🛢️ MHA Bullsnake 4892 14-28 3BX

Oasis Petroleum North America LLC · Dunn County, ND · File #42652 · Generated 2026-02-13 12:33

API: 3302505136
Target Formation: Middle Bakken
Permit Explained: Yes

📋 Permit Cycle Assessment

The permit approval issued 2026-01-15 is directly explained by Commission Order No. 34129, which authorized the 1280-acre spacing unit and established the 150-foot setback requirement. The approval is conditioned on a non-routine wet shoe cement configuration in the production liner that allows intentional uncemented annulus (~400 feet) around the toe for economic toe initiation via wireline perforating, avoiding more expensive tubing or tractor perforating. Anti-collision analysis dated 2026-01-07 substantiates the feasibility of the proposed horizontal trajectory across multiple offset wells, with all separation factors meeting or exceeding 1.2 minimum standard, including confirmed clearance from the high-risk offset MHA 6-28-29H-148-92 (separation factor 1.222 at closest approach). The well geometry—landing point at Middle Bakken target 10,137 TVD, total depth 21,790 MD, 90-degree lateral along azimuth 270.02—is directly enabled by the wet shoe design stipulation and justified by the anti-collision study. No evidence exists that the permit was issued to remediate prior violations or to address regulatory directives external to the standard spacing/setback review process.

🔍 Permit Cycle Signals (4)

Spacing unit and setback stipulation conditioned on wet shoe cement configuration with 150' minimum setback from east & west boundaries and production liner cemented in lateral with wet shoe capability to frac out shoe

Direct

📄 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR NEW WELL - HORIZONTAL OIL & GAS, STIPULATIONS section, NDIC Field Order Info and Bakken Setback Summary Statement
📅 2026-01-15 (Exact confidence)

The permit approval is explicitly conditioned on a specific wellbore geometry (wet shoe configuration with intentional uncemented annulus for toe initiation) that justifies the setback distance and spacing unit definition. This non-standard cement design directly enables the approved well trajectory.

Commission Order No. 34129 approval with defined 1280-acre spacing unit (S/2 of Sections 28 & 29 and N/2 of Sections 32 & 33, T148N-R92W) and requirement that wellbore portions not isolated by cement be located approximately down east-west axis with 150' setback from boundaries

Direct

📄 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR NEW WELL - HORIZONTAL OIL & GAS, STIPULATIONS, NDIC Field Order Info
📅 2026-01-15 (Exact confidence)

Order No. 34129 is the regulatory foundation that authorizes drilling and establishes the spacing geometry that constrains the permit approval. The specific spacing unit and setback are the permit's core conditions.

Anti-collision analysis demonstrating separation factors of 1.2 (industry standard) maintained during intermediate sections with planned survey frequency increase (93-100') approaching lateral crossings and gamma ray identification of existing wellbores

Supporting

📄 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR NEW WELL - HORIZONTAL OIL & GAS, ANTI-COLLISION STATEMENT and Anticollision Report dated 2026-01-07
📅 2026-01-07 (Exact confidence)

Anti-collision study evaluates offset well risks (MHA 6-28-29H-148-92 with minimum separation factor 1.222 Level 3 warning at 21,700 MD; MHA 2-28-29H-148-92 with separation factor 4.197 at closest approach) and confirms technical feasibility of the proposed trajectory design. Supports approval of well geometry that avoids collision with mapped offsets.

Cores and samples collection requirement by state geologist dated 2026-01-20 mandating sample collection beginning at Base of Last Charles Salt at 30' intervals through vertical/build sections and 200' intervals through horizontal sections, with submission to state core library within 30 days of drilling completion

Supporting

📄 CORES AND SAMPLES letter from State Geologist Ross Edison, dated 2026-01-20
📅 2026-01-20 (Exact confidence)

Post-permit regulatory obligation issued by state geologist specifying mandatory sample protocols tied to completion of drilling operations. Reflects state requirement contemporaneous with permit approval cycle.

📖 Historical Context (3)

Indirect heater setback exemption from NDIC under Case No. 28949 Order No. 31500 allowing heater placement within 60 feet of wellhead and 21 feet of oil tank
📄 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR NEW WELL - HORIZONTAL OIL & GAS, FACILITY STATEMENT · 📅 Unknown
Facility design exemption for this operator/location persists through well execution and production operations. Equipment placement in lieu of heated treater requires ongoing compliance with exempted setback spacing during drilling and completion phases.

Fort Berthold Reservation notification issued 2026-01-15 to Three Affiliated Tribes indicating permit issued on reservation lands with 1-year term validity
📄 Letter from Permit Manager Todd L. Holweger to Mark N. Fox, Chairman, Three Affiliated Tribes, dated 2026-01-15 · 📅 2026-01-15
Reservation jurisdiction notification establishes sovereign oversight requirements and 1-year permit validity constraint, creating forward obligation for permit renewal or extension and potential tribal consultation on operational changes.

Federal minerals within spacing unit requiring BLM Dickinson office coordination per email from Emma Neigum dated 2026-01-12; MHA Bullsnake 4892 14-28 3BX in spacing unit with potential federal permit requirement
📄 Email from Neigum, Emma V. to Ryan Emery, subject 'Federal Minerals', dated 2026-01-12 · 📅 2026-01-12
Identifies federal mineral interests in the spacing unit that may require parallel federal authorization for drilling. Constrains operational authority to jurisdiction boundaries and creates compliance obligation with BLM permitting separate from state approval.

🔧 Operator Pattern

Oasis Petroleum (subsidiary Chord Energy) demonstrates multi-well pad development strategy with three contemporaneous wells (1BHP, 2BHP, 3BX) on single pad in same spacing unit, operating owned offset wells throughout Bullsnake field area (MHA 2-28-29H, MHA 4-28-29H, MHA 6-28-29H, MHA 8-28-29JH), and executing waiver of adjacent operator notification (Order No. 31848) based on self-operated status of both the subject and offset units.
APD for MHA Bullsnake 4892 14-28 3BX, adjacent well offset studies in anticollision report, and Oasis waiver letter dated 2026-01-09 confirming operator of MHA Bullsnake 4892 14-28 1BHP & 2BHP is same as operator of spacing unit 28-29 where proposed 3BX wellbore traverses; well pad layout shows three wells (3BX, 2BHP, 1BHP) at surface locations within NE1/4NE1/4 Section 28.

Confidence: High
Permit approval date is explicit (2026-01-15). Commission Order No. 34129 is cited directly in permit stipulations and establishes spacing/setback foundation. Wet shoe cement design specification is detailed in both casing details and facility statement. Anti-collision report is dated 2026-01-07 (prior to approval) and evaluates multiple offset wells with quantified separation factors. Cores/samples directive is dated post-approval (2026-01-20) but issued by state geologist as regulatory requirement, not operational guidance. Federal minerals notification is dated 2026-01-12 and pre-approval. No contradictory or ambiguous statements regarding permit basis. Well geometry, trajectory, and casing design are fully documented with survey plats, planning reports, and casing specifications.