🛢️ COSTANZA 24-13 5TFH

DEVON ENERGY WILLISTON, L.L.C · McKenzie County, ND · File #40723 · Generated 2026-02-13 12:33

API: 3305310262
Target Formation: Three Forks First Bench (B1)
Permit Explained: Partially

📋 Permit Cycle Assessment

The permit action (effective 12/29/2025) is an operator transfer and confidentiality status notification, not a new drilling permit. The original drilling permit was issued by the ND Department of Mineral Resources on or before 05/08/2024 (Dirt Work Date). The well file contains adequate contemporaneous documentation of the permit-cycle events: (1) the operator transfer was approved 10/31/2025 with bonding compliance verified; (2) the well had already completed drilling (TD 01/13/2025), been completed (06/27/2025), and was producing at the time of operator transfer; (3) confidentiality status had been previously approved (07/07/2025) and is restated in the 12/29/2025 sundry. No new drilling authorization, setback waivers, or operational stipulations are required or issued in the 12/29/2025 permit action. The file does not contain a contemporaneous explanation specific to the permit approval because the permit action itself is administrative (transfer and status confirmation), not a new development permit requiring technical justification.

🔍 Permit Cycle Signals (3)

Operator transfer from Grayson Mill Operating, LLC to Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C approved; Bond No. CMS0358791 issued by RLI Insurance Company covering compliance with ND oil and gas regulations.

Direct

📄 Notice of Transfer of Oil and Gas Wells (Form 15), dated October 31, 2025; Sundry Form FORM ID 290100, effective date 12/29/2025
📅 10/31/2025 (Exact confidence)

This transfer document is tied directly to the permit approval effective date (12/29/2025) and establishes that Devon Energy assumed operational responsibility and bonding obligations for the well following Grayson Mill's initial drilling and completion.

Well completion documented as 06/27/2025 with 24-hour production test: 4,418 BBL oil, 10,191 MCF gas, 3,785 BBL water; oil gravity 46° API. Well status: Producing, Connected to sales.

Supporting

📄 Well Completion or Plugging Report for 40723, dated 08/29/2025; Production Test data shows test date 06/29/2025
📅 06/27/2025 (Exact confidence)

Completion date and production performance directly condition the permit approval. The well reached productive status as designed, validating the permit's technical specifications (51-stage completion with 22.17M lbs proppant, 228,988 BBL fluid volume).

Confidentiality status change from public to confidential requested effective 12/27/2025; approved 07/07/2025 via Sundry Form (FORM ID 257150) requesting confidential status change as of completion date 6/27/25.

Supporting

📄 Sundry Form FORM ID 257150, dated 07/07/2025; Sundry Form FORM ID 290100, effective date 12/29/2025
📅 12/27/2025 (Exact confidence)

Confidentiality status affects permit records visibility. The second sundry (290100) effective 12/29/2025 implements the operator transition while maintaining the previously approved confidential classification.

📖 Historical Context (5)

Suspension of drilling operations approved for 90 days (Form ID 200174, effective 03/13/2025) under NDAC 43-02-03-55 to allow use of smaller drilling rig for surface casing placement before final rotary rig mobilization.
📄 Sundry Form FORM ID 200174, dated 08/01/2024, approved effective 03/13/2025 · 📅 Unknown
The SOD waiver permitted phased drilling using two rigs, which could affect operational continuity documentation and future drilling schedules if well requires re-entry. The approved timeframe (90 days from spud 10/20/2024) extended through January 2025 when final TD was achieved.

Production liner cemented in lateral with wet shoe and ability to frac out the shoe (stated in APD Stipulations and repeated in Completion Report). 150' north/south setback and 500' east/west setback required within 1280-acre spacing unit based on this completion design.
📄 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR NEW WELL - HORIZONTAL, Stipulations section; Well Completion Report casing/cement design; Well Location Plat showing setbacks · 📅 Unknown
The specific casing and cementing design (production liner with wet shoe and fracture-out capability) is a structural constraint that justifies the stated setback distances and conditions any future offset drilling, well integrity assessments, or re-entry operations on this well.

Open hole log waiver approved (Form ID 190463, effective 06/06/2024) based on offset well SHAFER STATE 1-23-3B (NDIC File #7704) having sufficient open logs for formation tops confirmation. GR-CBL log to be run from TD to ground level.
📄 Sundry Form FORM ID 190463, dated 06/05/2024 · 📅 Unknown
Log waiver creates a reliance on offset well data for formation tops confirmation. Any future geological disputes or formation top revisions would need to reference the approved offset well logs and the GR-CBL data collected on this well.

Tubing/Packer waiver approved (Form ID 185384, effective 05/20/2024) permitting production operations without downhole tubing/packer based on safety factors, casing ratings, immediate damage detection, and post-flowback equipment installation.
📄 Sundry Form FORM ID 185384, dated 05/07/2024 · 📅 Unknown
Completion was executed without tubing/packer below the surface casing, requiring continuous monitoring of casing integrity during flowback and production. Any future casing repairs or production equipment changes must reference this waiver and the associated engineering assumptions.

Drill cutting samples waiver for vertical portion (Base of Last Salt to KOP) approved (Form ID 225107, effective 01/09/2025); samples resumed from curve and lateral sections. 30' samples already collected from offset well COSTANZA 23-14 XW 1H on same pad.
📄 Sundry Form FORM ID 225107, dated 01/07/2025 · 📅 Unknown
Partial sample gap in vertical section means geological continuity for that interval relies on offset well data and regional formation correlations. Sample archive forwarded to ND Geological Survey Core Library (due 30 days post-completion) creates long-term reference material.

🔧 Operator Pattern

Grayson Mill Operating, LLC drilled the well on behalf of eventual operator Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C, using phased drilling approach (small rig surface casing, rotary rig to TD) to optimize cost and schedule. Multiple horizontal wells on same pad (COSTANZA 24-13 multi-well development) indicate coordinated spacing-unit development. Operator obtained regulatory waivers (open hole logs, tubing/packer, drill cuttings) that demonstrate familiarity with Bakken completion practices and regulatory negotiation.
Nine wells planned on Costanza pad (API 3305310262 is well #5TFH; file shows #1TFH, #2H, #3TFH, #4H, #6H, #7TFH, #8H also in development). Grayson Mill submitted timely sundries (suspension of drilling 08/2024, completion reports 08/2025) and coordinated operator transition (transfer approved 10/31/2025 effective 12/31/2025 with seamless bonding). Production test within 2 days of completion date (06/27 completion, 06/29 test) indicates efficient post-completion operations.

Confidence: High
Well file is complete with drilling permit (05/08/2024 dirt work date), comprehensive sundries (SOD, waivers, spud notification, top job, completion), directional survey (MWD data through TD 01/18/2025), well completion report with all casing/cement details, production test results, geologic log, well location plat, and operator transfer documentation. All critical dates are exact. The 12/29/2025 permit action is clearly an operator transfer and confidentiality status notification, not a new drilling authorization. The contemporaneous documentation adequately explains the regulatory status as of the effective date.