For Newbies: What The Bakken Is All About -- March 20, 2019

For newbies: this is what the Bakken is all about --

• drill, complete
• a pump at about 6 months
• work-overs as needed
• mini-re-fracks
• neighboring fracks
• major re-fracks
• repeat

For the archives.

All four Paul wells on this pad were re-fracked in 2/18:

• 25306, 2,460, QEP, Paul 1-26-35BH, Grail, t12/13; cum 441K 1/19; huge jump in production 3/18; 
• 25305, 2,243, QEP, Paul 2-26-35BH, Grail, t12/13; cum 393K 1/19; huge jump in 2/18; 
• 23278, 2,143, QEP, Paul 1-26/35H, Grail, Three Forks, t1/14; cum 281K 1/19; huge jump in 3/18; re-fracked 2/18; 30 stages; about 9 million lbs; 
• 25304, 2,257, QEP, Paul 2-26-35TH, Grail, t12/13; cum 338K 1/19;

Production profile for two of these wells for the past year or so.

#25305:

Pool	Date	Days	BBLS Oil	Runs	BBLS Water	MCF Prod	MCF Sold	Vent/Flare
BAKKEN	1-2019	30	6828	6823	3886	18435	12728	5556
BAKKEN	12-2018	23	4879	4868	4828	12250	9343	2781
BAKKEN	11-2018	28	5642	5663	2803	18752	13881	4671
BAKKEN	10-2018	30	8977	9063	5271	27504	24894	2396
BAKKEN	9-2018	30	10704	10561	6113	26891	19742	7099
BAKKEN	8-2018	24	8807	8980	4734	24680	16614	8066
BAKKEN	7-2018	31	14002	14053	7431	35997	33115	2882
BAKKEN	6-2018	30	17023	17060	9770	39183	34129	5054
BAKKEN	5-2018	31	22665	22615	13847	48496	43636	4860
BAKKEN	4-2018	30	31451	31286	23611	55051	49663	5388
BAKKEN	3-2018	18	16359	16348	24549	24435	21866	2569
BAKKEN	2-2018	1	2	0	931	0	0	0
BAKKEN	1-2018	3	336	283	126	815	789	0
BAKKEN	12-2017	31	2702	2933	908	6163	6013	0

#25304:

Pool	Date	Days	BBLS Oil	Runs	BBLS Water	MCF Prod	MCF Sold	Vent/Flare
BAKKEN	1-2019	27	7983	7895	8877	21345	14737	6433
BAKKEN	12-2018	16	3591	3708	3093	10380	7917	2356
BAKKEN	11-2018	29	8096	8022	6987	24569	18187	6120
BAKKEN	10-2018	31	8169	8235	7616	24014	21735	2092
BAKKEN	9-2018	30	9293	9154	8672	21663	15904	5719
BAKKEN	8-2018	22	6718	6862	5992	14983	10086	4897
BAKKEN	7-2018	31	11247	11250	9727	24556	22590	1966
BAKKEN	6-2018	30	11859	11896	11064	25900	22559	3341
BAKKEN	5-2018	31	16438	16377	15863	31570	28406	3164
BAKKEN	4-2018	29	20602	20657	22491	34540	31160	3380
BAKKEN	3-2018	30	24956	24779	43316	37711	33746	3965
BAKKEN	2-2018	1	1	0	829	0	0	0
BAKKEN	1-2018	3	209	182	112	615	596	0
BAKKEN	12-2017	31	1813	1979	753	4072	3973	0
BAKKEN	11-2017	30	1909	1809	784	3068	2999	9

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Midnight Fugue 

I could watch this all night. I watch this one with the audio on MUTE.  If you want to see the entire clip, at YouTube , search: soldier surprise son taekwondo:


I had never heard this song (below) until this evening. Don't ask me how I came across it. The video is pretty cheesy, and the song is just as cheesy , but if one is in the right mindset, this will bring tears to your eyes. It did for me. Our son-in-law served fifteen years in the US Navy, a submariner.

Sailor, Petula Clark
Interestingly, I would prefer listening to this than Petula Clark's Downtown.

Midnight fugue, here.

After midnight I start with a random song on YouTube.com which leads me to another and then another. Later, sometimes hours later, I end up somewhere not knowing how I got there. Often I am in a fugue state. I am sure I am not alone.

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Copeland's Famous New Orleans Restaurant, Southlake, TX

I cannot say enough about the hospitality shown by this restaurant today. The food was incredible.

But what made it memorable: our hostess, Amber, and our server, Brad.

The tip: slightly less than 50% of the fare.

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The Book Page

Following comments received regarding the "military-themed" videos above, I posted the following from the book I was reading at the time, The Comanche Code Talkers Of World War II, William C. Meadows, c. 2002. I forget the specifics, but I believe Meadows (the author) says he spoke to each and everyone of the Comanche code talker except one who had passed away.

In pre-reservation times, the Comanches are better viewed as a number of linguistically and culturally related tribes [generally described as divisions], as they never comprised a single political or geographically centralized entity until after their  entrance onto a reservation.

After more than 150 years of warfare, competition with numerous other tribes and Anglo nations, and disease, the last remaining autonomous bands of Comanches were forced onto the collective Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Reservation in Southwestern Oklahoma in 1875.

What followed were decades of status as governmental wards, forced reduction of their lands, inadequate food, mandatory boarding schools, denial of citizenship and civil rights, continual broken treaties and legal agreements, forced allotment of their remaining lands, and a Anglo-based assimilationist war against their culture, religion, and language.

Sixty-five years later the United States Army came seeking the aid of the Comanches and their language in preparation for World War II. The Comanches had numerous reasons to resent the Taiboo' [Anglos]. But in spite of all the past experiences and the often paternalist treatment of the Comanches by the government, when the call of duty came, they, like other Native American populations patriotically joined  in the defense of America.
Prior to their recruitment, the Comanches had no idea of the ultimately unique role that they and their language would play in the outcome of the war, There was no way they could have known that they would be selected to carry out highly specialized communications service that would be unique in the European campaign. The Comanches represent a population whose loyalty to their people and the American country was unswerving in its devotion, and they were unhesitant in their decision to make the necessary sacrifices called for in the Second World War. -- p. xii.

One needs to be reminded that not all Americans thought we needed to be involved in a European war (Lindbergh comes to mind; he was pro-Nazi Germany and against the US going to war with Germany). And with regard to the Pacific theater, there were Americans against going to war.

 

Hope Springs Eternal -- XTO Proposes Unitizing A Large Area Of The Bakken -- September 28, 2018

Grinnel-Bakken and Hofflund-Bakken are contiguous -- is that the right word? -- think of a long rectangular field, with the eastern fourth being the Hofflund, and the western three-quarters being the Grinnell. I don't know much about the Hofflund -- I see it once in awhile -- but the Grinnell is a great field. It's amazing how much of the best Bakken is below the river and the lake. God has a sense of humor. The Native Americans were right: "we" never should have flooded what is now Lake Sakakawea. 

Hofflund:

Grinnell:

Link here. Data points:

• XTO would like to unitize the Hofflund-Bakken and the Grinnell-Bakken oil fields as one large unitized unit
• Petrogulf Corp is one of the 150 working interest owners
• Petrogulf objected to unitizing the two fields as one unitized unit
• Petrogulf felt unitizing the two units as one unit would be "unfair" because geology is "so different"
• NDIC proposed separating the two units; but allow unitizing both -- separately
• NDIC also recommended changes to the royalty distribution formula that he said would make the plan more equitable (details not provided in the article)
• NDIC unanimous: the proposal goes forward but as two separate unitized fields: the Hofflund-Bakken unitized field; and the Grinnell-Bakken unitized field
• the proposal must now be approved by 55% of mineral owners

Flashback

• QEP tried unitizing the Helis Grail field years ago; the proposal was defeated 
• Helis Grail field is not unitized
• something tells me....

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Electric Switches 101

Unfortunately this was filmed in low light. But I had to take advantage of the moment. Sophia did not want this filmed but she agreed to one "take." Earlier, not filmed, was much better, but this will give you an idea of what we are working on.

It's In: The Vote Is 2 - 1 On QEP's "Helis" Grail "Unitization"

The Dickinson Press is reporting:

The North Dakota Industrial Commission voted 2-1 to approve a proposal from QEP Energy Co. to develop 25,000 acres in McKenzie County as one large drilling unit known as the Grail-Bakken Unit.

But individual mineral owners will still have the final say. QEP needs 60 percent approval from mineral owners and working interest owners in the unit.

Lynn Helms, director of the Department of Mineral Resources, recommended approval because QEP estimates it will be able to recover an additional 2.7 million barrels of oil by developing the area as a large unit.

PrairieMagazine.com reports (same writer):

An oil drilling proposal that drew opposition from many mineral owners moved forward Wednesday in a split vote with Gov. Jack Dalrymple objecting.

The North Dakota Industrial Commission voted 2-1 to approve a proposal from QEP Energy Co. to develop 25,000 acres in McKenzie County as one large drilling unit known as the Grail-Bakken Unit.

But individual mineral owners will still have the final say. QEP needs 60 percent approval from mineral owners and working interest owners in the unit.

Lynn Helms, director of the Department of Mineral Resources, recommended approval because QEP estimates it will be able to recover an additional 2.7 million barrels of oil by developing the area as a large unit.

I assume that first paragraph could have been written: "...that was supported by many mineral owners in which the commission voted 2 -1 ."

I have no dog in this fight, and I will hold off comments for now (the subject is full of landmines, which I don't need).

However, I have very, very strong feelings about this on so many levels, and some day, I will write about some of them, if the spirit moves me. 

Helis: A Retrospective -- 100K in Six Months; 28 stages; 100% Ceramics; Three Forks Target; Pronghorn Discussed

Locator: 10010HELIS.

My database suggests that Helis was issued its first permit in the current boom in 2007.

Here is the status of wells for permits issued to Helis in 2011. I think the narratives for several of the wells will give one an idea of the well design used by Helis, the formation target, etc.:

• 20591, 2,656, Oasis/QEP/Helis, Jones 4-15/22H, Three Forks, Blue Buttes oil field, t4/12; cum 586K 11/17; 28 stages; 3.4 million pounds; 100% ceramics; vertical hole, 137 hours; horizontal, 286 hours; 28 days total; middle Bakken 38' thick here; "recently the NDGS has reclassified the lower approximate 10' of the Lower Bakken Shale as a stratigraphically and litholgically distinct unit. The unit now referred to as the Pronghorn Member is present in Blue Buttes Field. The unit thickness is variable and in some wells the interval has not been observed.... gas show in the Three Forks was encouraging .. 1,000 to 1,500 units .. increased to 4,000 units... then to 6,500 units...10-20' trip flare...." cum 681K 1/22; cum 738K 11/24;
  
• 20780, 2,190, Oasis/QEP/Helis, Henderson 1-28/33H, Grail, t6/12; cum 495K 11/17; cum 608K 1/22; cum 651K 11/24;
  
• 21052, PA/1,684, Oasis/QEP/Helis, Moberg 15-22/15H, Three Forks, Grail, t12/11; cum 298K 11/17; 28 stages; 3.1 million pounds; 100% ceramics; vertical, 132 hours; horizontal, 199 hours; spud August 26; reached total depth on November 6 (the surface was spud August 26; the big rig did not re-enter until October 4), so about 32 days total drilling; Pronghorn about 6' feet thick in this well, but averages 10' in this area; 1,500 units of gas; 3 - 5' flares. Off line 3/18; cum 304K 3/18; cum 443K 11/24;
• 21054, 1,601, Oasis/QEP/Helis, Veeder 1-27/34H, Grail, t2/12; cum 345K 11/17; cum 410K 1/22;
  
• 21331, A/AB/2,164, Oasis/QEP/Helis, Foreman 5-2/1H, Three Forks, Spotted Horn, t1/12; cum 368K 11/17; 28 stages; 3.4 million pounds proppants; 100% ceramics; vertical 144 hours; horizontal, 308 hours; 33 days total; "recently the NDGS has reclassified the lower approximate 10' of the Lower Bakken Shale as a stratigraphically and litholgically distinct unit. The unit now referred to as the Pronghorn Member is present in Spotted Horn and surrounding fields; the Pronghorn is approx 8 feet thick in the Forman well; in the Three Forks, gas units as high as 3,413 units; flares were 2 - 5' in height; a sustained 10 - 15' flare was burned for about 30 minutes near the end." Off line 11/20; cum 408K 11/20; cum 440K 11/24;
  
• 21437, 2,256, Oasis/QEP/Helis, Lawlar 16-8/5H, Grail, t4/12; cum 386K 11/17; cum 457K 1/22; cum 483K 11/24;
  
• 21456, 2,014, Oasis/QEP/Helis, TAT 13-35/26H, Grail; t7/12; cum416K 11/17; cum 513K 1/22; cum 556K 11/24;
  
• 21521, IA/1,521, Oasis/QEP/Helis, Dailey 4-12/13H, Spotted horn, t3/12; cum 419K 11/17; cum 440K 1/22; recently off line; back on line; cum 441K 2/22; off line;
  
• 21564, 2,288, Oasis/QEP/Helis, Levang Federal 14-21/16H, Blue Buttes;  t8/12; cum 649K 11/17; cum 699K 1/22; cum 710K 11/24;
  

For newbies: these are huge wells. It looks like many will hit 100,000 bbls in the first three months of production; all should hit 100,000 bbls in the first six months of production, or certainly come close. This is as good a string of wells that I have seen anywhere in the Bakken since I began following it in 2006.

QEP did their homework.