	29	663	648	2465	1160	0	1160
RED RIVER	2-2008	29	584	451	3099	1160	0	1160
RED RIVER	1-2008	31	630	655	3558	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	12-2007	31	601	686	3540	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	11-2007	30	619	695	3780	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	10-2007	31	793	841	3794	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	9-2007	30	596	646	3943	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	8-2007	31	640	655	3943	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	7-2007	31	607	422	4135	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	6-2007	30	521	629	4030	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	5-2007	31	733	635	4086	1240	0	1240
RED RIVER	4-2007	30	492	641	2432	1200	0	1200
RED RIVER	3-2007	31	749	430	2164	1295	0	1224
RED RIVER	2-2007	28	588	647	2279	1196	0	1132
RED RIVER	1-2007	31	598	663	2510	1325	0	1254
RED RIVER	12-2006	31	640	662	2619	1325	0	1254
RED RIVER	11-2006	30	623	661	2712	1265	0	1196
RED RIVER	10-2006	31	654	459	3023	1338	0	1267
RED RIVER	9-2006	30	637	652	2715	1305	0	1236
RED RIVER	8-2006	31	656	876	3138	1349	0	1278
RED RIVER	7-2006	31	666	651	3720	1371	0	1300
RED RIVER	6-2006	30	563	430	3673	1001	0	1001
RED RIVER	5-2006	31	683	872	4087	1242	0	1242
RED RIVER	4-2006	28	666	644	4188	1292	0	1292
RED RIVER	3-2006	25	567	642	3931	1203	0	1203
RED RIVER	2-2006	17	426	431	2385	831	0	831
RED RIVER	1-2006	31	707	650	4278	1407	0	1407
RED RIVER	12-2005	31	715	435	4505	1493	0	1493
RED RIVER	11-2005	30	682	646	4499	1649	0	1649
RED RIVER	10-2005	30	680	853	4561	2003	0	2003
RED RIVER	9-2005	29	677	652	4417	2425	0	2425
RED RIVER	8-2005	31	688	643	4862	2718	0	2718
RED RIVER	7-2005	31	698	866	4623	2896	0	2896
RED RIVER	6-2005	30	660	647	4323	2811	0	2811
RED RIVER	5-2005	31	673	634	4716	2899	0	2899
RED RIVER	4-2005	30	662	641	4595	3172	0	3172
RED RIVER	3-2005	20	507	431	3272	2427	0	2427
RED RIVER	2-2005	28	705	648	4679	3240	0	3240
RED RIVER	1-2005	31	770	900	5291	3723	0	3723
RED RIVER	12-2004	31	787	648	5404	3955	0	3955
RED RIVER	11-2004	26	739	643	4708	4044	0	4044
RED RIVER	10-2004	24	624	859	4218	3283	0	3283
RED RIVER	9-2004	30	768	673	5336	4115	0	4115
RED RIVER	8-2004	31	817	881	7068	4270	0	4270
RED RIVER	7-2004	31	831	875	5465	4387	0	4387
RED RIVER	6-2004	30	779	665	5662	4272	0	4272
RED RIVER	5-2004	31	777	881	5556	4333	0	4333
RED RIVER	4-2004	30	837	869	5586	3842	0	3842
RED RIVER	3-2004	31	866	873	5709	3712	0	3712
RED RIVER	2-2004	29	806	669	5479	3368	0	3368
RED RIVER	1-2004	30	868	890	5808	3788	0	3788
RED RIVER	12-2003	30	959	886	6061	4978	0	4978
RED RIVER	11-2003	30	863	877	5424	5720	0	5720
RED RIVER	10-2003	31	852	879	5604	6705	0	6705
RED RIVER	9-2003	30	850	891	5455	6827	0	6827
RED RIVER	8-2003	31	886	885	5669	7457	0	7457
RED RIVER	7-2003	30	893	1103	5842	8115	0	8115
RED RIVER	6-2003	30	986	652	6024	8973	0	8973
RED RIVER	5-2003	30	996	1105	5755	9484	0	9484
RED RIVER	4-2003	14	373	223	2407	5437	0	5437
RED RIVER	3-2003	24	702	866	4376	7250	0	7250
RED RIVER	2-2003	28	903	1095	5211	9217	0	9217
RED RIVER	1-2003	31	1014	895	5831	10208	0	10208
RED RIVER	12-2002	31	1036	1110	5815	10410	0	10410
RED RIVER	11-2002	30	975	873	6445	10212	0	10212
RED RIVER	10-2002	31	1053	1099	6427	10660	0	10660
RED RIVER	9-2002	30	1004	873	5780	9632	0	9632
RED RIVER	8-2002	31	1010	1101	6010	9508	0	9508
RED RIVER	7-2002	31	1007	1097	5751	9523	0	9523
RED RIVER	6-2002	29	957	885	5370	8208	0	8208
RED RIVER	5-2002	31	1017	1097	5697	8633	0	8633
RED RIVER	4-2002	30	978	881	5670	9248	0	9248
RED RIVER	3-2002	31	1066	1125	5786	8635	0	8635
RED RIVER	2-2002	28	951	891	5321	6882	0	6882
RED RIVER	1-2002	31	1055	1098	5779	6761	0	6761
RED RIVER	12-2001	31	1017	887	5289	5905	0	5905
RED RIVER	11-2001	30	895	1108	5513	5430	0	5430
RED RIVER	10-2001	31	954	662	5799	4937	0	4937
RED RIVER	9-2001	30	891	1090	5148	3367	0	3367
RED RIVER	8-2001	31	908	873	5583	3145	0	3145
RED RIVER	7-2001	31	888	873	5563	3173	0	3173
RED RIVER	6-2001	29	855	874	5175	2919	0	2919
RED RIVER	5-2001	31	899	885	5692	3100	0	3100
RED RIVER	4-2001	30	823	881	5878	2950	0	2950
RED RIVER	3-2001	31	929	884	5210	3364	0	3364
RED RIVER	2-2001	28	837	882	4485	3689	0	3689
RED RIVER	1-2001	31	942	884	5151	5335	0	5335
RED RIVER	12-2000	29	1013	1103	6299	7466	0	7466
RED RIVER	11-2000	29	962	917	6197	7180	0	7180
RED RIVER	10-2000	30	948	885	7632	7463	0	7463
RED RIVER	9-2000	30	978	885	8303	7470	0	7470
RED RIVER	8-2000	29	944	1132	8397	7656	0	7656
RED RIVER	7-2000	31	1017	894	8853	7485	0	7485
RED RIVER	6-2000	30	960	1114	8809	7645	0	7645
RED RIVER	5-2000	31	1077	1119	9431	7983	0	7983
RED RIVER	4-2000	30	934	899	9595	6951	0	6951
RED RIVER	3-2000	30	883	670	10022	7485	0	7485
RED RIVER	2-2000	27	823	898	8107	6062	0	6062
RED RIVER	1-2000	31	845	891	9625	5801	0	5801
RED RIVER	12-1999	31	916	896	10136	6084	0	6084
RED RIVER	11-1999	30	916	889	9961	5265	0	5265
RED RIVER	10-1999	31	891	884	10306	4821	0	4821
RED RIVER	9-1999	30	873	893	10108	4323	0	4323
RED RIVER	8-1999	31	828	881	10618	5031	0	5031
RED RIVER	7-1999	31	1005	868	10715	3872	0	3872
RED RIVER	6-1999	30	934	1121	9881	908	0	908
RED RIVER	5-1999	31	892	883	10281	11	0	11
RED RIVER	4-1999	30	888	858	10265	104	0	104
RED RIVER	3-1999	31	888	867	10643	54	0	54
RED RIVER	2-1999	25	605	660	8786	108	0	108
RED RIVER	1-1999	30	750	657	10623	40	0	40
RED RIVER	12-1998	31	749	650	10839	91	0	91
RED RIVER	11-1998	30	730	907	10277	59	0	59
RED RIVER	10-1998	31	719	670	11046	61	0	61
RED RIVER	9-1998	30	717	667	11004	28	0	28
RED RIVER	8-1998	31	711	888	11363	0	0	0
RED RIVER	7-1998	31	708	671	11544	0	0	0
RED RIVER	6-1998	30	649	448	11707	0	0	0
RED RIVER	5-1998	31	523	671	12817	0	0	0
RED RIVER	4-1998	30	372	0	12626	0	0	0
RED RIVER	3-1998	23	0	0	10054	0	0	0

This is the second well I looked at, file number 10512, and it is very similar. Again, note the amount of water "produced," suggesting water flooding. The well file has the same comment regarding "flooding" to continue. 

NDIC File No: 10512 API No: 33-011-00409-00-00 CTB No: 405200
Well Type: OG Well Status: A Status Date: 4/24/1984 Wellbore type: Vertical
Location: SWNW 32-129-104 Footages: 1460 FNL 1180 FWL Latitude: 45.95567 Longitude: -103.717229
Current Operator: ENCORE ENERGY PARTNERS OPERATING LLC
Current Well Name: BREHM 1-32
Elevation(s): 3141 KB Total Depth: 9318 Field: HORSE CREEK
Spud Date(s): 3/16/1984
Casing String(s): 8.625" 2002' 5.5" 9318'
Completion Data
Pool: RED RIVER Perfs: 9179-9205 G Comp: 4/24/1984 Status: AL Date: 4/24/1984 Spacing: U
Cumulative Production Data
Pool: RED RIVER Cum Oil: 142641 Cum MCF Gas: 397986 Cum Water: 904,644
Production Test Data
IP Test Date: 4/24/1984 Pool: RED RIVER IP Oil: 40 IP MCF: 0 IP Water: 181