BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
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IN THE MATTER OF THE PROMULGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN OPERATIONS FOR THE NIOBRARA FORMATION, UNNAMED FIELD, JACKSON COUNTY, COLORADO |
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CAUSE NO. 531
DOCKET NO. 161200515
TYPE: SPACING
ORDER NO. 531-44 |
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
The Commission heard this matter on December 12, 2016, at the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801, Denver, Colorado, upon application for an order to: 1) vacate an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 531-33 for Sections 11 and 14, Township 7 North, Range 81 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. 531-34 for Sections 10 and 15, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; and 3) establish an approximate 2560-acre drilling and spacing unit for Sections 10, 11, 14, and 15, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M., and approve up to 16 horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation.
FINDINGS
The Commission finds as follows:
1. SandRidge Exploration & Production LLC (Operator No. 10598) (“SandRidge” 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. Sections 10, 11, 14, and 15, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M., are subject to this Rule for the Niobrara Formations.
5. On June 6, 2016, the Commission entered Order No. 531-33, which established an approximate 1280-acre drilling and spacing unit for Sections 11 and 14, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M. and authorized total of up to eight horizontal wells within the drilling and spacing unit for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation.
6. On June 6, 2016, the Commission entered Order No. 531-34, which established an approximate 1280-acre drilling and spacing unit for Sections 10 and 15, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M. and authorized total of up to eight horizontal wells within the DSU for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation.
5. On October 13, 2016, SandRidge, by its attorneys, filed a verified application (“Application”) pursuant to §34-60-116, C.R.S., for an order to: 1) vacate an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 531-33 for Sections 11 and 14, Township 7 North, Range 81 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. 531-34 for Sections 10 and 15, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; and 3) establish an approximate 2560-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-described lands (“Application Lands”), and approve up to 16 horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation, with the productive interval of the wellbore to be located no closer than 100 feet from the northern and southern unit boundaries and no closer than 300 feet from the eastern and western 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:
Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M.
Section 10: All
Section 11: All
Section 14: All
Section 15: All
Applicant stated that the proposed wells will be drilled from no more than four pads within the unit, or from a legal location on adjacent lands.
6. On November 21, 2016, SandRidge, 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.
7. Land testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Richard Silman, Senior Landman for SandRidge, showed that SandRidge holds oil and gas leasehold interests and has a right to drill in the Application Lands.
8. Geologic testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Scott Cherry, Geologist for SandRidge, showed that the Niobrara Formation is present throughout the Application Lands, is approximately 460 to 500 feet thick, and is generally of uniform thickness throughout the Application Lands.
9. Engineering testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Wesley McAlister, Reservoir Engineer for SandRidge, showed that the drainage area for analog horizontal Niobrara Formation wells is estimated at 40.26 acres, and an appropriate 2560-acre drilling and spacing unit is therefore not less than the maximum area than can be efficiently, economically and effectively drained by a horizontal well producing oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation.
10. On November 29, 2016, SandRidge, by its attorneys, and the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) agreed that the Application Lands contain Federal Minerals. As such, SandRidge agreed to submit a Communitization Agreement to the BLM within 90 days from the date of first production (as defined in the Commission’s Rules) from the initial well drilled within the drilling and spacing unit.
11. Further, the BLM agreed to not protest the Application on the following conditions:
a) The productive interval of each wellbore in the unit shall be no closer than 100 feet from the northern unit boundary, provided that if the Commission has not at the time of the drilling permit application granted to the owners of Sections 2 and 3, Township 8 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M. the right to locate the treated interval of any wellbore no closer than 100 feet from the southern boundaries of such Sections 2 and 3, then the treated interval of each wellbore in the Application Lands shall be located no closer than 215 feet from the northern unit boundary, unless the Director grants an exception.
b) The productive interval of each wellbore in the unit shall be no closer than 100 feet from the southern unit boundary, provided that if the Commission has not at the time of the drilling permit application granted to the owners of Sections 22 and 23, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M. the right to locate the treated interval of any wellbore no closer than 100 feet from the northern boundaries of such Sections 22 and 23, then the treated interval of each wellbore in the Application Lands shall be located no closer than 215 feet from the southern unit boundary, unless the Director grants an exception.
12. 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.
13. SandRidge agreed to be bound by oral order of the Commission.
14. Based on the facts stated in the verified Application, having received no protests, and based on the Hearing Officer review of the Application under Rule 511, the Commission should enter an order to: 1) vacate an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 531-33 for Sections 11 and 14, Township 7 North, Range 81 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. 531-34 for Sections 10 and 15, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation; and 3) establish an approximate 2560-acre drilling and spacing unit for Sections 10, 11, 14, and 15, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M., and approve up to 16 horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. An approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 531-33 for Sections 11 and 14, Township 7 North, Range 81 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. 531-34 for Sections 10 and 15, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation is hereby vacated.
3. An approximate 2560-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-described lands, is hereby established, and a total of up to 16 horizontal wells within the unit, are hereby approved, for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation:
Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M.
Section 10: All
Section 11: All
Section 14: All
Section 15: All
4. The productive interval of the wellbore will be located no closer than 300 feet from the eastern and western unit boundaries, and no closer than 150 feet from the productive interval of any other wellbore located in the unit, unless the Director grants an exception.
5. The productive interval of each wellbore in the unit shall be no closer than 100 feet from the northern unit boundary, provided that if the Commission has not at the time of the drilling permit application granted to the owners of Sections 2 and 3, Township 8 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M., the right to locate the treated interval of any wellbore no closer than 100 feet from the southern boundaries of such Sections 2 and 3, then the treated interval of each wellbore in the Application Lands shall be located no closer than 215 feet from the northern unit boundary, unless the Director grants an exception.
6. The productive interval of each wellbore in the unit shall be no closer than 100 feet from the southern unit boundary, provided that if the Commission has not at the time of the drilling permit application granted to the owners of Sections 22 and 23, Township 7 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M. the right to locate the treated interval of any wellbore no closer than 100 feet from the northern boundaries of such Sections 22 and 23, then the treated interval of each wellbore in the Application Lands shall be located no closer than 215 feet from the southern unit boundary, unless the Director grants an exception.
7. The proposed wells shall be located on no more than four well pads within the drilling and spacing unit, or from a legal location on adjacent lands, unless the Director grants and exception.
8. SandRidge shall submit a Communitization Agreement to the BLM within 90 days from the date of first production (as defined in the Commission’s Rules) from the initial well drilled within the drilling and spacing unit.
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 20th day of December, 2016, as of December 12, 2016.
OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By__________________________________
Julie Murphy, Secretary