Saturday, September 17, 2011

Storhaug Well -- Wildcat -- Near Dublin Oil Field -- Madison Wells? -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Update

November 15, 2013: there are a lot of comments to scroll through, and comments are not searchable by search engines, as far as I know. On this date, a reader posted this important note for those trying to follow the development of the Bakken. We had raised a question about some new wells in this area without the "H" designation; apparently they are horizontal wells, regardless. See comments posted about this date.  We also raised a question about 1280-acre vs 2560-acre spacing for new wells, which had to do with a 2560-acre spacing that included sections 1, 2, 11, and 12 in T157-R100. This was the answer provided by the reader:
I visited with HRC about this and the only wells affected will be any new wells along the section line between the two 1280 spacings (maximum 3 wells). All other new wells drilled will remain part of the original 1280 spacing. They sent me their drilling plan which is to drill up to 13 wells per 1280 spacing and 3 wells in the 2560 spacing.
November 22, 2011: New wells in the immediate area.
  • 21882, PNC, Petro-Hunt, Dullum Family Trust 157-100-2C-1-1, wildcat
Three wells in a cluster, in the northeast corner of the next section to the west, 3-157-100:
  • 21746, 653, Oasis/Zenergy, Mary 3-10H, wildcat, t1/12; cum 157K 4/20;
  • 21747, 685, Oasis/Zenergy, Hanson 34-27H, Dublin; t12/12; cm 182K 4/20;
  • 21748, PNC, Oasis/Zenergy, Mad Dublin 1-3H, Dublin/wildcat; a Madison well;
One well in the northeast corner of the next section to the west, 4-157-100:
  • 20953, 343, Bruin/HRC/Petro-Hunt, Johnson Family Trust 157-100-4A9-1H, Marmon; s9/11; t2/12; cum 114K 4/20;
And finally, one more well, this one immediately across the section line from 20953:
  • 21496, 791, Oasis/Zenergy, Hanson 33-28H, Church/wildcat, t5/13; cum 189K4/20;
Original Post 
I promised a reader I would do a stand-alone post on the Storhaug well:
  • 19646, 482, Petro-Hunt, Storhaug 157-100-2A-11-1H, Bakken; s3/11; t8/11; cum 198K 10/16; 23 stages, sand only, no acid.
The well is a good well, but not yet great.

In looking up this well, I noted a peculiar well pattern in this section (2-157-100), which I have blogged about before, and perhaps in a big more depth:
  • 19646 is in the northeast quadrant
  • 21036 (PNC) is in the northwest quadrant
  • 21161 is closer to the midline on the east; rather than near a section line where one normally finds horizontal Bakken wells.
In addition, a similar well, #21326 is also in an unusual location in the neighboring section.
  • 21036, PNC, Petro-Hunt, Storhaug 157-100-2B-2-1 (note, it lacks "H" designation) Dublin field
  • 21161, TA, Petro-Hunt, Ostad 157-100-2D-1-1 (also, lacks "H" designation) Dublin field
  • 21326, PNC, Petro-Hunt, Swenson 157-100-1C-2-1 (lacks "H" designation), Dublin field
It's also interesting that the three latest wells are now in the Dublin field; the 19646 Storhaug well was a wildcat; the Dublin field must have been extended; if so, the GIS map server has not been updated to show that.

Now for the interesting part (and this is why I love to blog; one never knows what one might find):

Notice the three wells above that don't have the "H" designation. Could they be vertical wells? Could they be targeting the Madison forrmation. In the adjoining/same section (section 1-T157N-R100W):
  • 11490, 31, Rim Operating/SM Energy (originally HNG Oil), Curran 1 1, Dublin, a Madison well; 1985; t1985; 383K 10/16; still producing a respectable 700 bbls/month (700 x $50 = $35,000/month with almost no expenses). This well has been a steady producer from the beginning. It has been producing steadily for 29 years; the longest it has been off-line in any one month was 8 days back in 1998.

34 comments:

  1. Anyone know why the JOHNSON FAMILY TRUST 157-100-4A-9-1H, (#20953) is still drilling? It has been on the site for 3 MONTHS!
    Doesn't it usually take 20-30 days to drill....interesting. Also interesting is the cluster of permits just to the east...hmmmm!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't explain, nor can anyone at the Bakken Shale Discussion Group (or they are keeping mum).

    I have a reminder to follow this up next spring. The rig can't stay there forever!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Regarding the Johnson Family Trust well, Petro Hunt had some issues with drilling and had to change direction. This is why the rig was on site so long.

    On another note, I too have noticed all of the perimts in this area after the Storhaug wildcat well was drilled. This has sparked my curioisity as to what is speculated in the area....very interesting.

    Anyone know or care to venture a guess?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the update on the JFT well.

      I do find it interesting that the wells do not have an "H" designation.

      Delete
  4. I noticed the lack of "H" designation also. I know the Storhaug well produced a large amount of gas to start with also.

    I have driven by that area (it's been over month now), but gas lines were being put in the area and the Storhaug well now has a pump. The Ostad well just to the south was drilled late last summer, but all that is on the site is the well head. No storage tanks...nothing. I wonder if the "non-H" wells are for gas?

    With gas prices so low, I wouldn't think oil companies would drill vertical wells just for gas.

    But there are a lot of permits in a small area...makes you wonder what the interest is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sticking with the Madison, other legacy formations (Madison, Red River, Duperow).

      I agree with you; I can't imagine drilling natural gas wells in the Bakken. It is my understanding that this is not a natural gas basin. I once considered exploratory wells with no plans for production, but even that seems far-fetched. These wells and permits are close enough to a designated field that exploratory wells seem not likely.

      Delete
  5. I noticed the Ostad well (#21161) in the Dublin field has "DRL" status on NDIC web site. I looked at the drilling report and the "Stimulation" report states the well is "dead".

    I'm not sure what is going on but there is a well head on the site so I don't think it is plugged. I don't know what is meant by the DRL and "well dead" designation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My wi-fi connection is too slow right now to get to the file. I will have to get back to you on "dead" but that does not sound good.

      DRL means "drill status." After the six-month "confidential/tight hole" status, operators must release information regarding their well up to that point. If the well has not been completed (which generally means fracked, tested, and an IP reported), the well is put on DRL status. The well can remain on DRL status indefinitely but once the well is fracked/completed, the operator must report the IP within 30 days after the end of the month in which the well was fracked/completed.

      The NDIC site lags about two months. It is April 4th today, and production figures through the end of February are being reported. Therefore, between the end of January and now, the well could have been fracked/completed.

      I am going to be off-line for awhile, but when I get the file report I will see if the "dead" can be explained.

      Delete
  6. You are correct. The file report (stimulation sundry form) clearly states there is no evidence of oil; the rig was moved; the well is now shut in. The next NDIC report should show status of this well as SI or DRY.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NDIC still has this well listed as DRL.

      Delete
    2. You are correct; the Ostad well, #21161, is still listed as DRL.

      As far as I can tell; there are no new sundry forms filed. The target zone was listed as 10,180 feet. The Middle Bakken was noted at 10,045 feet, and the lower Bakken at 14,194 feet. But the third page of the most recent sundry forms crosses out "Bakken" and replaces it with "Madison." The first page of these three forms types "Madison" for pool.

      Again, the sundry form says the well is dry. The Geologic summary says the well targeted the Mission Canyon and reached a total depth of 9,375 feet.

      So I don't understand all that I see, but that's not surprising. Smile. Perhaps more to follow.

      Delete
  7. I saw that in the report also (Bakken target zone). I was in the area yesterday and stopped by the site (Ostand #21161) The drilling record shows they went horizontal, but the well name had not "H" designation.

    There is a well head on site (no other equip/activity). Makes you wonder with a well head on site, if there will be more activity in the future, otherwise you think they would have abandoned the site and plugged the well. (the report also shows "shut-in" but status "DRL"??)

    I noticed on the NDIC GIS map, that there are a lot of permits in a small area near this well...hmmmmm. There is pump (operating) on Storhaug well (#19646) and a pump on the adjacent CPEUSA well (#21860) (not operating/being installed)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for a great update. It's all a bit confusing what might be going on. I will tag this to follow up later.

    I also blogged about the Dublin field here: http://milliondollarway.blogspot.com/2011/07/interesting-group-of-wildcats-near.html

    But vertical production wells are targeting the Madison, not the Bakken. It seems there is a mix here: older vertical wells, and newer horizontal wells. That "crossed" out Bakken and replaced with Madison makes one wonder. Maybe they were targeting the Bakken like al the rest and are considering re-entering the Madison. But this is getting well beyond my depth (no pun intended).

    ReplyDelete
  9. Petro Hunt has cancelled permit #21036; Storhaug vertical well.

    I also noticed that Zenergy Hanson 33-28H, #21496, the site is cleared and ready for drilling. The site is prepared with scoria rock, but I also noticed no reserve pit dug yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the update. I will have to update #21036 on several pages.

      Delete
  10. Petro-Hunt cancelled the permit for Swenson 157-100-1C-2-1, #21326.

    It seems after the Storhaug well was drilled there was a flurry of permit activity by Petro Hunt. Once the Ostad well vertical well was drilled ("dead well" but still in DRL status), they are cancelling or allowing to expire, the other vertical permits.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, quite interesting. I've re-tagged this to be followed up in December, 2012.

      Delete
  11. Is there any way I can find out about Dublin #21860 [158N-110 west-section 35]? We were recently told our section was part of a new(er) producing oilfield. Lease had been established years ago getting some other paper work together so right no they are not disclosing how long it has been producing and how much...

    I know we will find out in a week or so when things all get together, but would love to know sooner if possible. :)

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've posted the information, Monday, September 10, 2012.

      http://www.milliondollarwayblog.com/2012/09/random-update-of-well-in-dublin-oil.html

      Again, it really helps to have the file number. The reader was kind enough to provide the file number in this case. Without it I'm not sure I could have found it; the township had a typographical error and there are many Dublin oil field wells.

      I will leave the information for this well posted for a couple of hours or so, then bring it back down to "draft" stage to keep the Monday morning links at the top of the blog. Later, I will bring the post back up.

      Delete
  12. The Johnson family was completed...the Mary was completed as well, and they have begun drilling the Hanson well (right next to the Mary on the west) and the Mad Dublin right next to the Mary to the east has been staked and permitted) I'm guessing the Mad Dublin will be one of the next wells.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you. I've updated some IPs, and production numbers through 7/12, as provided by NDIC.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I just noticed in an upcoming hearing that HRC wants to amend the field rules in the Dublin field to create a 2560 acre spacing that include sections 1, 2, 11, and 12 in T157 R100. They want to drill multiple wells near the section lines between the existing spacing.

    I have mineral interests in section 2, and my questions are, why would they do this, and I assume my royalty interest will be cut in half (now that the spacing will be twice as large)?

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is now becoming the norm in the Bakken, creating 2560-acre drilling units to recover the oil that would otherwise be lost along drilling unit lines. Royalty interests only affect new wells; your interests in current wells should stay the same.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I visited with HRC about this and the only wells affected will be any new wells along the section line between the two 1280 spacings (max. 3 wells). All other new wells drilled will remain part of the original 1280 spacing. They sent me their drilling plan which is to drill up to 13 wells per 1280 spacing and 3 wells in the 2560 spacing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I find that really quite interesting, and it certainly helps explain the development of the Bakken for me. Whenever I check "ticket stubs" on the NDIC site, I have to remind myself to check the spacing of the wells. But your information helps a lot; explains a lot. Thank you.

      Delete
    2. I noticed in the NDIC Daily Acitivity Reports, that Zenergy is transfering it's operations to Oasis Petroleum.

      Is Zenergy pulling out of ND or were they bought out by Oasis?

      Delete
    3. This is an old story, in a sense. The deal was earlier this year. I track Bakken deals on the sidebar at the right. This particular deal:

      http://themilliondollarway.blogspot.com/2013/09/and-this-i-why-i-love-to-blog-always.html

      I don't know what Zenergy's long term plans are but this was simply Zenergy selling some of its acreage to Oasis. Zenergy may simply have been consolidating its locations to optimize its operations; it may have needed some cash to expedite drilling; it may be part of a longer term strategic plan. But the wells that were transferred were part of the original deal and the paperwork is now just catching up with everyone.

      Delete
  17. I noticed the Hanson 33-28H has reduced production since Oasis took over opereations. It has gone from 20 days in October to just 5 days in December. Any reason for this...Oasis doesn't return my calls.
    I also noticed in the well file, the most recent Transportation and Purchase form, there is a "PU" behind the well name..what does that mean?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry for the delay in posting your comment. I was traveling and missed this one.

      1. I have not seen "PU" before (I don't get royalty checks). Possibly it means "Producing Unit" but that doesn't seem likely (based on a google search).

      2. There could be any number of reasons why the well is taken off line. There could be issues of trucks getting out to the site to remove oil from the tanks; there is another well in the section on confidential that might be in the process of getting ready to frack and neighboring wells will be taken off-line if a nearby well is about to be fracked (but that wouldn't account for such a long period).

      If you look at the production history of this well, it has been very, very sporadic from the beginning. It's never had a full day of production. I'll ask the question, see if any one answers. My hunch: trucks can't get up there to unload the tanks on the pad.

      Delete
    2. I've asked the question here:

      http://themilliondollarway.blogspot.com/2014/02/request-for-assistance-why-would-well.html

      Delete
  18. Will HRC ever return to drill in Williams County anytime soon? We have one well drilled by then operator Petro Hunt, and HRC has a permit to drill another next to it. Ther permit expired, but was renewed in Jan. 2014.
    Have not noticed any HRC activity in the county for several months.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looking at locations of operating rigs in North Dakota, it appears all of HRC's rigs are concentrating in Fort Berthold. This is not surprising: it appears that starting about one year ago, the operators were pretty much done with "defining" their locations, and were now fully engaged in the "manufacturing" process -- concentrating on those areas where they will have the biggest cash flow. It appears to me that by the end of 2013, the companies were getting a bit stretched (with regard to cash flow and expectations of their shareholders) and were starting to concentrate on their best locations. With pad drilling, once they get a rig in place, I can imagine they plan to leave that rig on that pad for quite some time. But they will eventually get back to Williams County.

      Delete
  19. I noticed HRC was just back in the area drilling a couple of Miller wells that were spudded late last year, the rig is now gone.

    I lokked on HRC's web page at their 2nd quarter report which discussed their Bakken operations. In the report they said they were sending a rig to drill "two" wells in Williams county in July (the Miller wells). They have finished those wells, but their rig is no where else in Williams county. They still have several wells to drill in the county with permits expiring soon. In the report the said they were also going from 4 drilling rigs to 3 drilling rigs. With the Miller wells complete, they are down to 3 rigs in Dunn county.

    Last year they petitioned the NDIC to expand leases from 1280 to 2560 spacing units to drill up to 31+ wells on the new spacings...no activity; I know they "may" drill...but when?

    What are they up to? Are they going to let the permits expire? Will they ever get back to Williams county in the near future?

    I noticed that Crescent Point, Continental and Hess are active in the area.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I posted the information as a stand-alone post hoping another reader might have something to add, and to make the comment google-searchable:

      http://themilliondollarway.blogspot.com/2014/08/random-update-on-3-well-halcon-miller.html

      Delete

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