File #33544 | Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP / ConocoPhillips | McKenzie County
API
33-053-08008
Target Formation
Middle Bakken
Permit Explained
Yes
Permit Cycle Assessment
The permit approval dated April 26, 2017 (Industrial Commission Order No. 26855) is directly explained and conditioned by contemporaneous documentation in the well file. The permit stipulations—particularly the aquifer-related closed mud system, impermeable liner, and water conductor string requirements—are justified by three test holes conducted May 2017 with NDIC field inspector witnessing, which found water at 11 feet depth in the southeast portion of the pad. The waiver from tubing/packer requirements (approved September 26, 2017) is time-bound to the fracture stimulation and flowback periods and supported by engineering assurances (casing rating, safety factors, monitoring capability). The open hole log waiver and alternative liner material waiver are both supported by documented technical justifications and regulatory approvals. Directional survey requirements and frequency specifications are met by certified surveys filed within 30 days of completion. All material permit stipulations have corresponding regulatory approvals, technical submissions, or field inspection documentation in the file contemporaneous with or immediately following the permit issuance date.
Permit Cycle Signals (5)
Aquifer location trigger requiring closed mud system, impermeable liner, water conductor string, and field inspector pre-spud contact (2017-04-26 (Permit issued) | 2017-05-10 (Test hole findings))
Permit stipulations explicitly conditioned on aquifer presence confirmed by three test holes conducted with NDIC inspector Sam Skurupey. Finding of water at 11 feet in southeast corner drove requirement for water conductor string on all wells on pad and closed mud system.
Waiver from tubing/packer requirement during completion flowback period (NDAC 43-02-03-021) (2017-09-15)
Time-bound waiver conditioning fracture stimulation and immediate post-frac flowback period. Well equipped with new 32# 7-inch P-110 casing (11,640 psi API burst rating); frac design using 0.80 safety factor on burst rating; monitoring equipment to detect casing damage; 300# gauge on surface casing during flowback.
Open hole log waiver for lateral section; GR and CBL logs substituted per offset correlation well American Hunter 42-23H-13 (2017-06-01)
Regulatory waiver accepted based on full log suite run on correlation well. GR from KOP to ground level and CBL on production casing substituted with digital copies and mud log submission to NDIC.
Alternative surface liner material (blue clay 1-foot depth, 15 inches below surface grade, compacted and sealed with NDIC inspector witness) instead of standard 20 mil synthetic liner (2017-05-19)
Permit stipulation waiver for production facility impermeable liner. Alternative clay liner material and installation method approved with condition of NDIC inspector witnessing sealing. Helical piers for production equipment; all flowlines encased in poly.
Directional survey requirements and certification; surveys submitted within 30-day requirement per NDAC 43-02-03-25 (2017-08-23)
Certified surveys submitted electronically via email to certsurvey@nd.gov per NDAC 43-02-03-25 requirements. Multiple survey types (Gyro, MWD, definitive surveys) document actual wellbore path compliance with 50-foot north, 150-foot south, 500-foot east/west setbacks from spacing unit boundaries.
Historical Non-Routine Signals (3)
Offset well AHEL et al West Nesson 42-32H-13 drilled 1990: horizontal well landing in Upper Bakken Shale, stimulated with 4,200 gallons acid in two stages, abandoned 1991 with large cement plugs (~900 feet) in lateral section (N/A)
Historical constraint on future well geometry and isolation decisions. Offset analysis determined that AHEL well was adequately plugged and therefore lateral isolations were deemed unnecessary on all planned Outlaw Gap wells. This affects long-term operational decisions regarding fracture treatment design and potential inter-well communication risk management.
Aquifer location above drilling zone (water table confirmed at 11 feet depth); closed mud system required; impermeable liner mandate ongoing; surface casing and conductor string cementing to ground level requirement (N/A)
Persistent environmental protection constraint affecting all future operations on pad. Closed mud system, clay liner maintenance, and casing/conductor cementing requirements persist throughout well life. Neset mudlogging services from 8,250 feet through lateral indicate ongoing groundwater protection monitoring during drilling operations.
Surface and subsurface agreement amended April 24, 2017 to include NE1/4SW1/4 Section 23, change well names from original designation to final designation (24-23MBH-A), extend access route, establish agricultural production loss compensation via Exhibit B (N/A)
Long-term land use and compensation obligations. Agricultural production compensation continues on anniversary of location construction completion for duration of agreement. Extended access route and added acreage establish ongoing easement and operations footprint constraints affecting reclamation planning and surface management.
Historical Operator Profile
Total Wells:N/A
Active Wells:N/A
Notable Patterns:None identified
Confidence Assessment
Level: High Rationale: Well file contains complete permit approval, contemporaneous test bore information, directional surveys, cement and casing records, mudlogging data, completion records, and regulatory correspondence. Aquifer trigger for permit stipulations is explicitly documented via test hole findings and field inspector memo. Waivers are formally approved with documented technical justifications. No missing critical dates or unexplained permitting actions. All major permit conditions have supporting technical or regulatory documentation in file dated at or immediately after permit issuance.