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🛢️ Edward Federal 4797 43-21 4B
Enerplus Resources USA Corporation (subsidiary of Chord Energy) · Dunn County, ND · File #42674 · Generated 2026-02-13 12:33
- API
- 3302505141
- Target Formation
- Middle Bakken
- Permit Explained
- Yes
📋 Permit Cycle Assessment
The permit is explained by three contemporaneous, non-routine signals: (1) Commission Order No. 34663 setback stipulation tied to well design (wet shoe, frac-out capability) that directly justifies the approved lateral geometry; (2) waiver of adjacent-operator notification under Order No. 31973 and execution of Surface Use Agreement, which permits drilling from a pad outside the target spacing unit by establishing operator control of both the surface location (Section 21) and the off-pad wellbore trajectory; and (3) mandatory core/sample collection requirements tied to formation depth (Base of Last Charles Salt) that condition operational execution. The permit was issued 11/05/2025 with these stipulations embedded in the APD. Subsequent correspondence (waiver letter 11/06/2025 and notarized SUA affidavit 1/29/2026) confirms the applicant satisfied Order No. 31973 conditions post-issuance but before drilling. Standard pool definition and waste disposal guidance are supporting but not unique to this permit. The permit cycle is complete and documented.
🔍 Permit Cycle Signals (5)
📄 Permit APD, Stipulations section, dated 11/05/2025 (Dirt Work Date)
📅 11/05/2025 (Exact confidence)
Non-routine setback configuration tied to a specific NDIC Commission Order. South setback explicitly justified by production liner cemented in lateral with wet shoe and frac-out capability—a well-design condition that directly constrains the approved geometry.
📄 Permit APD, Stipulations section
📅 11/05/2025 (Exact confidence)
Pool definition is standard for this field but is explicitly tied to NDIC Field Order approval and establishes the regulatory target formation.
📄 Enerplus letter dated 11/06/2025 and Affidavit by James DeMorrett (Land Manager) dated 1/29/2026
📅 2026-01-29 (Exact confidence)
This is a non-routine permit condition: the well is drilled from a pad outside the target spacing unit (SW¼SE¼ and SE¼SW¼ of Section 21, T147N, R97W) with wellbore entering the Bakken in adjacent units. The waiver and SUA satisfy Order No. 31973 requirements and directly condition approval of this geometry. The permit must rely on operator control of both spacing units to approve the off-pad drill geometry.
📄 Letter from Ross Edison, Geologist, dated 2/2/2026
📅 2026-02-02 (Exact confidence)
Regulatory obligation tied to well approval and tied to specific formation depths. Non-compliance carries civil penalty up to $12,500 per violation (each day = separate offense). This is a direct condition of permit operation.
📄 Letter from Mark F. Bohrer, Assistant Director, dated 5/30/2025
📅 2025-05-30 (Exact confidence)
Routine operational requirement. Applicant may request waiver via Form 4 Sundry Notice if filtration will not be used. This is pre-permit guidance but establishes non-waivable baseline unless formal waiver filed.
📖 Historical Context (3)
Operator is Enerplus Resources USA Corporation, subsidiary of Chord Energy. Operator controls both target spacing unit (Section 21, T147N, R97W) and adjacent spacing unit (Sections 28, 33, and 4, 9 per Order 34663). Multi-well pad development: EF 4797 43-21 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B all from same pad location (SW¼SE¼ / SE¼SW¼ Section 21).
📄 Permit APD, well location plats (S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4), coordinate table (S-4), and Enerplus letter 11/06/2025 · 📅 2025-10-29
Operator must maintain integrated spacing-unit control and coordinated development schedule across four wells from single pad. Any operator change, sale, or unitization dispute would trigger re-evaluation of off-pad waiver authority. SUA with surface owner is contingent on Enerplus remaining operator.
Well location is on a multi-well pad in Little Knife Field (Little Chase Creek/Edward 4797 43-21 PAD). Design documents show four wells (2B, 3B, 4B, 5B) drilled from same surface location with different bottom-hole locations in Middle Bakken target. Total depth 31,931 feet MD; build rate 12.00°; hold inclination 90.00° at 181.24° azimuth. Production liner with wet shoe and frac-out shoe design.
📄 Well design sheets (COMPASS 5000.17 output, dated 10/30/2025); well paths, cross-sections (Sheets S-3, C-3); pad layout and production facilities (Sheets C-2, C-5) · 📅 2025-10-30
Well geometry and casing design (wet shoe / frac-out capability) directly justify the setback configuration. Any operational deviation from this design (e.g., plug-back, sidetrack, or change in completion strategy) may trigger re-evaluation of setback compliance and Order 34663 conditions. Coordinated frac scheduling and production header design across four wells affects operational sequencing and margin management.
Federal minerals within 2560-acre spacing unit. Enerplus notified BLM Dickinson office (701-227-7713) per standard procedure. All four wells (2B, 3B, 4B, 5B) on same pad may have Federal permit requirements depending on mineral ownership in adjacent units (Sections 28, 33, 4, 9, T147N/T146N, R97W).
📄 Email from Nathaniel Erbele (ND DMR Permitting Engineer) to Ryan Emery (Enerplus), dated 12/19/2025, referring to BLM coordination · 📅 2025-12-19
If any wellbore segment traverses Federal mineral estate in adjacent units, a separate Federal APD and/or sundry notice may be required. Any gap or delay in BLM permitting could delay drilling authorization or create enforcement exposure. Operator must maintain BLM coordination file current with spacing-unit development plans.
🔧 Operator Pattern
Enerplus (Chord Energy subsidiary) operates integrated, multi-well horizontal pad development in Little Knife Field, Little Knife-Bakken Pool. Standardized pad design with 4-well clusters drilled from single surface location outside target spacing unit. Operator controls both surface and adjacent subsurface rights, enabling deployment of off-pad drilling under NDIC Order 31973 waiver framework.
Four permit applications filed concurrently for Edward Federal 4797 43-21 #2B, #3B, #4B, #5B (per Enerplus letter 11/06/2025). All wells share same pad location (SW¼SE¼ / SE¼SW¼ Section 21, T147N, R97W) with staggered surface hole locations and BHLs in different quadrants of Middle Bakken target. PAD coordinate table (Sheet S-4) and plats (S-1, S-2) show consistent survey, engineering discipline (Thomas E. Osen, RLS# LS-7965), and standardized well design (COMPASS 5000.17, dated 10/30/2025). Surface Use Agreement executed 1/29/2026 confirms operator land-control strategy.
Confidence: High
Permit date anchor is unambiguous (11/05/2025, Dirt Work Date on APD). Three direct signals condition approval: (1) setback order with tied well-design justification (wet shoe / frac-out), (2) off-pad waiver under Order 31973 with contemporaneous SUA, (3) mandatory core/sample collection. All supporting documents are dated, signed, and filed in sequence (permit → waiver request → affidavit). No contradictory or missing dates. OCR is complete and intelligible. Field-order context (Little Knife-Bakken Pool, 2560-acre spacing) is consistently documented. Federal minerals alert (12/19/2025 email) confirms operator aware of potential secondary permitting. Historical context (operator profile, pad coordination, multi-well strategy) is well-evidenced by design files and coordinate data.