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, ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO |
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CAUSE NO. 535
DOCKET NO. 170500176
TYPE: ADDITIONAL WELLS
ORDER NO. 535-791 |
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
The Commission heard this matter on June 12, 2017, at Rio Blanco County Courthouse, 555 Main St., Meeker, Colorado, upon application for an order to approve a total of up to 12 horizontal wells within an approximate 960-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 535-738 for Sections 15 and 16, Township 4 South, Range 64 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation.
FINDINGS
The Commission finds as follows:
1. Bison Oil & Gas, LLC (Operator No. 10618) (“Bison” 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 August 29, 2016, the Commission entered Order No. 535-738, which established a 960-acre drilling and spacing unit covering the Application Lands and approved up to three 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 of any permitted wells to be located no closer than 300 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. Sections 15 and 16, Township 4 South, Range 64 West, 6th P.M., are subject to this Order for the Niobrara Formation.
5. On December 12, 2016, the Commission entered Order No. 535-756, which, among other things, pool all interests in an approximate 960-acre drilling and spacing unit established for the development and operation of the Niobrara Formation. Sections 15 and 16, Township 4 South, Range 64 West, 6th P.M., are subject to this Order for the Niobrara Formation.
6. On January 27, 2017, Bison, by its attorneys, filed with the Commission pursuant to §34-60-116, C.R.S., a verified application (“Application”) for an order to approve a total of up to 12 horizontal wells within an approximate 960-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 535-738 for the below-described lands (“Application Lands”), with the productive interval of the wellbore of any permitted wells to be located no closer than 300 feet from the unit boundaries, and no closer than 150 feet from the productive interval of any other wellbore located in the unit, for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation:
Township 4 South, Range 64 West, 6th P.M.
Section 15: W˝
Section 16: All
7. Applicant stated that any horizontal wells to be drilled under this Application will be drilled from no more than three multi-well pads within the unit or lands adjacent thereto, unless the Director grants an exception.
8. On April 10, 2017, Bison, 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. On April 17, 2017, ConocoPhillips Company (“COPC” or “Protestant”) filed a protest to and a Motion to Dismiss the Application alleging that, if approved, waste will result and COPC’s correlative rights will be harmed as a leasehold interest within the unit. On May 1, 2017, COPC filed an Unopposed Motion to Withdraw its Protest and Motion to Dismiss. On May 3, 2017, the Hearing Officer granted the Motion to Withdraw with prejudice.
10. Land testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Robert Pierini, Senior Landman for Bison, showed that Bison holds oil and gas leasehold interests and has a right to drill in the Application Lands.
11. Geoscience testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Ian Hogan, Senior Geologist for Bison, showed the Niobrara Formation is present throughout the Application Lands, is approximately 350 feet thick, and is generally of uniform thickness throughout the Application Lands. Further testimony showed that the Niobrara Formation is a sequence of chalks and marlstones and that the drainage area for analog horizontal Niobrara Formation wells is estimated at 55 acres and an approximate 960-acre drilling and spacing unit is therefore not less than the maximum area than can be efficiently, economically and effectively drained by 12 horizontal wells producing oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation.
12. Engineering testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by David Gonzales, President and COO for Bison, and Ian Hogan, Senior Geologist for Bison, showed that Bison is planning to drill 12 horizontal wells in the Niobrara Formation. Engineering testimony further showed that based on the offset wells with similar geology and with plug and perf methodology and EUR, ROR, NPV and years of payout, the anticipated economics are favorable for the 12 horizontal wells producing oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation. The testimony demonstrated that the unit will promote the efficient and economic recovery of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons in the Application Lands
13. 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.
14. Bison agreed to be bound by oral order of the Commission.
15. 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 approve a total of up to 12 horizontal wells within an approximate 960-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 535-738 for Sections 15 and 16, Township 4 South, Range 64 West, 6th P.M., for the production of the oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. A total of up to 12 horizontal wells within an approximate 960-acre drilling and spacing unit established by Order No. 535-738 for the below described lands are hereby approved, for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation:
Township 4 South, Range 64 West, 6th P.M.
Section 15: W˝
Section 16: All
2. The productive interval of any horizontal wellbore shall be no closer than 300 feet from the 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.
3. All wells permitted under this Order shall be drilled from no more than three multi-well pads within the Application Lands within the unit or lands adjacent thereto, unless the Director grants an exception.
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 23rd day of June, 2017, as of June 12, 2017.
OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By____________________________________
Peter Gowen, Acting Secretary