Whatever Happened To The Upper Bakken Shale? -- October 9, 2014

This takes us back to a June 16, 2012, posting in which we discussed Slawson targeting the Upper Bakken Shale.

For newbies, it might be advantageous to review the geology being discussed at this post (at the linked post, scroll down to the "geology"). 

 A reader asked "whatever resulted from the Slawson wells that targeted the upper Bakken shale?"

In the linked post above to the June 16, 2012, entry, the Slawson wells were not specifically identified.

Going to "well search" at NDIC site, there are only two wells that fit that description:

• #16920, 216, Slawson, Piranha 1-4H, upper Bakken shale, one section, t3/08; cum 105K 8/14;
• #16401, conf, Slawson, Stingray Federal 1-32H, upper Bakken shale, two sections; t4/07; cum 195K 8/14;

The file reports are incredibly interesting. I had not looked at them until recently. They clearly state the objective was the (upper) Bakken Shale.

Both wells are moderately successful and both wells are still active.

Scout ticket for #16920:

NDIC File No: 16920   
Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 3/24/2008     Wellbore type: Horizontal
Location: SWSW 4-146-104   Latitude: 47.490777     Longitude: -103.945780
Current Operator: SLAWSON EXPLORATION COMPANY, INC.
Current Well Name: PIRANHA 1-4H
Total Depth: 14145     Field: SQUAW GAP
Spud Date(s):  2/3/2008
Completion Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Perfs: 10843-14145     Comp: 3/24/2008     Status: AL     Date: 5/30/2008     Spacing: SEC
Cumulative Production Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Cum Oil: 105133     Cum MCF Gas: 53912     Cum Water: 695
Production Test Data
   IP Test Date: 3/26/2008     Pool: BAKKEN     IP Oil: 216     IP MCF: 54     IP Water: 0

Scout Ticket for #16401

NDIC File No: 16401    
Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 4/4/2007     Wellbore type: Directional
Location: NENE 32-147-104     Latitude: 47.514587     Longitude: -103.949908
Current Operator: SLAWSON EXPLORATION COMPANY, INC.
Current Well Name: STINGRAY FEDERAL 1-32H
Total Depth: 13952     Field: SQUAW GAP
Spud Date(s):  1/10/2007
Completion Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Perfs: 10203-13952     Comp: 4/4/2007     Status: AL     Date: 5/18/2007     Spacing: SEC
   Pool: RED RIVER     Comp: 4/4/2007     Status: DRY     Date: 4/4/2007
Cumulative Production Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Cum Oil: 194,761   Cum MCF Gas: 72265     Cum Water: 1290
Production Test Data
   IP Test Date: 4/4/2007    Pool: BAKKEN     IP Oil: 479     IP MCF: 195     IP Water: 100

Some things to note:

• the "Bakken" is not otherwise specified, but the report clearly stated "Bakken shale" or "upper Bakken shale"
• the earlier well is described as a directional well; the older well, a horizontal well
• although it's possible I missed it, or did not understand the report, it appears these wells were not fracked
• despite the low IP (and particularly if they were not fracked), the total production has exceeded 100,000 bbls (though it has taken quite a bit of time)