BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF CARRIZO OIL AND GAS, INC., FOR AN ORDER TO
APPROVE UP TO SIX HORIZONTAL WELLS IN AN APPROXIMATE 640-ACRE DRILLING AND
SPACING UNIT ESTABLISHED FOR SECTION 3, TOWNSHIP 7 NORTH, RANGE 60 WEST, 6TH
P.M., FOR THE NIOBRARA FORMATION, UNNAMED FIELD, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO |
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CAUSE NO. 535
DOCKET NO. 1303-AW-12
ORDER NO. 535-291 |
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
The Commission heard this matter on March 25, 2013, 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 a total of
six horizontal wells within an approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing unit
established for
Section 3, Township 7 North, Range 60 West, 6th P.M.,
for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara
Formation.
FINDINGS
The Commission finds as follows:
1.
Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. (“Carrizo” 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. 535-41 which, among
other things, established nine approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing units,
and approved up to two horizontal wells within each unit, for the production of
oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation. Section 3, Township 7 North, Range 60
West, 6th P.M. is subject to this Order for the Niobrara Formation.
5.
On September 19, 2011, the Commission entered Order No. 535-79 which,
among other things, pooled all interests in the approximate 640-acre drilling
and spacing unit established for Section 3, Township 7 North, Range 60 West, 6th
P.M., for the development and operation of the Niobrara Formation.
6.
On November 15, 2012, the Commission entered Order No. 535-216 which,
among other things, approved up to four horizontal wells within the approximate
640-acre drilling and spacing unit, for the
production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation,
with the treated interval of the horizontal wellbore to be no closer than 600
feet from the unit boundaries, and no closer than 600 feet from the treated
interval of any other wellbore located in the unit, without exception being
granted by the Director. Section 3,
Township 7 North, Range 60 West, 6th P.M. is subject to this Order
for the Niobrara Formation.
7.
On January 24, 2013, Carrizo,
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 a total of six horizontal wells within an approximate 640-acre drilling
and spacing unit established 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 horizontal wellbore to be
no closer than 600 feet from the unit boundaries, and no closer than 600 feet
from the treated interval of any other wellbore located in the unit, without
exception being granted by the Director:
Township 7 North, Range 60 West, 6th P.M.
Section 3: All
8.
On March 12, 2013, Carrizo, 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.
9.
Land testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by
Craig E. Wiest, Land Manager for Carrizo, showed the Applicant is an owner with
the right to drill in the Application Lands.
10.
Geologic testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Paul
Fears, Geologist for Carrizo, included stratigraphic cross-sections and gross
thickness isopach tests showing the Niobrara Formation is approximately 300 feet
thick and to be consistent, continuous, and underlying all of the Application
Lands.
11.
Engineering testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by
Stephen C. Peters, Manager of Reservoir Engineering for Carrizo, showed an
estimated ultimate recovery (“EUR”) of 200 MBO and a drainage area estimated at
70-acres, for analogous type wells drilled by Carrizo within its Weld County
operational area. Testimony further
showed drainage estimates for the best 35 horizontal wells in the nearby Silo
Field varied from 41 to 356-acres, with an average of 78-acres. Testimony concluded the economics of
the project were sound.
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.
Carrizo 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
approve up to a total of six horizontal wells within an
approximate 640-acre drilling and spacing unit established for
Section 3, Township 7 North, Range 60 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 a total of six horizontal wells within an approximate 640-acre drilling
and spacing unit established for the below-described lands, is hereby approved,
for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara
Formation, with the treated interval of the horizontal wellbore to be no closer
than 600 feet from the unit boundaries, and no closer than 600 feet from the
treated interval of any other wellbore located in the unit, without exception
being granted by the Director:
Township 7 North, Range 60 West, 6th P.M.
Section 3: 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 5th day
of April, 2013, as of March 25, 2013.
OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By____________________________________
Robert J. Frick, Secretary