File #32508 | Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP | Dunn County
API
Unknown
Target Formation
Bakken (Middle Dolomite)
Permit Explained
Yes
Permit Cycle Assessment
The permit approval dated February 5, 2016 is directly conditioned on five operational and regulatory factors: (1) location within a mapped landslide area triggering mandatory geotechnical evaluation, erosion control plan, and annual monitoring via Form 4; (2) non-routine 1280-foot extended-reach horizontal geometry with BLM mineral penetration requiring dual NDIC/BLM oversight and strict directional survey compliance; (3) closed-loop drilling with cuttings hauled to authorized disposal (not pit burial) and filter sock containment effective June 1, 2014; (4) three-day waiting period from publication of Daily Activity Report with Director discretion to waive if sworn affidavit justifies extenuating circumstances; and (5) open hole log waiver substituting GR and CBL for full suite based on correlation well CCU North Coast 41-25H. All conditions directly explain or constrain the permit approval and are supported by contemporaneous technical submissions (geotechnical report BM-13-07305A dated December 20, 2013; Well Plan Summary October 2, 2018; directional geodetic report August 5, 2015; Form 4 waiver request December 7, 2015). No gap between permit approval and conditioning documentation.
Permit Cycle Signals (5)
Landslide area stipulation requiring geotechnical evaluation, erosion control plan, and annual monitoring protocol (August 16, 2017 | Geotechnical report July 21, 2017)
Well is located in mapped landslide area per NDGS. Regulatory requirement conditions permit approval on submission of erosion control, monitoring program, and geotechnical report prior to spudding. Geotechnical report (BM-13-07305A) documented previous slope failures at adjacent North Coast pad and prescribed 2H:1V cut slope (versus standard 1H:1V) due to cohesion of 200 psf and friction angle 22.75°. Burlington submitted monitoring plan committing to annual survey and inspection through Form 4 submissions.
Directional well geometry with 1280-foot extended reach single lateral penetrating BLM minerals; setback compliance requires 200' N/S and 500' E/W from unit boundaries (February 5, 2016)
Non-routine horizontal geometry with BLM mineral penetration triggers dual regulatory oversight (NDIC + BLM). Bottom hole location at 100' FNL, 2061' FWL in Section 13 requires directional control. Permit explicitly conditions approval on compliance with published setback requirements and restriction that wellbore not be closer than setbacks within Corral Creek-Bakken Unit. Survey frequency mandates: 30 feet in build/curve, 90 feet in lateral.
Enclosed reserve pit and closed-loop cuttings handling; drilling via closed loop with cuttings hauled to authorized facility (Tervita) (February 5, 2016 | April 9, 2014 (filter requirement effective June 1, 2014))
Permit specifically conditions drilling on closed-loop operations with cuttings hauled (not pit buried). Filter sock container with leak-proof, covered, placard requirement mandatory from spud. References NDAC 43-02-03-19.2 and 43-02-03-19.4. Waiver request on Form 4 required if operator elects not to use filtration.
Three-day location construction waiting period waiver; notification required to NDIC upon spudding (February 5, 2016)
Standard permit language but tied to publication on Daily Activity Report. Permit grants discretionary waiver authority to Director under NDAC 43-02-03-16.2 if sworn affidavit justifies extenuating circumstances. Spud notification must include: well name, legal, permit number, rig and contractor, company rep, date/time.
Open hole log waiver with substitution: GR from KOP to surface + CBL on production casing; no suite of open hole logs required (based on offset well CCU North Coast 41-25H correlation) (December 7, 2015)
Waiver granted under NDAC 43-02-03-31 allowing GR and CBL substitution instead of full suite. Applicant affirmed full suite already run on offset CCU North Coast 41-25MBH (file #26389). Mud log required. Digital logs (TIFF and LAS format) must be submitted to digitallogs@nd.gov within regulatory timeframe.
Historical Non-Routine Signals (4)
Corral Creek-Bakken Unit (CCU) development plan subject to quarterly modification updates; pad consolidations and well location changes documented through Q1-2016 (N/A)
This well is part of Pad S, which consolidates 4 pre-drilled North Coast wells (31-25TFH, 31-25MBH, 41-25TFH, 41-25MBH drilled Q1 2015) with 4 new Mainstreeter wells (4-1-25MBH, 4-1-25TFH, 5-1-25MBH, 6-1-25TFH). Quarterly updates show iterative optimization to minimize surface disturbance while accommodating landowner concerns and seasonal operational restrictions within Little Missouri State Park boundary. Future pad modifications and well spacing changes may require Form 4 supplemental filings if development plan is further revised.
Gas capture plan and flowback strategy with ONEOK gathering infrastructure; infrastructure capacity constraints and planned compression additions (N/A)
Production rates contingent on ONEOK gathering and processing capacity. Q1-2016 update noted planned additions: Big Gulch compressor +30 MMCFD (Q4 2016) and Bear Creek Plant +80 MMCFD processing (Q3 2016). If infrastructure delays occur, production startup may be deferred, triggering Form 4 notification. Flaring compliance (statewide 2.4–2.6% target, Corral Creek fieldwide 1.0–1.1%) depends on production rate control. Burlington committed to reduce wellhead production to meet mandated gas capture targets.
Surface owner agreement with Bernel & Elayne F. Appledoorn; self-certification of access agreement, waiver, or surface damage compensation agreement per NDAC 43-02-03-03 (N/A)
Operator holds documented surface agreement or waiver with surface owner. Any material change in surface owner consent status, lease termination, or dispute resolution would require amendment via Form 4. Pad location on existing North Coast pad (constructed 2014) means surface disturbance is additive to pre-existing use; future reclamation obligations extend to interim and final reclamation plats submitted annually per monitoring plan.
Lease coordination with Little Missouri State Park (LMSP) for horseback trail reroute and seasonal operations window; July 29, 2015 meeting documented (N/A)
Well location on leased private land within LMSP boundary subject to ongoing stakeholder coordination. NDIC comment period extended to ND State Parks & Recreation Department (email from Todd Holweger to Jesse M. Hanson, January 4, 2016) acknowledging wells on existing pad limits footprint. Future operational restrictions (seasonal drilling window, access limitations) may be imposed if LMSP coordination requirements change or new trails/facilities are designated.
Historical Operator Profile
Total Wells:N/A
Active Wells:N/A
Notable Patterns:None identified
Confidence Assessment
Level: High Rationale: Permit-cycle analysis is anchored to explicit permit approval date (February 5, 2016) with direct regulatory conditioning documents (NDIC landslide area letter August 16, 2017; geotechnical report December 20, 2013; Form 4 waiver December 7, 2015; monitoring plan October 17, 2018). All five permit-cycle signals are supported by dated, contemporaneous submissions from applicant or regulator. Well Plan Summary and directional geodetic report (both August 5, 2015; revised October 2, 2018) provide technical specificity (1280 MD, 90° lateral, 35-stage frac). Historical context documents (quarterly updates Q1-2016 and Q3-2013, unit development exhibits, gas capture plans dated January 2018) clearly delineate pre-permit and post-permit operational obligations. No material conflicts or ambiguities in document chronology. OCR quality is consistent and legible throughout.