Nine Bakken operators filed applications that the North Dakota Industrial Commission will consider in hearings on March 26 and 27 seeking creation of 67 overlapping 2,560-acre spacing units and one overlapping 3,480-acre unit along with seven new 1,280-acre units, all Bakken pool units.
Leading in those applications is Whiting Oil and Gas Corp., which is applying for 27 separate overlapping 2,560s, nearly half of the total requested of the commission. Whiting wants to drill one or more horizontal wells on or near the common spacing unit boundaries in each of the new overlapping units. The 27 spacing units are in the Bell, Zenith, Fryberg and Park fields, all adjacent fields in east-central Billings and northwest Stark counties.
Oasis Petroleum wants 15 overlapping 2,560s created in Mountrail and Williams counties in order to drill one or more horizontal wells. Seven of the 2,560s are in the Cottonwood and/or adjacent Kittleson Sough fields in north-central Mountrail County, three are in the Alkali Creek field in west-central Mountrail County, two are in the Missouri Ridge field in southwest Williams County, two are in the Sanish field in north-central Mountrail County and one is in the Camp field in north-central McKenzie County.
ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO Energy is applying for 12 overlapping 2,560-acre and five 1,280-acre units in Dunn and Williams counties. Eleven of the 2,560s are in the Heart Butte field in far northeast Dunn County. The other 2,560 is in the Lindahl field in far northeast Williams County. Three of the 1,280s are in the Heart Butte field in far northeast Dunn County. On all 12 of the 2,560s and the three 1,280s, XTO wants to drill one horizontal Bakken pool well on or near the section lines of the smaller component spacing units. The other two 1,280s are in the Bear Creek field in northwest Dunn County, and on those XTO wants to drill multiple wells.
Petro-Hunt and Continental
Petro-Hunt is applying for five overlapping 2,560s and two 1,280s in McKenzie, Mountrail and Williams counties.
Two of the overlapping 2,560s Petro-Hunt is applying for are in the Charlson field, most of which lies in northeast McKenzie County, but portions of the requested spacing units extend north under Lake Sakakawea into southeast Williams County. Petro-Hunt wants to drill up to three horizontal Bakken pool wells on each of those two units.
Two more of the 2,560s lie farther south in the Charlson field away from the lake and on each of those two units Petro-Hunt wants to drill two horizontal Bakken pool wells. The fifth overlapping 2,560 Petro-Hunt is applying for straddles the eastern boundary of the Charlson field and the western boundary of the Elm Tree field in McKenzie County. Petro-Hunt has wells in the western 1,280 making up the proposed 2,560 and it wants to drill two additional north-south wells on the common section line dividing two standup 1,280s from the west side.
In addition, Continental Resources is also applying for a 2,560 comprised of the same four sections as the one Petro-Hunt is seeking in the Charleson and Elm Tree fields. Continental has wells in the eastern 1,280 in the proposed unit and it wants to drill up to two Bakken pool wells on or near the same section lines from east side. In such cases, operators will often work out a resolution prior to hearings as to which will apply for the unit, but if a resolution cannot be reached, the commission will make the determination as to which will be allowed to drill.
The two 1,280s Petro-Hunt is requesting are in the Tioga field in far northwest Mountrail County and on each the company wants to drill up to seven Bakken pools.
Hess and Hunt Oil
In the Robinson Lake field in west-central Mountrail County, Hess Corp. is applying for three overlapping 2,560s with one or more horizontal wells on the common spacing unit boundaries. Hess is also applying for a 2,560 to drill one or more wells on the common boundaries in the Rainbow field in north-central Williams County.
Hunt Oil Co. wants the commission to create two 1,280s in the Blue Ridge field in northwest Williams County where Hunt wants to drill one horizontal Bakken pool well on each.
High well density units
In the Spotted Horn field in far eastern McKenzie County, WPX Energy Williston wants the commission to create one overlapping 3,840-acre spacing unit and allow up to 42 Bakken pool wells on that unit. In the neighboring Mandaree field in northwestern Dunn and eastern McKenzie counties, WPX wants an overlapping 2,560-acre unit created where the company wants to drill up to 28 Bakken pool wells. In addition WPX wants to drill up to 28 wells on an existing 2,560 in the neighboring Squaw Creek field (see story on page 6). WPX is also applying for a 1,280-acre unit in the neighboring Spotted Horn field to drill up to 14 Bakken pool wells.
Also in the Spotted Horn field in far eastern McKenzie County, QEP Energy is applying for one overlapping 2,560-acre unit where it wants to drill up to 16 horizontal wells. In the neighboring Grail and/or Bear Den fields, QEP wants three separate overlapping 2,560s created to drill one or more horizontal Bakken pool wells on each.
Marathon Oil wants one overlapping 2,560-acre spacing unit established for drilling up to 12 Bakken pool wells in the Bailey field in central Dunn County, and another in the Reunion Bay field in the peninsula in southwest Mountrail County to drill up to two Bakken pool wells.
Non-Bakken spacing units
Two operators are applying for spacing units to target the Madison and Spearfish formations in Bottineau and Renville counties.
Corinthian Exploration (USA) is applying for four 320-acre spacing units in Bottineau County. One of the 320s is in the Russell field in the south-central region of the county where Corinthian wants to drill one horizontal Spearfish/Madison pool well. Two more of the 320s are in the Leonard and Roth fields in the north-central area of the county, and on each of those two units Corinthian wants to drill one Spearfish/Madison pool well. The last of the 320s is in the neighboring Cimbel field and there Corinthian wants to drill a horizontal Madison pool well.
In Renville County, Flatirons Resources is applying for a 480-acre unit to drill one horizontal Madison pool well.
