Monday, December 20, 2021

Well Said -- The Shale Revolution -- December 20, 2021

From SeekingAlpha

  • Barring a major discovery in the coming 11 days, the oil & gas industry will deliver its worst exploration year since 1946, according to data compiled by Rystad Energy. 
  • As the industry has pivoted to short-cycle (shale) production, it's moved (far) away from the wildcatter business model of the past several decades. 
  • For context Shell spent $7b in preparation and drilling for one exploration well off the coast of Alaska in 2014; in 2021 and after the $70b acquisition of BG, Shell is on pace to spend $1.5b on exploration. 
  • The shale revolution has changed the business model for global integrateds, but with majors like Exxon, Chevron, Conoco Shell, Total, BP  and others largely walking away from exploration and top-tier assets like the Brazilian pre-sal, there is a lot of pressure on the energy transition and shale patch to ensure the world avoids an energy crisis, the likes of which Europe is currently experiencing.

The Bruin FB James Wells Updated; Frack Data Provided -- December 20, 2021

The Bruin FB James wells are tracked here

Reminder: columns below --

  • formation; month/year; days of production; oil production; runs, water, MCF produced, MCF sold, vent/flare;

The wells:

  • 31458, 6,311, FB James 150-94-3A-10-6B, Spotted Horn, 33-053-07032, t11/19; 98K over 25 days; extrapolates to 118,184 bbls crude oil over 30 days; cum 604K 10/21; initial production; 14.8 million lbs proppant; 54 stages;
BAKKEN2-20202944865448272513481124656659147
BAKKEN1-2020316812768229361231079808099820701
BAKKEN12-2019297395974047448841103308597219173
BAKKEN11-2019259848797877855941374718387651155
  • 31457, 4,406, Bruin, FB James 150-94-3B-10-13B, Spotted Horn, 33-053-07031, t10/19; 70K over 33 days; cum 433K 10/21; early production, 25K over 7 days extrapolates to 105,883 bbls crude oil 30 days; 14.8 million lbs proppant; 54 stages;
BAKKEN2-20202933324333393281074009594108863
BAKKEN1-2020315006950124498031103458308420841
BAKKEN12-20192239404389994752051585396589501
BAKKEN11-201926457854670391521706313467134647
BAKKEN10-2019724706237904413233483353029704
  • 31456, 4,617, Bruin, FB James 150-94-3B-10-12T, Spotted Horn, 33-053-07030, t10/19; 74K over 34 days; cum 197K 10/21; fracked with 8.8 million gallons of water; 8.94 million lbs proppant; 54 stages;
  • 31455, 5,346, Bruin, FB James 150-94-3B-10-11B, Spotted Horn, t10/19; 79K over 29 days, cum 305K 10/21;
  • 31454, 5,603, off line 10/21;, Bruin, FB James 150-94-3A-10-10T, Spotted Horn, t11/19; 85K over 28 days; cum 243K 10/20;
  • 35962, 4,471, Bruin, FB James 150-94-3A-10-7T, Spotted Horn, t11/19; cum 36K over 17 days; cum 174K 10/21; 8.99 million lbs proppant, 54 stages;
  • 35963, 4,103, Bruin, FB James 150-94-3A-10-8T2, 54 stages; 9 million lbs; Three Forks second bench; Spotted Horn, t11/19; cum 33K over 17 days; cum 140K 10/21;
  • 35964, 5,029, Bruin, FB James 150-94-3A-10-9B, Spotted Horn, t11/19; cum 43K over 15 days; cum 266K 10/21;

Notes From All Over -- December 20, 2021

XOM / Fayetteville: to be sold to Presidio Petroleum? Link here. Presidio:

  • founded in 2017
  • co-CEOs
    • co-founded by Chris Hammack, formerly CEO of Trinity River Energy
      • Trinity River Energy, a $1 billion+ E&P backed by KKR and Riverstone
      • Texas A&M, degree in Petroleum Engineering
    • co-founded by Will Ulrich
      • formerly head of corporate development and strategic planning for Atlas Energy
      • helped grow Atlas to a $10 billion enterprise; Harvard College; began as investment banker at UBS

Senator Warren: "And that's not enough."

*********************
From Twitter

Fuel Mix Chart -- ISO NE -- December 20, 2021

I posted ISO NE data earlier today. This is an update.

There is something interesting of note in the four-quadrant graphic below.

Prices are high and erratic. The wholesale cost is in the sixth decile.

But of interest is something seen in the lower right-hand quadrant, the fuel mix chart, in the four-quadrant graphic.


WPX Is Reporting Some Incredible Crosby Chase Wells In Spotted Horn -- December 20 ,2021

Again, these are incredible wells, and again, these wells are not atypical in the Bakken of the wells currently being drilled. 

Updating a few of these wells, March 18, 2022:

Periodically I go through the "new wells reporting" list. Here are a few wells from a year ago, 1Q21, that came off the confidential list at that time but had not posted any production. 

No cherry picking. This was simply the very first one that popped up:

  • 37308, drl/NC-->drl/A, WPX, Crosby Chase 2-1HC, Spotted Horn, first production, 5/21; t--; cum 236K 1/22;
PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN1-20223114143141551098317422585010882
BAKKEN12-202131208192067613658303961549814553
BAKKEN11-20213020966210331182726438262060
BAKKEN10-20213123926238251452527156217934950
BAKKEN9-202130274612736913823329541971412815
BAKKEN8-20213126859268591812027342230434010
BAKKEN7-20213147048473643243747895392908450
BAKKEN6-20213048434484623821860090560149147
BAKKEN5-202125938559539401100

Others:

  • 37307, drl/NC-->drl/A, WPX, Crosby Chase 2-1HY, Spotted Horn, first production, 5/21; t--; cum 272K 1/22;

PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN1-202231189161888113663285061006617750
BAKKEN12-202131239692385417331309201713013445
BAKKEN11-20213032542325142198940491402270
BAKKEN10-20213120869207961445423686188904448
BAKKEN9-202130286382854220602311581864012093
BAKKEN8-20213132268322682932033398250258362
BAKKEN7-202131542965459545620561962080335393
BAKKEN6-20213045961465114317057062457447410
BAKKEN5-202181471713868131254300
  • 37306, drl/NC, WPX, Crosby Chase 2-1HG, Spotted Horn, first production, 6/21; t--; cum 266K 1/22;
PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN1-202231197771977097831855682189648
BAKKEN12-202131273872715814968331391895913835
BAKKEN11-20213020923210101236626524263040
BAKKEN10-20213126379262691535131549251226017
BAKKEN9-202130310293092519212312151867312117
BAKKEN8-20213128986289861533629160212917610
BAKKEN7-20213153271536502704253591482855151
BAKKEN6-20212658150577714208671250653058361
BAKKEN5-20210000000
  • 37305, drl/NC, WPX, Crosby Chase 2-1HZ, Spotted Horn, no production data, see this post;
PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN1-202231127001276198411453254528412
BAKKEN12-202131225982247417242302821659013358
BAKKEN11-20213027981279992045335014347680
BAKKEN10-20213123132230411724226301211164773
BAKKEN9-202130285212842521528318581905812375
BAKKEN8-20213125179251792179926111201625938
BAKKEN7-202131477974812840172495662858120985
BAKKEN6-20213050888509194581263797558152611
BAKKEN5-202146275591357132100

The Crosby Chase wells: :

  • 37308, drl/NC, WPX, Crosby Chase 2-1HC, Spotted Horn, first production, 6/21; t--; cum 159K 10/21;
PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN10-20213123926238251452527156217934950
BAKKEN9-202130274612736913823329541971412815
BAKKEN8-20213126859268591812027342230434010
BAKKEN7-20213126859268591812047895392908450
BAKKEN6-20213048434484623821860090560149147
BAKKEN5-202125938559539401100
  • 37307, drl/NC, WPX, Crosby Chase 2-1HY, Spotted Horn, first production, 5/21; t--; cum 197K 10/21; 14,717 bbls over 8 days extrapolates to 55,200 bbls crude oil over 30 days:
PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN10-20213120869207961445423686188904448
BAKKEN9-202130286382854220602311581864012093
BAKKEN8-20213132268322682932033398250258362
BAKKEN7-202131542965459545620561962080335393
BAKKEN6-20213045961465114317057062457447410
BAKKEN5-202181471713868131254300
  • 37306, drl/NC, WPX, Crosby Chase 2-1HG, Spotted Horn, first production, 6/21; t--; cum 198K 10/21; 
  • 37305, drl/NC, WPX, Crosby Chase 2-1HZ, Spotted Horn, first production, 6/21; t--; cum 159K 10/21;
PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN10-20213123132230411724226301211164773
BAKKEN9-202130285212842521528318581905812375
BAKKEN8-20213125179251792179926111201625938
BAKKEN7-202131251792517921799495662858120985
BAKKEN6-20213050888509194581263797558152611
BAKKEN5-202146275591357132100
  • 37304, drl/NC, WPX, Crosby Chase 2-1HIL, Spotted Horn, first production, 6/21; t--; cum 167K 10/21;
PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN10-20213128921288921560335718313193998
BAKKEN9-20213037294373401769447890474640
BAKKEN8-202131230422267510508284571649211770
BAKKEN7-20213135269355801726343562543402
BAKKEN6-20213041362412761842055509050923
BAKKEN5-2021193971422500

A Closer Look At The Recently Completed WPX Patricia Kelly Well In Spotted Horn; A Huge Well; 216K In Less Than Six Months -- December 20, 2021

The Patricia Kelly wells are tracked here.

The well:

  • 37232, 2,409, WPX, Patricia Kelly 2-1HA, Spotted Horn, 33-053-09306, first production, 5/21; t--; cum 216K 10/21; fracked 4/13/2021 - 4/19/21; another small frack: 4.9 million gallons of water; 82.925% water by mass; proppant 16.33% by mass;
PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN10-20213119745197611078724287214592438
BAKKEN9-20213023244232531320526730216014858
BAKKEN8-20213130576305591691535771355210
BAKKEN7-20213132082322431815434537342290
BAKKEN6-20213057376574963796361099548000
BAKKEN5-20212052530520933678673161674370

From the geologist's report:
  • spud: November 18, 2020;
  • TD: 21,674; November 27, 2020;
  • curve began on November 21, 221; completed November 22, 2020
  • lateral drilling began November 23, 2020; completed on November 27, 2020
  • target: 20 feet below the top of the middle Bakken
  • eight miles north of Mandaree;

The parent well (subsequent to this well, nine more wells on two pads):

  • 23639, 1,482, WPX, Patricia Kelly 2-1HB, Spotted Horn, 33-053-04342, fracked 3/9/13 - 3/9/13 (a one-day frack); 2.4 million gallons of water; 16 stages; 3.23 million lbs proppant;

Recent production of the parent well, note the small jump in production when it came back on line, the well went from 3,500 bbls / month to over 16,000 bbls / month;

PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN10-20213145644568387352584036739
BAKKEN9-202130541354215335615541851689
BAKKEN8-20213181278093846391428725164
BAKKEN7-20213125172528623828317661905
BAKKEN6-2021214216426213927583250720
BAKKEN5-202116831082412986715265141350
BAKKEN4-20210000000
BAKKEN3-20210000000
BAKKEN2-20210000000
BAKKEN1-20210000000
BAKKEN12-20200000000
BAKKEN11-20200000000
BAKKEN10-20200000000
BAKKEN9-20200000000
BAKKEN8-20200000000
BAKKEN7-20202822122392887403923031407
BAKKEN6-202030262026011070465124851419
BAKKEN5-20203125582524110532162308160
BAKKEN4-20203026902758114733802150465

Petro-Hunt With Two New Permits; WPX Reports A Huge Well In Spotted Horn; Two DUCs Reported As Completed -- December 20, 2021

Active rigs: NDIC is reporting 33 active rigs; one is an SWD well; I did not check for duplicates:

  • Scout Energy, a Heath-Madison unit; iron Hand 108: Billings County, file #3951 in Billings County; a re-entry well; this well last produced oil in 1999;
  • CLR with ten active rigs; possibly a duplicate; haven't checked;
  • Murex has an active rig; #38598;
$6823
12/20/202112/20/202012/20/201912/20/201812/20/2017
Active Rigs3215546951

Two new permits, #38711 - #38712, inclusive:

  • Operator: Petro-Hunt
  • Field: Little Knife (Dunn)
  • Comments:
    • Petro-Hunt has permits for two Terres wells in NWNE 18-144-97; 
    • the wells will be sited 295 FNL and between 1715 and 1750 FEL;

Two producing wells (DUCs) reported as completed:

  • 37232, 2,409, WPX, Patricia Kelly 2-1HA, Spotted Horn, 33-053-09306, first production, 5/21; t--; cum 216K 10/21;
  • 37398, 1,522, CLR, Rodney 9-29H, Cedar Coulee, 33-025-04007, first production --; t--; cum --;

Off The Net For Awhile -- Going Biking -- December 20, 2021

Lox and bagel for lunch with an ounce of Shieldaig Islay.

Sophia, age seven, received her first Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine last week, and I got my booster today. 

I don't think Pfizer has the blood-clotting problems but whisky is a "natural" preventative. 

Don't want to take any chances. 

Will have a Shieldaig booster while watching the first of two NFL games later this afternoon. 

But first, a bike ride. 

Islay: home to the world's peatiest whiskies

Russia "Reluctant" To Boost Natural Gas Flow To Europe; Rigs Don't Matter -- Saudi Arabia -- December 20, 2021

I doubt this is political but talk of sanctions on Nordstream 2 gives Russia the cover they need to cutting back on natural gas sales to Europe.

This has to do more with Russia's critical need for natural gas as winter weather starts than politics. 

And if that's correct, it tells me all I need to know about "spare capacity." 

Irina Slav is reporting that Russia is "reluctant" to boost natural gas flows as cold snap hits Europe.

Saudi Arabia: rigs don't matter.



Burning Oil To Generate Electricity In The US -- As Bad As Coal But A Whole Lot More Expensive -- December 20, 2021

Link here.

For the past week or so, ISO NE has been very, very affordable; wind energy bringing overall price down. 

But it surprised me today. I wasn't surprised so much by the spike in price (6th decile) as I was about the "source" of that electricity: oil. Oil? Are you kidding me? I can't even imagine burning any oil at in the United States to generate electricity, but "NE" is literally right next to the biggest source of natural gas in the known universe. 

The Middle East burns oil to generate electricity, but in the United States?

Whatever. 


Not Only Completing Four To Six Wells Simultaneously, But Developing Three To Four Pads In Close Proximity -- December 20, 2021

Some time ago, I stated that fracking four to eight wells at a time on one pad was now the norm in the Bakken, and that operators who failed to do this on a regular basis would not be operating for long in the Bakken.

A reader at the time responded:

A few years back, some industry executive was explaining some of the economics behind not only 4 to 6 wells per pad simultaneously being drilled/completed, but also the then-emerging trend of simultaneously developing 3 to 4 pads in close proximity.
I did not give that much thought at the time. I thought the reader was repeating what I had said, but I missed the second part of that: "... the then-emerging trend of simultaneously developing three to four pads in close proximity."
 
Wow, it just occurred to me: MRO has a three-rig drilling program in the prolific Bailey and is reporting incredible wells. Likewise, CLR has a two- to three-rig drilling program in at least one of its high-density projects, the Long Creek Unit.

A Closer Look At The Most Recent FB Belford Well To Be Reported -- December 20, 2021

The Bruin FB Belford wells are tracked here

The well:

  • 36302, conf, Bruin, FB Belford 148-95-22D-15-14B-LL, Eagle Nest, 33-025-03775, first production, 6/21; t--; cum 123K 10/21; FracFocus reports two fracks, which we've discussed before:
    • first frack, 5/11/21 - 5/22/21: 8.367 million gallons of water, 83.04421% water by mass; 10.22434% sand by mass;
    • second frack, 5/11/21 - 5/22/21; 8.939 million gallons of water; 83.04421% water by mass; 10.22434% sand by mass;
PoolDateDaysBBLS OilRunsBBLS WaterMCF ProdMCF SoldVent/Flare
BAKKEN10-2021301858318622102982584222537305
BAKKEN9-202113128801273482571416212223146
BAKKEN8-20213131390313463667039998379391241
BAKKEN7-20212940500405414020743835424321403
BAKKEN6-20211119332190162192217927163831209

Geologist's narrative, summary:

  • pad, well, and target:
    • a north facing lateral well, middle Bakken
    • on an 8-well pad
    • goal of the build section was to land in the drilling window 14 - 24' below the upper Bakken shale in the middle Bakken
    • the lateral was drilled to a total depth of 21,216' MD
    • the target formation was 41' thick;
    • the top of the target window was set for 14' below the top of the middle Bakken
    • the bottom of the target window set for 24' below the top of the middle Bakken
    • in other words, a target window 10' thick
  • dates:
    • spud date: August 27, 2019
    • landing point: September 1, 2019
    • total depth reached: September 6, 2019
    • total lateral length: 10,094 feet
  • drilling and max gas units
    • above the drilling target footage: 2,563' 25.39%
    • in drilling target footage: 7,531' 74.61%
    • below the drilling target: 0 0
    • daily footage and max daily gas in the lateral
      • day 1: 3,600' 7,338 units
      • day 2: 2546' 9999 units
      • day 3: trip for MWD tool at 17,283' approx time: 18.75 hours
      • day 4: 1,881' 8862 units
      • day 5: 2,052' 2677 units
  • assuming one day to drill the vertical well, this well took six days to reach total depth;