File #42711 | Phoenix Operating LLC | Divide County
API
3302301765
Target Formation
Bakken / Three Forks Petroleum System
Permit Explained
Yes
Permit Cycle Assessment
Permit approval on 2026-02-12 is grounded in Commission Order 34326 and conditioned on specific well geometry constraints. The 1220' N/S and 150' E/W setbacks are directly tied to production liner design (wet shoe with frac-out capability), which differentiates this from standard setback language. Pre-permit backbuild waiver (2026-02-09) addressed NDIC Orders 31848 & 31973 requirements for off-spacing wellbore trajectory notification, satisfied by operator self-notification (Phoenix Energy operates both wellbore and adjacent spacing units). Directional survey package (2026-02-07) documented anticollision compliance. No evidence of regulatory deficiency or permit contingency requiring post-approval remediation.
Permit Cycle Signals (4)
Commission Order No. 34326 referenced as authority for permit approval; conditions setback requirements (1220' N/S, 150' E/W) and production liner design with wet shoe and frac-out capability (2026-02-12)
Regulator-issued order explicitly conditioning permit approval on specific geometry and completion constraints tied to well design
Backbuild Order Waiver request submitted 2026-02-09 per NDIC Orders 31848 & 31973, acknowledging well enters Bakken Petroleum System outside target spacing unit; operator (Phoenix Energy) is same entity as applicant, negating third-party notification requirement (2026-02-09)
Pre-permit waiver request addressing regulatory pathway for off-spacing wellbore trajectory; directly justifies permit issuance for horizontal well entering adjacent units
East setback stipulation explicitly based on production liner cemented in lateral with wet shoe and ability to frac out shoe (2026-02-12)
Non-standard 150' E/W setback (vs. typical 1220') conditioned on completion design; differentiates this permit from routine horizontal approvals
Directional survey and anticollision documentation prepared by Taktikal Directional dated 2026-02-07, with well design plan showing multi-well pad layout and offset well data integration to address collision risk (2026-02-07)
Technical submission supporting permit approval; demonstrates pre-approval anticollision analysis required for horizontal wells in multi-well pad context
Historical Non-Routine Signals (4)
Noonan-Bakken Pool definition established in permit (50' above Bakken top to 50' below Three Forks top); applicable to all future completions in spacing unit (2026-02-12)
Pool definition constrains future completions and workover operations in the 1920-acre spacing unit (Sections 25, 26, 27); affects interval selection for offset wells and provides regulatory boundary for commingling restrictions
Closed mud system with no cuttings pit required; drill cuttings disposal to Smoky Butte Environmental LLC (licensed facility, Fortuna ND) (2026-02-12)
Ongoing compliance obligation affecting waste management throughout well life; facility designation constrains future disposal route changes without permitting amendment
No diesel-based compounds permitted in hydraulic stimulation (CAS numbers 68334-30-5, 68476-34-6, 68476-30-2, 68476-31-3, 8008-20-6) (2026-02-12)
Permanent restriction on stimulation fluid chemistry; affects completion design and frac procedure approval if well requires remedial stimulation or restimulation
Filter sock disposal container requirement effective June 1, 2014 (NDAC 43-02-03-19.2); covered, leak-proof, placard-required container mandatory from spud through flowback (2014-06-01)
Persistent waste management obligation spanning entire drilling, cleanup, completion, and flowback operations; failure to comply creates regulatory enforcement exposure
Historical Operator Profile
Total Wells:N/A
Active Wells:N/A
Notable Patterns:None identified
Confidence Assessment
Level: High Rationale: Permit approval date anchor (2026-02-12) is explicit and unambiguous. Commission Order 34326 is cited as direct approval authority. Pre-permit backbuild waiver (2026-02-09) and directional survey package (2026-02-07) provide clear temporal sequence and regulatory justification. All key documents (permit, waiver request, survey, drilling plan, pool definition) are present and cross-referenced. No missing dates in permit-cycle chain. Standard boilerplate conditions (closed mud systems, setbacks, notification requirements) are suppressed except where non-routine (wet shoe setback basis, pool definition scope) or directly conditioning approval.