Random Look At Possible Halo Effect Between TFH And Middle Bakken Wells In The Truax Oil Field -- February 21, 2016

Take a look at the production profile of this well, #20518, drilled back in 2011, and then join me below the graphic for a discussion of this well. This well has been producing since September, 2011, but only production data since May, 2013, is shown. Look at the production jump in November and December, 2013 (a small jump) and the incredible jump in production in November, 2015.

To the best of my knowledge, nothing was done to this particular well to account for the jump in production in either time period. The discussion will continue below the production profile.

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NDIC File No: 20518     API No: 33-105-02152-00-00     CTB No: 120518
Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 9/29/2011     Wellbore type: Horizontal
Location: NESE 11-154-98      Latitude: 48.173327     Longitude: -103.238712
Current Operator: WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION
Current Well Name: REIGER 9-11H
Elevation(s): 2350 KB   2328 GR   2332 GL     Total Depth: 19080     Field: TRUAX
Spud Date(s):  6/26/2011 
Completion Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Perfs: 11427-19080     Comp: 9/29/2011     Status: AL     Date: 4/9/2012     Spacing: 2SEC
Cumulative Production Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Cum Oil: 253028     Cum MCF Gas: 599337     Cum Water: 153164
Production Test Data
   IP Test Date: 10/9/2011     Pool: BAKKEN     IP Oil: 1067     IP MCF: 2160     IP Water: 485

Monthly Production Data

Pool	Date	Days	BBLS Oil	Runs	BBLS Water	MCF Prod	MCF Sold	Vent/Flare
BAKKEN	12-2015	31	9216	9499	5974	20221	18564	1564
BAKKEN	11-2015	30	13109	13303	11148	28657	26622	1945
BAKKEN	10-2015	5	2115	1685	2949	3367	2502	852
BAKKEN	9-2015	18	1490	1728	947	6901	6688	159
BAKKEN	8-2015	31	2871	2854	1897	12393	11136	1164
BAKKEN	7-2015	31	3299	3379	2340	11888	11502	293
BAKKEN	6-2015	15	1612	1494	974	3908	3593	272
BAKKEN	5-2015	31	2644	2754	1583	9991	411	9489
BAKKEN	4-2015	30	2470	2468	1626	7547	3094	4365
BAKKEN	3-2015	31	3139	3276	2581	9448	9068	287
BAKKEN	2-2015	28	2439	2491	2175	8487	8129	274
BAKKEN	1-2015	31	3413	3492	2047	11272	7621	3558
BAKKEN	12-2014	31	3378	3221	1732	8435	6971	1371
BAKKEN	11-2014	30	3058	2922	2119	9556	9210	256
BAKKEN	10-2014	31	3633	3725	2829	12601	12508	0
BAKKEN	9-2014	30	3205	3056	2336	9242	8765	387
BAKKEN	8-2014	31	3700	3958	3096	10891	10738	60
BAKKEN	7-2014	30	3936	3822	2974	10248	10096	63
BAKKEN	6-2014	30	3578	3597	3038	10284	10006	188
BAKKEN	5-2014	31	4057	4255	3093	9845	8507	1245
BAKKEN	4-2014	29	3939	3859	2834	7560	6025	1449
BAKKEN	3-2014	31	4799	4889	3674	10546	8704	1749
BAKKEN	2-2014	28	3776	3766	3154	6670	4800	1787
BAKKEN	1-2014	31	4115	4013	3611	8078	1887	6099
BAKKEN	12-2013	31	6997	6928	7053	18766	0	18673
BAKKEN	11-2013	26	5637	5742	10183	13466	0	13392
BAKKEN	10-2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	9-2013	28	2679	2363	1692	8578	230	8266
BAKKEN	8-2013	31	3288	3356	1595	9336	3989	5254
BAKKEN	7-2013	31	3098	3173	2042	7353	7166	94
BAKKEN	6-2013	30	3056	3575	1252	8024	5947	1988
BAKKEN	5-2013	31	3543	2832	1575	9174	5879	3202

If nothing was done specifically to a well to increase its production, one must look at neighboring activity.

Here's the graphic of the area under discussion. To get oriented, the index well under discussion is #20518. Note #25512.

#25512 was fracked in October 16 - November 2, 2013:

• 25512, 2,154, Whiting, P Evitt 154-98-13-12-2-4H, 35 stages, 4.7 million lbs sand; t11/13; cum 182K 12/15; this will be important later: note this well was taken off-line for most of October and November, 2015. Hold that thought.

So, perhaps the slight increase in production of the index well in late 2013 can be attributed to the halo effect of drilling #25512. Neat, huh?

It gets better.

Now, look at the production profile of the index well again, noting the jump in production  from about 3,000 bbls of oil/month (July, 2015) to a dramatic jump to more than 13,000 bbls of oil/month (November, 2015).

Looking at the graphic above, there is no obvious reason. There are no horizontals near the index well that could explain this increase in production.

Look at the area in the lower left-hand corner where I noted a fair amount of activity. There is a rig on site, most of the sites are still permitted only (status: loc), and the others are confidential. But here's where the new rules on DUCs and the rules on confidentiality help us out.

It turns out that #31238 is the answer. This is so cool.

• 31238, conf, Whiting, Carscallen 31-14-3TFH, API 33-105-04047, fracked 9/22/15 - 10/5/15; 

Although #31238 is on the confidential list, some information was posted before the well was placed on the confidential list. The spacing unit for #31238 is .... get this ...  sections 2/11-154-98. That's right. Even though the well is on the confidential list, and even thought the horizontal is not yet shown on the GIS map server yet, the application for this well says the spacing unit is 2/11-154-98. This horizontal is going to go right "through" the index well horizontal. If you don't believe me, look at the plan:

But it gets even better --- not only will we frack #25512 next to your existing well, but we will frack #31238 that runs right through your existing well, and if you are patient, we will frack another well, paralleling #31238 (see diagram which I did not go through the effort to notate; the point is being made):

It looks like the two new wells running south-to-north are TFH wells.

If that's accurate (and it is), think about this. The index well is a middle Bakken well.

It appears #31238 which has already been fracked and probably accounts for the jump in production of the index well (#25512) is a TFH well. The target is the TFH, first bench, at 11,133 feet.

Let's look at the depth of the index well. This should be fun. According to one sundry form (the stimulation form) the vertical depth of the middle Bakken at this location was 11,112 feet. The total vertical depth was 11,147 feet. Maybe someone can provide better numbers but the vertical separation will be less than 40 feet, as far as I can tell (this is way beyond my comfort level; I could be way wrong on this, but various forms confirm this).

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I remember all those discussions early on (back in 2010, I suppose) about whether the middle Bakken and the Three Forks communicate, and later, all those discussions about whether there was such a thing as a halo effect between neighboring wells targeting the same formation. Later, there were discussions about the halo effect between neighboring wells targeting different formations.

I guess I will leave it at that. I think I've provided enough information to at least get started on all this.

Oh, I almost forgot. Remember this from above:

• 25512, 2,154, Whiting, P Evitt 154-98-13-12-2-4H, 35 stages, 4.7 million lbs sand; t11/13; cum 182K 12/15; this will be important later: note this well was taken off-line for most of October and November, 2015. Hold that thought.

#25512, practically out of the picture was taken off-line for most of October/November, 2015, probably because these new TFH wells were being fracked. That speaks volumes. By the way, was there any jump in production in this well back in December, 2015. I don't know. Let's check:

NDIC File No: 25512     API No: 33-105-03063-00-00     CTB No: 125512
Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 11/6/2013     Wellbore type: Horizontal
Location: SWSW 12-154-98        Latitude: 48.169929     Longitude: -103.232662
Current Operator: WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION
Current Well Name: P EVITT 154-98-13-12-2-4H
Elevation(s): 2332 KB   2304 GR   2304 GL     Total Depth: 22300     Field: TRUAX
Spud Date(s):  6/2/2013
Completion Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Perfs: 11638-22177     Comp: 11/6/2013     Status: AL     Date: 6/25/2014     Spacing: 4SEC
Cumulative Production Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Cum Oil: 181771     Cum MCF Gas: 406998     Cum Water: 109043
Production Test Data
   IP Test Date: 11/9/2013     Pool: BAKKEN     IP Oil: 2154     IP MCF: 4432     IP Water: 1496

Monthly Production Data

Pool	Date	Days	BBLS Oil	Runs	BBLS Water	MCF Prod	MCF Sold	Vent/Flare
BAKKEN	12-2015	31	6442	6590	4874	12912	12239	580
BAKKEN	11-2015	12	1396	1278	2226	1532	1208	290
BAKKEN	10-2015	3	237	206	304	125	114	3
BAKKEN	9-2015	19	2286	2742	1514	4166	3947	165
BAKKEN	8-2015	31	4057	3788	3011	8286	7700	494
BAKKEN	7-2015	31	4077	4223	2451	8135	7852	191
BAKKEN	6-2015	30	4331	4236	3176	10257	9201	967

It's subtle. I think it's there, from 4,000 bbls to 6,500 bbls, but it will be short term, not amount to much, but it helps make up for the time the well had to be taken off line.

One last comment with regard to communication between the middle Bakken and the Three Forks. Look at the jump in water produced in the index well in November/December, 2015. That was most likely fracking water from the TFH well. I could be wrong, but ....

... the Saudis are looking at this very, very closely. I bet. 

Disclaimer: in a long note like this there will be typographical and factual errors. I will see things that may not exist. I do not have formal training and no background in the oil and gas industry. This is for my use only to help me understand the Bakken. Don't quote me on any of this. If this information is important to you, go to the sources, the NDIC, and FracFocus.

Random Update Of Field Production For East Fork Oil Field In The North Dakota Bakken, October - December, 2015

Crude oil production increase was not quite as dramatic in East Fork oil field as in the Pershing oil field over the past three months, but it was enough to catch my attention. Note the percentage changes, month-over-month: November-over-October, 17%; and, December-over-November,  24%).

Field	Pool	October 2015 Production	Oct Wells	Oct Oil/Well/Month	November 2015 Production	Nov Wells	Nov Oil/Well/Month	Percent Change	December 2015 Production	Dec Wells	Dec  Oil/Well/Month	Percent Change
East Fork	Bakken	342,754	84	4,080	400,812	92	4,357	16.94	496,022	96	5,167	23.75%

Part of the reason, of course, was the increase in the number of producing wells, from 84 in October to 92 in November to 96 in December. Note the increase in production per well, from around 4,000 bbls/well/month in October, to over 5,000 bbls/well/month in December. It wasn't just the increase in the number of wells, but also the increase in productivity from the wells.

The East Fork oil field is tracked here. It appears that the new wells coming on line were permitted back in 2014. 

Again, whenever I work with numbers, and whenever I transcribe long lists of numbers I am prone to making mistakes. I have triple-checked the numbers above so I think they are correct.

A Case Study, Pershing Oil Field, North Dakota Bakken, October - December, 2015

This was previously posted -- a couple of days ago. I am only moving it here as a stand-alone post so I can refer to it in the future as a case study.


This came about when I noted the production profile coming out of the Pershing oil field in the North Dakota Bakken between October - December, 2015 (inclusive, those three months).

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A Case Study

This is an extraordinary bit of data. This post alone is worth the price of the subscription to the Million Dollar Way blog. There are several things I will point out from this case study, but I will have to do it later. I am on may way to watch some international water polo competition. But the data below is incredible. The Bakken never fails to surprise me. 

Look at the production profile of #17292, the index well, since September, 2012:

NDIC File No: 17292     API No: 33-053-02892-00-00     CTB No: 117292
Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 9/28/2008     Wellbore type: Horizontal
Location: SESW 33-150-96    Latitude: 47.761263     Longitude: -102.976969
Current Operator: BURLINGTON RESOURCES OIL & GAS COMPANY LP
Current Well Name: KIRKLAND 1-33H
Elevation(s): 2396 KB   2378 GL     Total Depth: 20249     Field: PERSHING
Spud Date(s):  7/22/2008
Completion Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Perfs: 11485-20249     Comp: 9/28/2008     Status: F     Date: 10/3/2008     Spacing: 2SEC
Cumulative Production Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Cum Oil: 135274     Cum MCF Gas: 152712     Cum Water: 35217
Production Test Data
   IP Test Date: 10/3/2008     Pool: BAKKEN     IP Oil: 765     IP MCF:     IP Water: 362

Monthly Production Data

Pool	Date	Days	BBLS Oil	Runs	BBLS Water	MCF Prod	MCF Sold	Vent/Flare
BAKKEN	12-2015	31	21134	20784	5889	17486	16597	812
BAKKEN	11-2015	10	5048	5026	771	1812	1787	0
BAKKEN	10-2015	17	660	470	2093	815	772	0
BAKKEN	9-2015	20	609	897	347	1144	920	175
BAKKEN	8-2015	23	1050	920	313	589	0	532
BAKKEN	7-2015	31	1268	1376	312	216	17	123
BAKKEN	6-2015	28	1753	1843	508	884	193	622
BAKKEN	5-2015	20	1182	915	730	465	0	415
BAKKEN	4-2015	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	3-2015	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	2-2015	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	1-2015	13	231	231	103	277	215	30
BAKKEN	12-2014	30	878	966	206	859	784	1
BAKKEN	11-2014	30	932	1178	183	848	773	0
BAKKEN	10-2014	31	995	689	195	1004	927	0
BAKKEN	9-2014	30	907	1232	231	940	419	447
BAKKEN	8-2014	31	1137	1266	264	1288	0	1211
BAKKEN	7-2014	13	480	0	66	433	0	401
BAKKEN	6-2014	30	1040	1190	248	526	0	451
BAKKEN	5-2014	31	1213	1318	263	77	0	0
BAKKEN	4-2014	30	1216	1348	216	1082	939	69
BAKKEN	3-2014	31	1267	945	302	1169	1069	23
BAKKEN	2-2014	28	1319	1330	304	1129	1059	0
BAKKEN	1-2014	30	1571	1582	373	691	536	81
BAKKEN	12-2013	31	1671	1934	571	1265	0	1188
BAKKEN	11-2013	19	1439	1178	512	1578	0	1530
BAKKEN	10-2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	9-2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	8-2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	7-2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	6-2013	3	7	0	0	16	0	9
BAKKEN	5-2013	2	81	0	0	110	0	105
BAKKEN	4-2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	3-2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	2-2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	1-2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	12-2012	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	11-2012	20	618	482	132	1313	1220	43
BAKKEN	10-2012	31	1004	1096	220	2041	1964	0
BAKKEN	9-2012	30	1124	1071	231	1902	1453

First twelve months of production, of the index well, #17292:

BAKKEN	9-2009	30	1852	1991	403	2975	2975	0
BAKKEN	8-2009	31	1958	1946	430	1306	1306	0
BAKKEN	7-2009	31	2072	1907	450	678	678	0
BAKKEN	6-2009	30	2091	2477	446	3563	3563	0
BAKKEN	5-2009	31	2386	2043	494	3673	3673	0
BAKKEN	4-2009	30	2483	2600	593	3978	3978	0
BAKKEN	3-2009	31	2862	2833	595	4789	4789	0
BAKKEN	2-2009	28	2874	3216	685	5527	5527	0
BAKKEN	1-2009	31	4393	4217	933	7614	7614	0
BAKKEN	12-2008	26	2959	3077	774	1674	1674	0
BAKKEN	11-2008	30	4805	4457	948	6552	6552	0
BAKKEN	10-2008	31	10289	10152	3262	8125	8125	0
BAKKEN	9-2008	3	682	488	1950	0	0	0

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NDIC File No: 29796     API No: 33-053-06404-00-00     CTB No: 229795 Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 12/9/2015     Wellbore type: Horizontal Location: SESW 21-150-96     Footages: 595 FSL 1457 FWL     Latitude: 47.791356     Longitude: -102.977879 Current Operator: BURLINGTON RESOURCES OIL & GAS COMPANY LP Current Well Name: KIRKLAND 24-21MBH Elevation(s): 2359 KB   2332 GR   2337 GL     Total Depth: 21647     Field: PERSHING Spud Date(s):  3/20/2015 Casing String(s): 9.625" 2074'   7" 11120'   Completion Data    Pool: BAKKEN     Perfs: 11120-21647     Comp: 12/9/2015     Status: F     Date: 12/11/2015     Spacing: 4SEC Cumulative Production Data    Pool: BAKKEN     Cum Oil: 15802     Cum MCF Gas: 30394     Cum Water: 8661 Production Test Data    IP Test Date: 12/11/2015     Pool: BAKKEN     IP Oil: 1723     IP MCF: 2376     IP Water: 481

Monthly Production Data Pool Date Days BBLS Oil Runs BBLS Water MCF Prod MCF Sold Vent/Flare BAKKEN 12-2015 21 15802 15543 8661 30394 15978 14392 BAKKEN 11-2015 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

This well (33-053-06404) was fracked 11/12/2015 - 11/14/2015 with 2,823,912 gallons of water and
and around 17% proppant by weight (white sand, 10.4%; mullite, 3.8%, other silica, 3%).

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29804:

NDIC File No: 29804     API No: 33-053-06408-00-00     CTB No: 229795 Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 11/6/2015     Wellbore type: Horizontal Location: SWSW 21-150-96       Latitude: 47.791971     Longitude: -102.981525 Current Operator: BURLINGTON RESOURCES OIL & GAS COMPANY LP Current Well Name: KIRKLAND 14-21MBH Elevation(s): 2330 KB   2303 GR   2301 GL     Total Depth: 21968     Field: PERSHING Spud Date(s):  4/30/2015 Completion Data    Pool: BAKKEN     Perfs: 11189-21968     Comp: 11/6/2015     Status: F     Date: 11/9/2015     Spacing: 4SEC Cumulative Production Data    Pool: BAKKEN     Cum Oil: 14901     Cum MCF Gas: 25622     Cum Water: 7423 Production Test Data    IP Test Date: 11/9/2015     Pool: BAKKEN     IP Oil: 2806     IP MCF: 4560     IP Water: 1243

Monthly Production Data Pool Date Days BBLS Oil Runs BBLS Water MCF Prod MCF Sold Vent/Flare BAKKEN 12-2015 3 635 577 981 1884 1811 70 BAKKEN 11-2015 25 14266 14266 6442 23738 0 23711

This well was fracked  9/23/2015 to 9/25/2015, with 2,822,064 gallons of water, and 20% proppant by weight (silica, 11%; mullite, 4.7%; other silica 2.8%, and aluminu silicate, 4.7%)

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29867:

NDIC File No: 29867     API No: 33-053-06421-00-00     CTB No: 229795
Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 10/26/2015     Wellbore type: Horizontal
Location: SWSW 21-150-96      Latitude: 47.791972     Longitude: -102.981709
Current Operator: BURLINGTON RESOURCES OIL & GAS COMPANY LP
Current Well Name: KIRKLAND 14-21TFH ULW
Elevation(s): 2330 KB   2303 GR   2301 GL     Total Depth: 21280     Field: PERSHING
Spud Date(s):  5/1/2015
Completion Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Perfs: 11267-21280     Comp: 10/26/2015     Status: F     Date: 10/28/2015     Spacing: 4SEC
Cumulative Production Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Cum Oil: 14627     Cum MCF Gas: 23666     Cum Water: 6973
Production Test Data
   IP Test Date: 10/28/2015     Pool: BAKKEN     IP Oil: 3126     IP MCF: 5064     IP Water: 1323

Monthly Production Data

Pool	Date	Days	BBLS Oil	Runs	BBLS Water	MCF Prod	MCF Sold	Vent/Flare
BAKKEN	12-2015	2	586	533	216	947	945	0
BAKKEN	11-2015	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	10-2015	8	14041	14041	6757	22719	0	22699

This well was fracked 10/2/2015 t0 10/9/2015, with 5,215,308 gallons of water, and 14% proppant by weight (silica, 13%; mullite, 1.7%; and corundum and aluminum silicate, 1.7%).

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22792:

NDIC File No: 22792     API No: 33-053-04093-00-00     CTB No: 222789
Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 12/22/2012     Wellbore type: Horizontal
Location: NENW 28-150-96     Footages: 956 FNL 2383 FWL     Latitude: 47.787088     Longitude: -102.974098
Current Operator: BURLINGTON RESOURCES OIL & GAS COMPANY LP
Current Well Name: KIRKLAND 21-28TFH 3SH
Elevation(s): 2309 KB   2293 GR   2293 GL     Total Depth: 20160     Field: PERSHING
Spud Date(s):  10/3/2012
Casing String(s): 9.625" 1835'   7" 11189'  
Completion Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Perfs: 11189-20160     Comp: 12/22/2012     Status: AL     Date: 7/17/2014     Spacing: 4SEC
Cumulative Production Data
   Pool: BAKKEN     Cum Oil: 186580     Cum MCF Gas: 227475     Cum Water: 69086
Production Test Data
   IP Test Date: 1/6/2013     Pool: BAKKEN     IP Oil: 2926     IP MCF: 1660     IP Water: 350

Monthly Production Data; most recent production:

Pool	Date	Days	BBLS Oil	Runs	BBLS Water	MCF Prod	MCF Sold	Vent/Flare
BAKKEN	12-2015	31	12100	12375	7789	10978	5855	5011
BAKKEN	11-2015	2	5360	4674	2821	6446	6089	351
BAKKEN	10-2015	19	1265	1505	329	892	827	0
BAKKEN	9-2015	19	2083	2087	673	3653	3035	559
BAKKEN	8-2015	31	4243	4256	1454	6007	1621	4289
BAKKEN	7-2015	31	4797	4651	1271	3638	1839	1701
BAKKEN	6-2015	30	2892	2672	580	4260	284	3882
BAKKEN	5-2015	10	784	1192	329	756	459	267
BAKKEN	4-2015	30	3727	3715	1143	8333	7959	273
BAKKEN	3-2015	31	4639	4501	1178	4740	1694	2947

22792, first 12 months of production:

BAKKEN	12-2013	16	3077	3281	0	2731	25	2704
BAKKEN	11-2013	30	6450	6287	72	11890	11556	329
BAKKEN	10-2013	31	9165	9089	0	14664	13408	1256
BAKKEN	9-2013	30	13200	13194	3358	19929	19740	190
BAKKEN	8-2013	5	3424	3115	811	4974	4759	216
BAKKEN	7-2013	0	0	366	0	0	0	0
BAKKEN	6-2013	27	14007	13746	3545	19994	19229	765
BAKKEN	5-2013	31	24278	24335	7602	37190	30447	6743
BAKKEN	4-2013	22	2763	2730	46	1220	33	1187
BAKKEN	3-2013	31	0	0	0	4	0	0
BAKKEN	2-2013	28	0	0	0	4	0	0
BAKKEN	1-2013	28	2684	2555	219	8099	0	8095