BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
|
IN THE MATTER OF THE PROMULGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN OPERATIONS FOR THE THE Niobrara, Fort Hays, Codell, and Carlile Formations, Hereford FIELD, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
|
) ) ) ) ) ) )
|
CAUSE NO. 421
DOCKET NO. 180700580
TYPE: SPACING
ORDER NO. 421-123 |
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
The Commission heard this matter on July 30, 2018, at the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801, Denver, Colorado, upon amended application for an order to: 1) vacate two approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing units established by Order No. 421-1 for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; 2) vacate an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 421-69 for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation; 3) vacate Order No. 421-78 as it applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation; 4) vacate Order No. 421-83 as it applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; 5) vacate Order No. 421-92 as it applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; and 6) establish an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., and approve up to 16 new horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara, Fort Hays, Codell, and Carlile Formations.
FINDINGS
The Commission finds as follows:
1. HighPoint Operating Corporation (Operator No. 10071) (“HighPoint” or “Applicant”) is an interested party in the subject matter of the above-referenced hearing.
2. Due notice of the time, place and purpose of the hearing has been given in all respects as required by law.
3. The Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter embraced in said notice, and of the parties interested therein, and jurisdiction to promulgate the hereinafter prescribed order pursuant to the Oil and Gas Conservation Act.
4. Rule 318.a. of the Rules and Regulations of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission requires that, on unspaced lands, wells drilled in excess of 2,500 feet in depth be located not less than 600 feet from any lease line, and located not less than 1,200 feet from any other producible or drilling oil or gas well when drilling to the same common source of supply. Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., are subject to this Rule for the Niobrara, Fort Hays, Codell, and Carlile Formations.
5. On February 22, 2010 (corrected January 19, 2012), the Commission entered Order No. 421-1 which, among other things, established two approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing units for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., and approved one horizontal well within each unit, for the development and operation of the Niobrara Formation, with the productive interval of the wellbore to be located no closer than 600 feet from the unit boundaries, without exception being granted by the Director.
6. On July 20, 2015, the Commission entered Order No. 421-69 which, among other things, established 11 approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing units, and approved six horizontal wells within each unit, for certain lands, including Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation, with the productive interval of the wellbore to be located no closer than 460 feet from the unit boundaries, and no closer than 150 feet from the productive interval of any other wellbore located in the unit, without exception being granted by the Director.
7. On December 12, 2016, the Commission entered Order No. 421-78 which, among other things, modified Order Nos. 421-69 to allow the productive interval of any permitted well to be located no closer than 300 feet from the unit boundaries of the approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit established for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation.
8. On January 30, 2017, the Commission entered Order No. 421-83 which, among other things, established six approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing units for certain lands, including Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., providing that the existing 640-acre units for the production of the existing wells shall be maintained only until the date of first completion of the new horizontal well into the unit, and approved up to eight new horizontal wells in the approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit, providing that the productive interval of each wellbore shall be located no closer than 300 feet from the boundaries of the unit and no closer than 150 feet from the productive interval of another well producing from the same source of supply within the unit, unless an exception is granted by the Director, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation.
9. On September 11, 2017, the Commission entered Order No. 421-92 which, among other things, approved an additional seven horizontal wells, for a total of 15 horizontal wells, in six approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing units established for certain lands, including Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from Niobrara Formation.
10. On May 31, 2018, HighPoint, by its attorneys, filed with the Commission pursuant to §34-60-116, C.R.S., a verified application (“Application”) for an order to: 1) vacate two approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing units established by Order No. 421-1 for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; 2) vacate an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 421-69 for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation; 3) vacate Order No. 421-78 as it applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation; 4) vacate Order No. 421-83 as it applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; 5) vacate Order No. 421-92 as it applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; and 6) establish an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-described lands (“Application Lands”), and approve up to 16 new horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara, Fort Hays, Codell, and Carlile Formations, with the productive interval of any horizontal well in the unit to be located no closer than 150 feet from the boundaries of the unit for production from the Niobrara and Fort Hays Formations, no closer than 300 feet from the boundaries of the unit for production from the Codell and Carlile Formations, and the treated interval of all horizontal wells shall be no closer than 150 feet from the treated interval of any other well within the unit, unless an exception is granted by the Director:
Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M.
Section 32: All
Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M.
Section 5: All
Applicant stated that any horizontal wells to be drilled under this Application will be drilled from no more than five multi-well pads on the surface of the drilling unit, or on adjacent lands with consent of the landowner, unless an exception is granted by the Director.
11. Applicant further requested that the 640-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 421-1, pursuant to Order No. 421-83, for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., be modified by requiring the Randall Creek #04-32H Well (API No. 05-123-32133), a Niobrara Formation horizontal well, to be brought into the approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit proposed for the Application Lands as of the initial date of completion operations associated with the first well completed under this approved Application, changing allocation of production from a 640-acre unit basis to an approximate 1,280-acre unit basis.
12. On July 3, 2018, supplemented on July 13, 2018, HighPoint, by its attorneys, filed with the Commission a written request to approve the Application based on the merits of the verified Application and the supporting exhibits. Sworn written testimony and exhibits were submitted in support of the Application.
13. Land testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Leslie Mann, Landman for HighPoint, showed that HighPoint has a leasehold interest with the right to drill in the Application Lands.
14. Geology testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Dan Moore, Senior Geologist for HighPoint, showed that the Niobrara Formation is present throughout the Application Lands, is approximately 285 to 300 feet thick, and is a common source of supply underlying the Application Lands. The geologic testimony showed that the Niobrara Formation consists of a sequence of chalks and limestones. Geologic testimony further showed that the Fort Hays Formation is present throughout the Application Lands, is approximately 18 to 20 feet thick, and is a common source of supply underlying the Application Lands. The geologic testimony showed that the Fort Hays Formation is limestone. Geologic testimony further showed that the Codell Formation is present throughout the Application Lands, is approximately 20 to 22 feet thick, and is a common source of supply underlying the Application Lands. The geologic testimony showed that the Codell Formation is a sequence of siltstones and sandstones. Geologic testimony further showed that the Carlile Formation is present throughout the Application Lands, is approximately 27 to 30 feet thick, and is a common source of supply underlying the Application Lands. The geologic testimony showed that the Carlile Formation consists of shale.
15. Engineering testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Sean Stewart, Senior Reservoir Engineer at HighPoint, on behalf of HighPoint, showed that the drainage area for analog horizontal Niobrara Formation wells is estimated at 54 acres, and an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit is therefore not less than the maximum area than can be efficiently, economically and effectively drained by 10 to 12 horizontal wells producing oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation. The engineering testimony also showed that the drainage area for analog horizontal Codell Formation wells is estimated at 78 acres, and an appropriate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit is therefore not less than the maximum area than can be efficiently, economically, and effectively drained by four to six horizontal wells producing oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation. Finally, the engineering testimony affirmed that the Fort Hays and Carlile Formations are not intentional target formations for the planned wells, but should be included in the drilling and spacing unit in the event a wellbore deviates outside of the target zone.
16. In addition, the engineering testimony showed that the average drainage distance from wellbores in the Niobrara and Fort Hays Formations is estimated to be 115 feet. The engineering testimony also showed that the average drainage distance from wellbores in the Codell and Carlile Formations is estimated to be 170 feet. Thus, the requested setbacks of 150 feet from the unit boundaries for wellbores in the Niobrara and Fort Hays Formations and 300 feet from the unit boundaries for wellbores in the Codell and Carlile formations are appropriate.
17. The above-referenced testimony and exhibits show that granting the Application will allow more efficient reservoir drainage, will prevent waste, will assure a greater ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons, and will not violate correlative rights.
18. HighPoint agreed to be bound by oral order of the Commission.
19. Based on the facts stated in the verified Application, no protests having been filed, and based on the Hearing Officer review of the Application under Rule 511., the Commission should enter an order to: 1) vacate an approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 421-1 for Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; 2) vacate an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 421-69 for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation; 3) vacate Order No. 421-78 as it applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation; 4) vacate Order No. 421-83 as it applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; 5) vacate Order No. 421-92 as it applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; and 6) establish an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., and approve up to 16 new horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara, Fort Hays, Codell, and Carlile Formations.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. An approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 421-1 for Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation is hereby vacated.
2. An approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 421-69 for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation is hereby vacated.
3. That portion of Order No. 421-78 that applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation is hereby vacated.
4. That portion of Order No. 421-83 that applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation is hereby vacated.
5. That portion of Order No. 421-92 that applies to Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. and Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation is hereby vacated.
6. An approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-described lands, is hereby established, and a total of up to 16 new horizontal wells within the unit are hereby approved, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara, Fort Hays, Codell, and Carlile Formations:
Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M.
Section 32: All
Township 11 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M.
Section 5: All
7. The productive interval of any wellbore in the Niobrara and Fort Hays Formations shall be located no closer than 150 feet from the unit boundaries, no closer than 300 feet from the unit boundaries in the Codell and Carlile Formations, and the productive interval of all wellbores shall be located no closer than 150 feet from any other wellbore within the unit, unless an exception is granted by the Director.
8. All wells permitted under this Order will be drilled from no more than five multi-well pads within the Application Lands, or on adjacent lands with consent of the landowner, unless the Director grants an exception.
9. Order No. 421-1 is hereby amended to provide that the approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 421-1 for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., is applicable only to the Randall Creek #04-32H Well (API No. 05-123-32133), a Niobrara Formation horizontal well. No additional wells shall be drilled in the approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 421-1 for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M. The Randall Creek #04-32H Well shall continue paying to the approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 421-1 until the date of commencement of completion operations on the first horizontal well approved by this Order, at which time the Randall Creek #04-32H Well will be brought into the approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit created by this Order. Upon bringing the Randall Creek #04-32H Well into the approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit created by this Order, the approximate 640-acre unit established by Order No. 421-1 for Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 62 West, 6th P.M., shall be deemed vacated.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED:
1. The provisions contained in the above order shall become effective immediately.
2. The Commission expressly reserves its right, after notice and hearing, to alter, amend or repeal any and/or all of the above orders.
3. Under the State Administrative Procedure Act, the Commission considers this Order to be final agency action for purposes of judicial review within 35 days after the date this Order is mailed by the Commission.
4. An application for reconsideration by the Commission of this Order is not required prior to the filing for judicial review.
ENTERED this 21st day of August, 2018, as of July 30, 2018.
OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By__________________________________
Julie Spence Prine, Secretary