File #42019 | Murfin Drilling Company, Inc. | Dunn County
API
33-025-05093
Target Formation
Middle Bakken
Permit Explained
Yes
Permit Cycle Assessment
The well file contains clear contemporaneous documentation explaining the permit cycle. The original APD issued 06/16/2025 (Permit Manager Todd Holweger) established the baseline terms including logging requirements, setback requirements (50 feet south, 150 feet north, 1220 feet east/west), and closed mud system. Two material modifications followed via approved sundries: (1) a completion method waiver dated 07/23/2025 requiring a 100-foot setback at the toe and wet shoe design with no frac-out capability, and (2) an open hole log waiver dated 06/17/2025 substituting offset well logging. The permit-cycle documents are time-bound to the approval dates and show regulator review and explicit approval language. Spud notification received 07/22/2025 confirms drilling commenced 07/21/2025, consistent with permit terms.
Permit Cycle Signals (4)
Sundry approval for completion method change requiring 100-foot setback at toe (wet shoe with no frac-out capability) (07/23/2025)
Regulator-issued approval explicitly conditions the permit on a modified completion geometry (100-foot setback) tied to a non-routine wet shoe design that eliminates frac-out capability. This directly constrains lateral placement and perforation strategy.
Original drilling permit (APD) issued 06/16/2025 with stipulation requiring open hole logs (GR-CBL, porosity, resistivity) from KOP to base of surface casing (06/16/2025)
Original permit imposed logging requirement as condition of approval. Waiver requested and approved separately (06/17/2025) allowing offset well logging instead, but original stipulation anchored the permit's technical oversight.
Waiver approval for open hole log requirement, contingent on offset well (LC Rambousek 1-9H, NDIC File 41983) logging instead (06/17/2025)
Regulator-approved waiver conditionally exempts this well from open hole logging but substitutes logging on same-pad offset well within one mile. This represents a material modification to permit terms prior to spud and directly affects compliance obligations.
Filter sock container waiver approved for all phases (drilling, completion, flow-back), eliminating requirement to stage container on-site except during filtration operations (06/17/2025)
Regulator-approved waiver eliminates a standard permit condition. Operator justified via sundry that no filtration would occur until drill-out phase, reducing on-site waste management burden.
Historical Non-Routine Signals (4)
St. Anthony-Bakken Pool definition established at time of permit: accumulation from 50 feet above Bakken top to 100 feet below Three Forks top (06/16/2025)
Pool definition is structural constraint persisting through well life, governing completion interval limits and inter-well spacing unit compliance. Required for future perforating, workover, and field delineation decisions.
Core and sample submission requirement: samples must be collected at 30-foot intervals (vertical/build) and 200-foot intervals (lateral), submitted to ND Geological Survey within 30 days of drilling completion (06/23/2025)
Statutory compliance obligation (ND Century Code § 38-08-04, NDAC § 43-02-03-38.1) with civil penalty risk up to $12,500 per violation. Drilling end date 08/21/2025 establishes 30-day deadline (approximately 09/20/2025) for delivery to Grand Forks core library. Non-compliance creates regulatory exposure beyond operational phase.
Closed mud system with no cuttings pit requirement; cuttings disposal via 3-sided bin hauled to state-approved facility (06/16/2025)
Operational constraint persisting through drilling and completion phases. Non-compliance creates environmental compliance risk and potential permit revocation grounds.
Prohibition on diesel-based hydraulic stimulation compounds (CAS Registry 68334-30-5, 68476-34-6, 68476-30-2, 68476-31-3, 8008-20-6) (06/16/2025)
Fracture stimulation constraint limiting fluid chemistry options. Operative during completion/flowback phase (60-stage cemented lateral completion specified). Non-compliance exposes operator to permit modification or enforcement action.
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 history with dated approval documents, regulator signatures, and explicit modification language. Directional survey completed 08/21/2025 with certification by qualified surveyor (Gerardo Rodriguez, Taktikal Directional). Geological report contemporaneous with operations (dated through 08/21/2025). All sundries include date received and reviewer name. OCR text is legible and internally consistent across forms. Spud date confirmed via sundry notice (07/22/2025 received, 07/21/2025 spud). No conflicting or missing permit approval documentation identified.