Observations Regarding The January, 2014, NDIC Hearing Dockets

The summary of the January, 2014, agenda is here. 

It looks like the "end of the year" agenda with a lot of "continued cases."

It is interesting to look at some of the miscellaneous issues. One almost gets the feeling that if there were any objections to requests last year, the operators tabled the request (or someone tabled the request) until everyone could get their migratory ducks in order.

A lot of pooling cases, as usual. Nothing new here; it is just interesting to see which companies are pooling each month.

A reader noted some time ago that OXY USA has not had any new permits since October. It is noteworthy that OXY USA has only one case in this month's docket and it was inconsequential.

Note the new "norm" -- fourteen, fifteen, seventeen wells in a 1280-acre unit.

Note the new "norm" -- all the 2560-acre overlapping units.

Note: 21651, CLR, Alkali Creek-Bakken, extend/amend, establish an overlapping 5120-acre unit, 8 wells; McKenzie; a 5120-acre unit is eight (8) sections.

No matter how much work has been done in Stockyard Creek, I am always amazed that operators can find more work to do in this small oil field east of Williston. And all the operators in this little field:

• 21606, KOG, Stockyard Creek-Bakken, create 5 overlapping 2560-acre units, 2 wells each, Williams
• 21617, KOG, Stockyard Creek-Bakken, 12 wells on 6 1280-acre units, Williams