File #41191 | HESS BAKKEN INVESTMENTS II, LLC | Williams County
API
3310506346
Target Formation
Middle Bakken
Permit Explained
Yes
Permit Cycle Assessment
The permit approval (File 41191, approved 10/01/2024) is directly explained by contemporaneous documentation. Commission Order No. 33732 conditions approval on pool definition and asymmetric setbacks (150 ft N/S, 1220 ft E/W) tied to production liner wet-shoe completion design. The suspension of drilling approval (02/25/2025) explicitly authorizes the two-phase drilling strategy: small rig for surface hole with freshwater mud followed by larger rig for intermediate and lateral sections within 90 days, with no saltwater use in surface operations. Open hole log waiver (10/02/2024) is justified by proximity to offset well with established formation tops. Contingency design for Madison loss mitigation reflects documented regional depletion risk. The Order 31973 waiver confirms single-operator status eliminates adjacent unit notification. All major permit conditions are anchored to explicit regulatory orders, stipulations, or technical justifications submitted during the permit cycle.
Permit Cycle Signals (5)
Suspension of Drilling (90-day) approval under NDAC 43-02-03-55 to allow phased drilling with small rig (surface hole) followed by larger rig (TD hole) (2025-02-25)
Permits two-stage drilling approach with distinct rig mobilizations; directly conditions well execution timeline and rig logistics. Surface casing to be set at pre-approved depth with freshwater-based mud; no saltwater in surface operations.
Open Hole Log Waiver approval under NDIC Rule 43-02-03-31; offsetting well (Beaver Lodge SWD 1, NDIC #7954) within one mile provides sufficient formation tops; only GR-CBL from TD to ground level required (2024-10-02)
Waives standard open hole logging requirement based on regional geology/offset well data. Reduces operational cost/time; justified by proximal subsurface information.
Commission Order No. 33732 approval with defined Beaver Lodge-Bakken Pool interval (50 ft above Bakken top to above Birdbear top); 150 ft setback (N/S) and 1220 ft setback (E/W) within 1920-acre spacing unit (2024-10-01)
Pool definition and setback distances are non-routine conditional approval; setbacks are asymmetric (150 ft vs 1220 ft) and tied to production liner with wet shoe completion design. Reflects specific geometry risk mitigation.
Contingency design proposal for loss management in Madison Group (DV tool + inflatable packer at 90 ft below base of all salt formations) due to identified depletion risk in Tioga/Beaver Lodge areas north of river (Unknown)
Non-routine pressure control enhancement tied to regional depletion history and loss-circulation risk. Applies to wells with TI and BL name convention. Modifies standard design to enable staged cement job compliance.
Order No. 31973 waiver request: Hess self-waives adjacent unit notification requirement (directional/completion plan, spud date, contact info) because Hess is operator of both the subject spacing unit and the adjacent unit from which wells will be drilled (2024-07-18)
Waiver grants operational flexibility by eliminating third-party notification burden; validates single-operator control of wellpad operations across multiple spacing units.
Historical Non-Routine Signals (4)
Beaver Lodge-Madison Unit 25 (PA) plugged and abandoned well located on or near proposed pad; historical pad location identified on grading plan with notation of possible historic pit (Unknown)
Abandoned well and possible historic pit on or adjacent to pad footprint creates ongoing remediation and subsurface disturbance risk during pad construction and reclamation. Requires confirmation of plug integrity and proper disposal of any legacy pit materials per NDIC standards.
Regional depletion in Madison Group (Tioga and Beaver Lodge areas north of river) documented as source of loss-circulation risk through identified loss zones; impacts pressure control design philosophy for all TI and BL name convention wells (Unknown)
Depletion-driven loss-circulation potential persists as a forward constraint on drilling operations and cement job design. Generic proposal for DV tool and inflatable packer applies to future TI/BL wells in area, indicating structural subsurface risk that extends beyond this single permit.
Surface Use Agreement executed 04/16/2024 with Wesley & Sharon Mortenson (surface owners) for land in Section 15 (S½S½) permitting placement of well sites, tank batteries, utilities, and off-lease drilling into Sections 22, 27, 34 covering five wells (LE H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5) (2024-04-16)
Agreement grant extends to multi-well operations and off-lease drilling across three sections; establishes contractual right to construct and reclaim across broader area than single wellpad. Future well drilling and facility expansion depend on this baseline surface use authority.
North Dakota Century Code 38-08.05 notification requirement satisfied: certified mail notice sent 08/29/2024 to Todd Mortenson (occupied dwelling ~1320 ft north of proposed pad) with map and statutory notice of new well pad location and production facility (2024-08-29)
Notification obligation is recurring requirement for any permit modification or future drilling within 1,320 ft radius. Creates documented baseline for dwelling proximity and operator's duty to inform landowner of operational changes. Failure to maintain this notification protocol could expose operator to regulatory sanction on future permits.
Historical Operator Profile
Total Wells:N/A
Active Wells:N/A
Notable Patterns:None identified
Confidence Assessment
Level: High Rationale: Permit file contains complete regulatory record: Commission Order (33732), explicit stipulations, two approved sundry forms (suspension, waiver), contemporaneous casing/cement program with contingency design, anti-collision report, surface use agreement, statutory notifications, and engineering plans dated 10/1/2024 or within 90 days of approval. All major conditions tied to specific documents with dates. No material contradictions or missing approvals identified. Spud date (06/18/2025) post-approval timeline is consistent with notice requirements. Operator identity, spacing unit definition, and pool definition are unambiguous.