The press release calls this the "Montana Bakken" which can be confusing for newbies. There are two plays going on in Montana right now: the Williston Basin Bakken, and the (Southern) Alberta Basin Bakken (I hope I have that right).
The "Montana Bakken" referred to here by BEXP is their prospect of the Williston Basin just across the state line. This is the eastern counties, and maybe even more specifically, the northeastern counties of Montana abutting against the western counties of North Dakota.
The Alberta Basin in Montana is much farther west -- in central Montana south of the Canadian border.
Data points:
- Two new Montana wells have de-risked BEXP's 33,500 acres in eastern Montana; increase from previously announced 24,400 net acres
- Total de-risked Williston Basin acreage: 235,200 net acres (note: BEXP total acreage about 380,000 net acres)
- At least 794 net drilling locations remain
- Storvik 7-6 1H: 2,066 (boe; early 24-hour peak rates; IPs will come in less); 34 frac stages
- Charley 10-15 1H: 1,069 (boe; early 24-hour peak rates; IPs will come in less); 30 frac stages
- To date: BEXP -- 79 consecutive long lateral high frac stage wells; average: 2,803 boe
- Efficiency gained: 20%
- Seven rigs drilling Smart Pads
- To date, BEXP has completed 8 Smart Pads
- BEXP: 70% of rest of 2011 drilling will be Smart Pads
- Will acquire 2 additional specially built walking rigs in 1Q12; two more by July, 2012
- Option to add 4 more less efficient conventional rigs upon receipt of the walking rigs
- A new term for me; see comment below. Apparently it's plug and perf technique used on multiple wells on same pad, moving things along more quickly
- To date, BEXP has completed 6 zipper fracks
- 6 stages per day; 5 days per well in one case; another case, 8 stages/day --> 4 days/well; in comparison, conventional fracking has taken BEXP 9 days
Brigham is currently completing wells that have approximately 15 stages, or half of the well, with new frac sleeves installed. The remaining half of the wellbores will be completed with perf and plug and production from these wells will be compared to direct offset wells that were completed entirely with perf and plug.BEXP working to reduce infrastructure problems related to bad weather: increasing water gathering lines, to include disposal
This is very good news about the positive results on these Montana drills. I have minerals in Roosevelt Co. and since 2008, I've sat back and watched the ND drilling success with very little activity in my area even though I've been leased since 2004 and again in 2008. I've always contended that Montana has alot to offer and it appears that day is coming soon. I've also thought that the more time it takes to arrive (in force) in Montana, the more experience these operators will bring with them. Now with smart pads, zipper fracs, etc., it appears that Montana may prosper greatly by being next in line.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. I think eastern Montana is going to do just fine. Good luck with all your minerals.
ReplyDeleteZipper frac refers to using two wireline crews and one frac crew on a multi-well pad. It is still a plug and perf operation but there is just less down time because while one well is being fracked the other well on the pad has wireline in the hole shooting the next set of perforations.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping someone would help me out on that. Thank you. So often, the jargon is part of the mystique of all that is being accomplished in the Bakken, and readers really appreciate this information.
ReplyDeleteI guess "we" have a new tag/label (see bottom of the blog for tags). Thank you.