Idle Musings; Update On The H M Hove Wells In West Capa, January 15, 2015

Updates

September 28, 2019: production updates / wells updated.

Original Post

This is kind of fun.

Remember the disclaimer.

Look at the initial production numbers and the other data coming from the wells coming off the confidential list today:

• 28057, 45, Zargon, Zargon Mackobee Coulee 2HZ 9-21, Mackobee Coulee, a Madison well, t10/14; cum 60K 9/19;
• 28552, 1,302, XTO, HM Hove 34X-33G, West Capa, t3/15; cum 174K 9/19;
• 28731, 28, Enduro, NSCU K-74-H1, Newburg, a Spearfish/Charles well, t9/14; cum 8K 9/19;
• 28747, 2,592, Slawson, Jore Federal 2-12H, Clarks Creek, t9/14; cum 202K 5/19; off line 5/19; remains off line 9/19;

The above data is simply a snapshot in time. One cannot make any predictions on such few data points. Well almost no one. LOL.

First of all, note: these wells were all planned and drilled well ahead of the slump in oil prices. However, it would surprise me if really, really smart oil men who have been in the business for 30 years did not see the price slump coming. Let's say they did.

Four wells came off the confidential list.

Fifty percent of them were NOT Bakken wells. Wow! In the prolific Williston-Bakken formation, fifty percent of wells coming off the confidential list today were NOT Bakken wells.

Of the two Bakken wells, 50% were not completed. 

Of the two Bakken wells, 100% were drilled in sweet spots in the Bakken.

Of the two Bakken wells, 50% were not completed. Saving a gazillion dollars in fracking/completion costs.

*****************************

Pad Drilling In The Bakken

The H M Hove Wells In West Capa, Williams County

Southeast Corner of Williams County, Just North of the River

So, what does pad drilling in the Bakken look like these days. Here's a snapshot of the proposed HM Hove pad:

Note: only two wells are shown, but note the "additional future wells with separators/treaters and oil & water measurement" comment.

The HM Hove wells:

• 18102, 806, XTO, HM Hove 34X-33, West Capa, Three Forks, open hole, 12 stages; 1.1 million lbs;  from the narrative: "in addition to the primary Three Forks target, secondary zones of interest were the Ratcliffe, Mission Canon and Middle Bakken formations; the first two formations evaluated during the vertical drilling phase; the middle Bakken evaluated while building the curve"; in the Three Forks, at least 5 minor faults with displacements of roughly 3' to 5' over an interval of 10,000 feet; gas as high as 5,000 units; Ratcliffe, Mission Canyon are not productive in this well; the middle Bakken may not be as good but should be productive; t4/10; cum 190K 9/19;
• 28551, 1,057, XTO, HM Hove 34X-33C, West Capa, t3/15; cum 195K 9/19;
• 28553, 1,580, XTO, HM Hove 34X-33D, West Capa, Bakken NOS,  t3/15; cum 200K 9/19;
• 28552, 1,302, XTO, HM Hove 34X-33G, West Capa, Bakken NOS,  t3/15; cum 174K 9/19;
• 28650, 1,701, XTO, HM Hove, 34X-33H, West Capa, Three Forks B1, t2/15; cum 208K 9/19;

For newbies: a long, long time ago I posted a "primer" on the five most important "things" that determine how good an oil well will be. That list came from textbooks on oil and gas, so it was a  really, really solid list. Interestingly enough, something was omitted from that list, and I've not seen anyone discuss it per se but it is in many narrative reports: the percent horizontal lateral remains in the target formation. Remember: the middle Bakken can narrow to as much as four feet thick; keeping the drill bit in that narrow seam two miles down and two miles horizontal can be a real challenge. It's great to see a report that says the driller kept the horizontal lateral in the seam 100% of the distance. I see it often. It's not always reported (if it is, the data is hard to find in many cases for a layman).

Compared to California, North Dakota geology is a cinch when it comes to drilling. In #18102 above, note: "...at least 5 minor faults with displacements of roughly 3' to 5' over an interval of 10,000 feet..."

I find it remarkable that the driller consider displacements of 3' to 5' in a seam that might have 40 feet thick were considered "minor." When the drill bit comes to a fault, it takes a good driller to find the seam again. They generally find it, but the time lost in drilling can be significant as well as wear and tear on the hardware.

California is nothing but "major faults." That goes for California geology also. That's why successful fracking in California has not yet made headlines. See recent post on the Monterey shale.

Idle chatter. See disclaimer.