🛢️ SC-BINGEMAN-154-98-0904H-8

Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC · Williams County, ND · File #41698 · Generated 2026-02-13 12:33

API: 3310506481
Target Formation: Middle Bakken
Permit Explained: Yes

📋 Permit Cycle Assessment

The permit approval (dated 04-01-2025, effective per dirt work date) is explained by: (1) Commission Order No. 30969 authorizing horizontal drilling with specified setbacks and pool definition; (2) SOD approval (04-15-2025) conditioning a two-stage drilling program using intermediate rig first, justified by equipment capability letter (04-08-2025); (3) Open Hole Log Waiver (03-13-2025) reducing logging scope based on nearby offset well data sufficiency. The well file demonstrates contemporaneous regulatory justification for permit issuance through pre-approval of non-routine rig deployment and waiver requests. Drilling operations (spud 07-27-2025, TD 10-04-2025) followed approved program without deviation from permit conditions.

🔍 Permit Cycle Signals (5)

Suspension of Drilling (SOD) approval for 90 days to allow deepset surface casing with smaller rig (Noble #6) before main drilling rig mobilization

Direct

📄 SUNDRY FORM FOR WELL FILE NO.: 41698 FORM ID: 235859; Letter dated April 8, 2025 from Jack Blickwede
📅 04-15-2025 (Exact confidence)

This SOD approval directly conditions permit execution by authorizing a two-stage drilling program (intermediate rig first, then main rig within 90 days). The permit approval likely depends on this arrangement to manage operational efficiency and rig scheduling constraints.

Open Hole Log Waiver approval; offset well DOLLAR JOE 1-16 SWD (NDIC# 12864) within 1 mile provides formation tops; only GR-CBL required TD to surface

Direct

📄 SUNDRY FORM FOR WELL FILE NO.: 41698 FORM ID: 235866; Approved by Ross Edison, dated 03-13-2025
📅 03-13-2025 (Exact confidence)

Waiver modifies standard logging requirements based on nearby offset well data sufficiency. This condition directly shapes permit compliance obligations and well execution plan.

Noble Rig #6 (MD Cowan Super Single MD525) specifications approved for deepset surface casing operations; hookload, torque, mud pump, and pit capacity requirements verified against prior SC-4WxX pad performance data

Supporting

📄 Letter dated April 8, 2025 from Jack Blickwede (Advisor Drilling Engineering) to Todd L. Holweger; NDP-SCB-MUD-WOP-01036 reference
📅 04-08-2025 (Exact confidence)

Equipment specification approval demonstrates permit hinges on technical justification that intermediate rig meets performance standards for surface section. Non-standard rig configuration requires pre-approval.

Commission Order No. 30969 approval granted with field order stipulations: 150' setback (north/south boundaries), 500' setback (east/west boundaries) within 1280-acre spacing unit (Sections 4 & 9, T154N R98W)

Direct

📄 PERMIT INFORMATION section (Dirt Work Date: 04-01-2025); Stipulations section references Commission Order No. 30969
📅 04-01-2025 (Inferred confidence)

Core permit approval with regulatory setback constraints directly tied to well geometry and spacing unit definition. North setback based on production liner cemented with wet shoe and frac-out capability.

Bakken Pool definition: accumulation of oil and gas from 50 feet above top of Bakken Formation to above top of Birdbear Formation; formalized in permit stipulations

Direct

📄 PERMIT INFORMATION section; Stipulations: 'Bakken Setback Summary Statement'
📅 04-01-2025 (Inferred confidence)

Pool definition is structural regulatory constraint conditioning all production and completion activities; foundational to permit terms.

📖 Historical Context (4)

Casing stuck in Upper Bakken Shale during curve section; casing perforated and cemented in place; wireline logging completed and reviewed before decision to continue drilling lateral from existing curve (not sidetrack)
📄 Geology Report: 'Curve' section, dated September 16-17, 2025; Daily Log of Operations sheet 8-9, STA 17-Sep-2025, Form ID: 262104 context · 📅 09-17-2025
Non-routine incident during curve build-out (stuck pipe at 11,525' MD) required operational decision-making to perforate and cement rather than abandon/sidetrack. This established precedent for well's production potential from existing curve if completion decisions change. Affects future workover or abandonment planning.

MWD tool failure; TOOH at 19,423' MD on October 3, 2025 to replace BHA; rig resumption 10-04-2025 after equipment swap; eight target adjustments made throughout lateral section to maintain drilling window
📄 Daily Log of Operations, 3-Oct-2025 and 4-Oct-2025 entries; Geology Report lateral section narrative · 📅 10-03-2025
MWD equipment failure during lateral drilling and subsequent eight wellbore directional adjustments indicate well trajectory required active steering management and had margin constraints. This history informs future logging, production liner placement, and completion design decisions affecting reservoir contact and pressure management.

Sample collection program: 30' intervals (8,830'–11,656' vertical/curve), 200' intervals (11,656'–21,780' lateral); samples archived at Hess Houston and ND Geological Survey Core Library per NDAC 43-02-03-38.1
📄 Geology Report: Geologic Summary and Sample Descriptions sections; Letter from Ross Edison dated 3/17/2025 (CORES AND SAMPLES) · 📅 09-14-2025 through 10-04-2025
Sample retention and archival obligations persist beyond drilling completion. Operator must maintain compliance with ND Century Code Section 38-08-04 for core/sample preservation; failure triggers civil penalty up to $12,500 per day violation. Samples provide baseline formation characterization for future offset well correlation and regulatory reference.

Hydraulic fracturing diesel fuel affidavit: Hess confirmed (April 21, 2022) that Halliburton Energy Services does not use diesels with CAS numbers 68334-30-5, 68476-34-6, 68476-30-2, 68479-31-3, or 8008-20-6 in HF activities in North Dakota; covers all Bakken Project wells
📄 Affidavit from Tom Richardson (Senior Manager, Drilling & Completions) dated April 21, 2022; sworn before notary Christina Marjanovich · 📅 04-21-2022
Regulatory compliance statement restricting diesel fuel types in fracturing operations persists as operational constraint for future completion/stimulation activities. Non-compliance would trigger violation of stated regulatory commitment. Affects supplier selection and completion fluid specifications for this and related wells.

🔧 Operator Pattern

Hess demonstrates staged drilling deployment and active well management during execution; uses specialized geotechnical and environmental design integration; pre-approves non-standard operational approaches (intermediate rig, SOD); maintains documented sample programs and regulatory affidavits.
SOD approval and intermediate rig letter (April 2025) show pre-planned two-stage drilling. Suspension of drilling waiver text explicitly states intent 'to take advantage of the cost savings and time savings of using an initial rig that is smaller than the rig necessary to drill a well to total depth.' MWD tool failure and eight directional adjustments during lateral drilling indicate adaptive steering capability. Comprehensive geology report with three wellsite geologists (Freborg, Olson, Anderson) and real-time directional center involvement (Hess Real-Time Center) demonstrates operational discipline. Detailed civil pad design (NDP-SCB-CIV-LAY-01020, 15 sheets) and interim/final reclamation plans show environmental compliance posture. Affidavit on diesel fuel types (April 2022) demonstrates proactive regulatory documentation practice.

Confidence: High
Well file contains complete permit record (Commission Order No. 30969), multiple pre-approval sundry notices with exact dates (SOD 04-15-2025, log waiver 03-13-2025, equipment approval letter 04-08-2025), and comprehensive drilling operations documentation (daily log, geology report with formation picks, survey report, casing record, mud record, sample descriptions). Spud date (07-27-2025) and TD date (10-04-2025) are precisely documented. Non-routine events (stuck pipe, MWD failure, directional adjustments) are explicitly recorded in daily operations. Permit stipulations directly reference field order requirements (setbacks, pool definition). No material gaps in permit-cycle chain of justification.