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 CODELL AND NIOBRARA FORMATIONS, UNNAMED FIELD, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

 

CAUSE NO. 535

 

DOCKET NO. 170500232

 

TYPE:  SPACING

 

ORDER NO. 535-826

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

 

            The Commission heard this matter on June 12, 2017, at the Rio Blanco County Courthouse, 555 Main Street, Meeker, Colorado upon application for an order to establish an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit for Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M., and Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M., and approve up to 12 horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell and Niobrara Formations.

 

FINDINGS

 

The Commission finds as follows:

 

1.         Extraction Oil & Gas LLC (Operator No. 10459) (“Extraction” 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 5, Township 11 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M., and Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M., are subject to this Rule for the production of oil and gas from the Codell and Niobrara Formations.

 

5.         On March 24, 2017, Extraction, by its attorneys, filed with the Commission a verified application (“Application”) pursuant to §34-60-116, C.R.S., for an order to establish an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-described lands (“Application Lands”) and to approve up to 12 horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara and Codell Formations, with the productive interval of the wellbore 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:

 

Township 11 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M.

Section 5:        All

 

Township 12 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M.

Section 32:      All

 

6.         Applicant states that any horizontal wells to be drilled under this Application will be drilled from no more than two multi-well pads within the drilling and spacing unit, or on adjacent lands with surface owner consent, without exception being granted by the Director.

 

7.         On April 10, 2017, supplemented April 20, 2017, Extraction, 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.

 

            8.         Land testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Sean Flanagan, Landman for Extraction, showed that Extraction holds oil and gas leasehold interests and has a right to drill in the Application Lands.

 

9.         Land testimony further showed that   8 North LLC (Operator No. 10575) currently operates the Loyd Farms 32-43 Well (API No. 05-123-29874), a vertical well, producing from the J-Sand, Codell and Niobrara Formations, with its bottomhole located in the SW¼SE¼ of Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M., and allocates production on an 40-acre leasehold basis designating the SW¼SE¼ of said Section 32 as the acreage attributable to the Loyd Farms 32-43 Well. The Loyd Farms 32-43 Well should not be included in the requested 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit.

 

10.       Geologic testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Alicia Branch, Geologic Consultant for Extraction, showed that the Niobrara Formation is present throughout the Application Lands, is approximately 294 to 302 feet thick, and is generally of uniform thickness throughout the Application Lands. Further testimony showed that the Niobrara Formation is a sequence of chalks, marls and limestones and is a common source of supply.  Geologic testimony also showed that the Codell Formation is present throughout the Application Lands, is approximately 19 to 21 feet thick, and is generally of uniform thickness throughout the Application Lands. Further testimony showed that the Codell Formation is made up of sandstone and is a common source of supply. 

 

11.       Engineering testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Boyd McMaster, Petroleum Engineer for Extraction, showed that the drainage area for analog horizontal Niobrara Formation wells are estimated to be from 5.7 to 42 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 a horizontal well producing oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation. Engineering testimony also showed that the drainage area for analog horizontal Codell Formation wells are estimated to be from 67 to 191 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 a horizontal well producing oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation.

 

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.       Extraction 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 order to establish an approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit for Section 5, Township 11 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M., and Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M., and approve up to 12 horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell and Niobrara Formations.

 

 

ORDER

 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

 

1.         An approximate 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-described lands, is hereby established, and a total of up to 12 horizontal wells within the unit are hereby approved, for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell and Niobrara Formations:

 

Township 11 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M.

Section 5:        All

 

Township 12 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M.

Section 32:      All

 

2.         The productive interval of the wellbore will 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 producing from the same source of supply within the unit, unless the Director grants an exception.

 

3.         All wells permitted under this Order shall be drilled from no more than two multi-well pads within the drilling and spacing unit, or on adjacent lands with surface owner consent, unless the Director grants an exception.

 

4.         The Loyd Farms 32-43 Well (API No. 05-123-29874), a vertical well with its bottomhole located in the SW¼SE¼ of Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 61 West, 6th P.M., shall not be included in the 1,280-acre 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 22nd day of June, 2017, as of June 12, 2017.

           

OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

 

By____________________________________

Peter Gowen, Acting Secretary