File #42710 | Phoenix Operating LLC | Divide County
API
3302301764
Target Formation
Bakken / Three Forks Petroleum System
Permit Explained
Yes
Permit Cycle Assessment
The permit issued 2/12/2026 is justified by Commission Order No. 34326, which establishes the setback boundaries (500' N/S, 150' E/W) within the defined 1920-acre Noonan-Bakken Pool spacing unit. The east setback relaxation is conditioned on production liner design with wet shoe fracturing capability. Backbuild Order Waiver (2/9/2026) confirms Phoenix Energy controls adjacent spacing units, eliminating external operator notification requirements under Orders 31848 & 31973. Directional survey and anticollision analysis (completed 2/7/2026) demonstrate compliance with offset well geometry constraints. Drilling and completion specifications (closed mud system, licensed cuttings disposal, porosity/resistivity logs, three-point survey frequency) are documented in the Proposed Work section and tied to standard regulatory requirements for Bakken horizontal wells. No non-routine waivers or exceptional technical conditions exist beyond the wet shoe completion justification for setback relief.
Permit Cycle Signals (5)
Commission Order No. 34326 cited as basis for permit approval with specific setback conditions (500' north/south, 150' east/west within 1920-acre spacing unit) (2026-02-12)
Regulatory order explicitly conditions approval on defined setback geometry tied to pool definition and spacing unit configuration
Production liner cemented in lateral with wet shoe and ability to frac out shoe—condition tied to east setback waiver justification (2026-02-12)
Technical design element (wet shoe completion) directly justifies relaxation of east setback boundary; non-routine completion specification tied to permit condition
Backbuild Order Waiver letter dated 2/9/2026 confirming Phoenix Energy as operator of adjacent spacing units; no external notification required (2026-02-09)
Addresses cross-spacing unit drilling obligations under Order Nos. 31848 & 31973; confirms internal operator control eliminates third-party notification requirement—condition of approval
Directional survey plan and anticollision review completed; multiple offset wells (CADDYSHACK series, SPACKLER 1H and others) identified and plotted on multi-well directional design (2026-02-07)
Anticollision assessment documented pre-approval; directional design demonstrates compliance with offset well constraints; supports permit issuance on stated geometry
Closed mud system with no cuttings pit; disposal plan specifying Smoky Butte Environmental LLC (13310 94th St NW, Fortuna, ND 58844) as licensed facility (2026-02-12)
Specific disposal facility named in drilling plan; coupled with state-wide filter sock container requirement (ND DMR letter 5/30/2025); operationally constraining approval
Historical Non-Routine Signals (3)
Multi-well pad development: SPACKLER 27-26-25 (1H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H) and CADDYSHACK 22-23-24 (1H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H) planned from single location; requires coordination of drilling sequencing, directional control, and anticollision management across 10 wellbores (2026-01-21 | 2026-02-09)
Persistent operational constraint: future drilling on this pad must maintain anticollision clearances for all 10 planned wells; trajectory adjustments, rig repositioning, or well sequence changes require NDIC approval per permit condition stating changes to casing point, total depth, or completion technique within Bakken-Three Forks system require prior Director approval
Diesel-based stimulation compounds prohibited via operator assertion on permit form (CAS Nos. 68334-30-5, 68476-34-6, 68476-30-2, 68476-31-3, 8008-20-6); reflects State of North Dakota environmental policy on hydraulic fracturing fluids (2026-02-12)
Forward constraint on completion design: operator committed to alternative stimulation fluids; completion plan and frac design must verify compliance; breach would constitute permit violation
Noonan-Bakken Pool definition established: accumulation from 50' above top of Bakken Formation to 50' below top of Three Forks Formation; constrains future well spacing, offset well assessment, and completion interval designation (2026-02-12)
Enduring regulatory boundary for this field/spacing unit; affects all future drilling within Noonan-Bakken Pool; offset well notification thresholds (per Orders 31848 & 31973) tied to this pool definition; completion interval deviations require prior approval
Historical Operator Profile
Total Wells:N/A
Active Wells:N/A
Notable Patterns:None identified
Confidence Assessment
Level: High Rationale: Complete permit file includes: (1) executed permit with explicit citation of Commission Order 34326; (2) dated backbuild waiver addressing cross-spacing obligations; (3) directional survey and anticollision documentation dated 2/7/2026, pre-approval; (4) named drilling contractor and licensed disposal facility; (5) operator assertions and acknowledgments signed 2/9/2026; (6) approval signature by Petroleum Engineer Nathaniel Erbele dated 2/12/2026. No missing dates or ambiguous regulatory requirements. Setback conditions, pool definition, and completion specifications are explicit and non-routine elements tied directly to permit approval. Historical constraints (diesel fuel prohibition, pool definition, multi-well coordination) are clearly documented. OCR quality is adequate; no conflicting date statements detected.