Musings On Today's Wells That Come Off The Confidential List -- November 17, 2014

IPs for the wells coming off the confidential list over the weekend and today have been posted. They will eventually be linked at the sidebar at the right.

Thirty (30) wells are reported. Of these, 16 wells are still waiting to be fracked (14 to DRL status; 2 with n/d or still on confidential status). In the last Director's Cut, I believe Lynn Helms said fracking crews were keeping up with drilling with the wells waiting to be fracked at 610, which I believe is about 10 more than the previous month. But don't hold me to that. I haven't checked.

There are a number of reasons for wells waiting to be fracked. In the old days (three or four years ago?), the fracking spreads could not keep up with drillers. That, apparently, has been resolved. I think the biggest reason for delay in fracking is now operational, related to pad drilling. Recently, there is a suggestion that fracking may be delayed as operators focus on the new flaring rules. An early winter, I would assume, stopped fracking in its tracks. It's hard enough to frack in "cold" weather; it's impossible to frack in "frigid" weather.

And now with the slump in oil prices, I wouldn't be surprised if there are even more delays in fracking.

And that's why I'm really looking forward to the February, 2015, Director's Cut. It's possible we will see a new production record in October, 2014, but I will be very surprised (but elated) if e see a new production record in November, 2014 (which won't be reported until February).

As in previous daily activity reports when Oasis reports a number of wells, many of them go to DRL status, again, mostly for operational reasons, I assume.

This is an interesting well to look at:

• 26217, 424, EOG, Wayzetta 42-0311H, Parshall, t5/14; cum 119K 9/14; 

• Note the IP: fairly low for an EOG well, or if not, fairly unremarkable for the production data
• Stages: 45
• Proppant: an incredible 14 million lbs, all sand it appears
• Proposed spacing: 1920 acres (currently ICO)
• Target: middle Bakken
• Big rig spud date: February 5, 2014; Cease drilling: February 20, 2014
• Total depth: 19,000 feet (rounding)
• Vertical depth: 9,500 feet (rounding)
• Low pressure: background gas units around 200 units with a high of around 300 units

Most notable (see if you can find it in the production data below -- answer at bottom):

Pool	Date	Days	BBLS Oil	Runs	BBLS Water	MCF Prod	MCF Sold	Vent/Flare
BAKKEN	9-2014	30	32477	32644	35761	14312	210	13923
BAKKEN	8-2014	30	37638	38208	43618	17658	3977	13540
BAKKEN	7-2014	29	29509	28709	33533	16994	2454	14409
BAKKEN	6-2014	24	15523	15425	18494	5259	415	4731
BAKKEN	5-2014	6	4075	3668	8547	440	0	410

Yes, pretty obvious: it looks like the well is hooked up to a natural gas pipeline but the system is apparently unable to handle the new natural gas production. 

Note: in a long note, I often make typographical and factual errors. If this information is important to you go to the source. Much of the above is my personal opinion; that at $1.89 will get you a cup of Starbucks coffee. I have no background, training, or education in the oil and gas industry, so many of these opinions will be very, very wrong, I assume. But I learn as I go along. I am always grateful for corrections and/or background.


I don't think there is much more to say about the wells coming off the confidential list over the weekend and today, except this: more and more wells have familiar names, suggesting operators are concentrating on sweet spots, pad drilling, and "circling the wagons."