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 IN AN UNNAMED FIELD,
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO |
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CAUSE NO. 535
ORDER NO. 535-202
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REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
The Commission heard this matter on August 20, 2012, at the offices of the
Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 1120 Lincoln Street, Denver,
Colorado, upon application for an order to approve up to four wells within an
established 640-acre drilling and spacing unit for Section 32, Township 9 North,
Range 64 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas and
associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation.
FINDINGS
The Commission finds as follows:
1.
Marathon Oil Company (“Marathon” or “Applicant”), as applicant herein, 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.
On June 27, 2011, the Commission entered Order No. 535-46 which, among
other things, established five approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing units,
and authorized one horizontal well within each unit, for the production of oil,
gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation, with the treated
interval of the wellbore to be no closer than 600 feet from the unit boundaries,
without exception being granted by the Director.
Section 32, Township 9 North, Range 64 West, 6th P.M. is
subject to this Order for the Niobrara Formation.
5.
On May 10, 2012, Marathon, by its attorneys, filed with the Commission
pursuant to § 34-60-116 C.R.S., a verified application (“Application”) for an
order to approve up to four wells within an established 640-acre drilling and
spacing unit for the below-described lands (“Application Lands”), for the
production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation,
with the treated interval of the wellbore to be no closer than 600 feet from the
unit boundaries, without exception being granted by the Director:
Township 9 North, Range 64 West, 6th P.M.
Section 32: All
6.
On June 27, 2012, Marathon, 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.
On July 9, 2012, Marathon requested, and Commission Staff granted, a
continuance to the August 20, 2012 hearing.
8.
Land testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by
Tricia Clarke, Land Professional for Marathon, showed that the Applicant has
partially leased the mineral interests in the Application Lands, that the
Application Lands are private fee leases and that the interested parties
received notice of the Application.
9.
Geologic testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application
by Matthew Humphreys, Advanced Senior Geologist for Marathon, showed that the
Niobrara Formation underlies most of the DJ Basin in eastern Colorado,
southeastern Wyoming, and western Nebraska and is composed of chalks, marls and
limestones. An isopach map of the
interval from the top of the Niobrara Formation to the top of the Codell
Formation showed a total thickness of the Niobrara Formation ranges from 300
feet to 320 feet within the Application Lands.
A type log of the Niobrara Formation showed it consists of two members,
the Smoky Hill Chalk and the Ft. Hays Limestone, and the structural dip is
approximately 40 feet per mile to the west.
A stratigraphic cross-section showed the Niobrara Formation to be
consistent, continuous, and underlying all the Application Lands.
10.
Engineering testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by
Tara Watson, Reservoir Engineer for Marathon, showed the estimated ultimate
recovery (“EUR”) from nearby type wells ranged from 40 to 472 MBO, a 5% recovery
factor. Testimony further showed
the drainage area for horizontal type wells ranged from 46 to 534-acres, with an
average of 177-acres. The Silo
Field, north of the Application Lands in southern Wyoming, is a major field
producing from the Niobrara Formation.
EUR and drainage estimates (which vary from 29 to 507-acres for
horizontal wells) for the Silo Field were included in Applicant’s engineering
analysis. Testimony concluded the
Application is economically viable.
11.
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.
12.
Marathon agreed to be bound by oral order of the Commission.
13.
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 approve up to four wells within an
established 640-acre drilling and spacing unit for Section 32, Township 9 North,
Range 64 West, 6th P.M., for the production of oil, gas and
associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation.
ORDER
NOW, THEREFORE IT IS ORDERED, that up to four wells within an established
640-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-described lands, are hereby
approved, for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the
Niobrara Formation,
the treated
interval of the wellbore to be located no closer than 600 feet from the unit
boundaries, without exception being granted by the Director:
Township 9 North, Range 64 West, 6th P.M.
Section 32: All
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED,
that the provisions contained in the above order shall become effective
immediately.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the Commission expressly reserves its right, after
notice and hearing, to alter, amend or repeal any and/or all of the above
orders.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that under the State Administrative Procedure Act the
Commission considers this Order to be final agency action for purposes of
judicial review within 30 days after the date this Order is mailed by the
Commission.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that an application for reconsideration by the Commission
of this Order is not required prior to the filing for judicial review.
ENTERED this
day of August, 2012, as of
August 20, 2012.
OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By____________________________________
Robert J. Frick, Secretary
Dated: August 30, 2012