File #41313 | Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation (Chord Energy) | McKenzie County
API
33-053-10417
Target Formation
Middle Bakken
Permit Explained
Yes
Permit Cycle Assessment
The well file contains sufficient contemporaneous documentation to explain the permit approval dated 11/05/2024. Three direct regulatory conditions are explicitly documented: (1) approved open-hole log waiver (11/13/2024 effective, justified by offset well Lassey-Monson 1 data), (2) setback geometry tied to production liner wet-shoe design within 1920-acre spacing unit, and (3) permit issuance conditional on compliance with NDIC Order No. 33461 setback stipulations. Supporting technical submissions include anti-collision analysis (07/23/2024) demonstrating multi-well pad separation factor adequacy, and drill-back notification to adjacent operator per Order No. 31848 (07/30/2024). Federal mineral interest advisory issued 09/18/2024 post-dates approval but flags potential BLM coordination requirement. No gaps in permit-cycle documentation; all major approval conditions and their technical justifications are present in the file.
Permit Cycle Signals (5)
Open Hole Log Waiver approved under NDIC Rule 43-02-03-31. Operator justified waiver citing offsetting well Lassey-Monson 1 (File No. 10950) within one mile with sufficient open logs to establish formation tops. GR-CBL log from TD to ground level will be run instead. (2024-11-13)
Non-routine waiver conditioning approval. Explicitly approved by regulator (Ross Edison, Geologist) prior to permit issuance. Establishes reduced logging requirement tied to offset well data sufficiency.
Anti-collision analysis completed and documented. Operator evaluated 10 offset wells and maintained 1.2 separation safety factor during intermediate sections. Minimum separation factors range 2.020–10.016 across evaluated offsets; all clearances maintained. (2024-07-23)
Technical submission supporting directional drilling approval. Demonstrates risk mitigation for complex multi-well pad geometry in Middle Bakken play. Required for permit justification in congested spacing unit (1920 acres, Sections 20, 29, 32).
Drill-back notification issued to adjacent operator (Zavanna LLC) per NDIC Order No. 31848. Notification dated 07/30/2024 confirmed receipt 07/30/2024, documenting planned lateral penetration into adjacent acreage (151N 103W Secs 5, 29, 20) within Dobias DSU producing unit. (2024-07-30)
Regulatory requirement conditioning approval of directional wells that cross into adjacent spacing units. Demonstrates compliance with Order No. 31848 advance notice protocol. Affects lateral landing and wellbore path design.
Permit approval conditional on setback compliance: 150' setback (hardline) from north/south section boundaries; 500' setback from east/west boundaries within 1920-acre spacing unit. Production liner cemented with wet shoe design and frac-out capability specified to enable setback achievement. (2024-11-05)
Non-routine setback geometry tied to specific completion design (wet shoe, liner hanger configuration). Setback asymmetry (150' vs. 500') reflects directional landing target in Middle Bakken and multi-well pad constraints. Directly conditions permit approval.
Federal mineral interest notification issued 09/18/2024 by NDIC to operator advising contact with BLM Dickinson office regarding potential federal permit requirement within spacing unit (Sections 20, 29, 32, T152N, R103W). (2024-09-18)
Post-permit regulatory action flagging federal nexus. While dated after initial permit submission (08/22/2024), timing relative to permit approval (11/05/2024) indicates potential condition or requirement to coordinate with BLM before drilling commencement.
Historical Non-Routine Signals (4)
Pad-name and landowner information corrections submitted via sundry forms (Forms dated 04/28/2025 and 05/27/2025). Corrections include pad name standardization to 'Dobias 5203 44-32 Pad' and landowner spelling correction (Jane G. Munson vs. Monson). (2025-04-28, 2025-05-27)
Administrative corrections may affect future title work, division order compliance, and regulatory correspondence. Surface owner identification critical for ongoing royalty and operational notifications.
Five-well pad initial development. Well Dobias 5203 44-32 3B is part of planned multi-well pad including Dobias 5203 44-32 2B, 4B and Anderson 5203 44-32 2B, 3B. Shared infrastructure, drainage management, and long-term erosion control plan required. (2024-11-05)
Pad-wide operational constraint. Erosion control plan specifically required for western portion; contingent notification to NDIC Field Inspector of significant movement. Shared containment infrastructure and access roads create interdependent completion and workover sequencing obligations.
Core and sample preservation mandate per North Dakota Century Code § 38-08-04 and NDAC § 43-02-03-38.1. All cuttings collected at 30' intervals (vertical/build) and 200' intervals (lateral) must be submitted to ND Geological Survey Core Library, Grand Forks, within 30 days of drilling completion. (2024-11-12)
Statutory obligation affecting post-drilling operations. Samples already collected (9,300' to 26,685' MD) and documented by wellsite geologist. Failure to submit within 30-day window subjects operator to civil penalty not to exceed $12,500 per day of violation.
Facility design exemption from standard 150-foot setback for indirect heater. NDIC Case No. 28949 Order No. 31500 permits indirect heater placement within 60 feet of wellhead and 21 feet of oil tank (vs. standard heated treater setback rules). (Unknown (referenced in permit application materials))
Pre-existing exemption condition persisting into operations. Reduces plot space requirements on pad but creates tighter operational envelope for wellhead intervention and maintenance activities. Exemption tied to indirect heater design; switching to direct heater would trigger re-spacing requirements.
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 application package (APD submission 08/22/2024), NDIC approval (11/05/2024), technical submissions (anti-collision, directional surveys, geological log), regulatory correspondence (log waiver approval, cores/samples mandate, federal minerals notice), and post-spud operational updates (spud notification 05/14/2025, geologic report, survey certifications). Permit approval date is unambiguous (11/05/2024). All major permit-conditioning signals are explicitly documented with dates and regulatory authority signatures. No material gaps between application materials and approval conditions. Historical signals identified have clear forward-operational impact (sample submission deadlines, facility exemption scope, pad-wide erosion control). OCR text extraction is legible with minimal corruption.