🛢️ Cottonwood 16-3321H

EOG Resources, Inc. · Mountrail County, ND · File #43162 · Generated 2026-08-22 03:15

API: 3306105713
Target Formation: Middle Bakken
Confidence: High

📊 Signals (8)

Tier	Signal	Date	Service Impact
Tier 2	Approval conditional on 150' north and 500' west setbacks within Alger-Bakken Unit, with north setback based on cemented production liner with wet shoe and ability to 'frac out the shoe'. 📄 PERMIT INFORMATION, STIPULATIONS section (Condition of Approval) Specific geosteering and completion constraint tied to unit boundary. 'Frac out the shoe' indicates a planned, intentional stimulation at the liner shoe.	2026-07-28	Completions / Frac
Tier 2	Production liner design includes a 'wet shoe' and a request to 'frac out the toe' using a standard burst plug. 📄 4 1/2" Production Liner & Cementing Notes section Specific completion technique disclosed: cemented liner with open shoe, toe stimulation via burst plug. Non-standard 'frac out' request to regulator.	Unknown	Completions / Frac
Tier 3	Approximate drilling start date provided in waiver requests as 11/15/2026.⏰ TIME-SENSITIVE 📄 Waiver Request letter dated April 15, 2026 Explicit target spud date provided to regulators, indicating project scheduling and pad development timing.	2026-11-15	Regulatory / Permitting
Tier 3	Waiver granted for open hole logs, relying on offset well data within a mile (Cottonwood 5-34H, File #17937). Only GR-CBL from TD to surface required. 📄 SUNDRY FORM FOR WELL FILE NO.: 43162, DESCRIPTION (OPERATOR) section Reduces logging scope and cost; indicates operator confidence in existing subsurface data and a standardized development approach.	2026-07-30	Regulatory / Permitting
Tier 3	BLM notification required due to federal minerals within the 14,029-acre Alger-Bakken Unit. 📄 Email from Doug Jackson (NDIC) to Jennifer Yu dated 2026-07-20 Introduces federal oversight layer (BLM Dickinson office) beyond state regulation, adding complexity and potential timing delay.	2026-07-20	General Oilfield Services
Tier 3	Facility equipment is located on a different lease (Ross 5 NWNW - CTB, Lot 4, Sec 5), requiring off-lease affidavit. 📄 PROPOSED WORK section and AFFIDAVIT IN RE OFF LEASE MEASUREMENT Centralized production facilities for multiple wells (pad), indicating infrastructure planning beyond single well.	2026-04-08	General Oilfield Services
Tier 3	Operator must contact NDIC Field Inspector Marc Binns (701-770-2564) prior to location construction.⏰ TIME-SENSITIVE 📄 PERMIT INFORMATION, STIPULATIONS section (Construction Commencement Notification) Personalized regulatory point of contact for pre-spud inspection, indicating heightened oversight or specific site conditions.	Relative	General Oilfield Services
Tier 3	Drilling program notes plan to switch to Oil-Based Mud (OBM) if pressures >10.0 ppg are encountered. 📄 DRILLING FLUIDS PROGRAM section Contingency for unexpected pressure indicates awareness of geological risk. OBM is a more expensive, non-routine fluid system.	Unknown	Mud / Fluids

💡 Operator Intent

To develop a multi-well pad (Ross 6 NENW) with centralized production facilities to optimize capital efficiency and surface footprint.

Well file includes plats for 5 wells on the same pad (Cottonwood 14-3321H, 101-3321H, 16-3321H, Ross 56-0616H, 114-0616H). Facility equipment is located on a separate, centralized tank battery (Ross 5 NWNW-CTB), with an off-lease affidavit.
To standardize development and reduce costs by leveraging existing subsurface data and regulatory precedents.

Waiver requested and approved for open-hole logs based on offset well data. Waiver also requested for NDIC Orders 31848/31973 (adjacent unit notification) because EOG is the operator of all affected units, showing a strategy to streamline paperwork for contiguous acreage.
To execute a specific completion design featuring a cemented production liner with a stimulated toe and shoe.

Permit stipulation references 'ability to frac out the shoe.' Liner notes describe a 'wet shoe' and a request to 'frac out the toe' using a burst plug, indicating a planned, multi-point stimulation initiation along the lateral.

🔧 Service Operator Relevance

Drilling & Fluids

Target spud ~Nov 15, 2026. Contingency for OBM switch presents potential spot market opportunity. Rig and directional drilling services will be needed for ~60-90 day operation.

Completion & Stimulation

Design indicates cemented liner, toe initiation via burst plug, and intent to stimulate shoe. This signals upcoming need for plug-and-perf services, frac crews, and specific downhole tools in Q1/Q2 2027 (post-drilling).

Civil Construction & Pad Build

Pad design by KLJ Engineering is complete (Feb 2026). Construction must commence after permit approval and inspector notification (Marc Binns). Earthwork (27,990 CY cut), berms, and access road construction are imminent pre-spud activities.

Facilities & Flowlines

Central production facility (Ross 5 NWNW-CTB) will require construction/expansion to handle production from this 5-well pad. Inter-pad flowlines and hook-up needed post-completion.

Regulatory & Compliance

BLM involvement due to federal minerals adds a layer of permitting. Services related to federal APDs, NEPA, or BLM liaison could be required before drilling can proceed.