File #42717 | Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC | Mountrail County
API
3306105651
Target Formation
Bakken (Manitou-Bakken Pool)
Permit Explained
Yes
Permit Cycle Assessment
The permit approval (February 13, 2026) is explained by Commission Order No. 34736, which establishes the Manitou-Bakken Pool definition, setback geometry (150' N/S, 500' E/W), and spacing unit. The permit conditions are directly tied to a production liner design with wet shoe and frac-out capability, which justifies reduced setback risk. Anti-collision assessment (July 31, 2025) documents risk management of Level 1 separation warnings with offset wells (EN-Lalim A-156-94-27H-1), which is managed by Hess MOC. Off-spacing waiver (August 5, 2025 letter, Order No. 31973) permits drilling from the adjacent EN-Rice-A-155-94-0310 spacing unit under an executed Surface Use Agreement with Rice Ranch LLLP. Hydraulic fracturing compliance affidavit pre-dates permit cycle but is reaffirmed in file. All material permit conditions are supported by contemporaneous technical and regulatory documentation.
Permit Cycle Signals (5)
Commission Order No. 34736 referenced as basis for permit approval; defines Manitou-Bakken Pool interval (50 feet above Bakken top to above Birdbear) and establishes 150' north/south and 500' east/west setbacks within 2560-acre spacing unit. (2026-02-13)
Order 34736 is the regulatory instrument directly conditioning this permit. Setback configuration tied to production liner cemented with wet shoe and frac-out capability.
Production liner design requirement: 4.5-inch cemented liner (9,796–32,071 ft MD) with wet shoe sub and rupture pins, enabling intentional over-displacement and frac-out of first stage. Minimum 150 feet from section line for all perforations and plugs. (2026-02-13)
Specific completion design is tied to setback relief and pool definition. Non-routine modification to standard lateral completion.
Anti-collision assessment completed per Hess standards (1.5 minimum separation factor for planning; real-time corrected surveys; gamma-ray geo-steering). Closest approach to EN-Lalim A-156-94-27H-1 Lateral 2 is 0.197 separation factor (Level 1 warning)—managed by Hess MOC. (2025-07-31)
Level 1 separation warnings with EN-Lalim A well indicate high-density infill geometry. Hess risk assessment and MOC framework condition approval.
Off-spacing waiver request granted under Order No. 31973. Well drilled from EN-Rice-A-155-94-0310 spacing unit (Sections 3 & 10, T155N-R94W) into target spacing unit (Sections 27, 34, W/2 S15, E/2 & E/2 NW/4 S16, E/2 E/2 S21, W/2 & W/2 SE/4 S22, T156N-R94W). Hess self-operated adjacent unit; waiver of Order 31973(a)(b)(c) documentation requirements. (2025-08-11)
Off-spacing waiver is time-bound regulatory relief. Surface Use Agreement with Rice Ranch LLLP (effective 2019-09-27) enables drilling from Section 3 pad into Sections 15, 16, 21, 22, 27, 34 of T156N-R94W.
Hydraulic fracturing affidavit (April 21, 2022) from Hess Completion Engineering Team confirms stimulation supplier (Halliburton Energy Services) does not use diesel fuels (CAS 68334-30-5, 68476-34-6, 68476-30-2, 68479-31-3, 8008-20-6) in HF activities in North Dakota. (2022-04-21)
Pre-permit submission addressing diesel fuel prohibition. Covers all wells in Hess Bakken Project; contemporaneous to permit cycle by reaffirmation in file.
Historical Non-Routine Signals (3)
Surface Use Agreement with Rice Ranch LLLP (effective September 27, 2019) grants Hess right to drill 'off-lease' (off-spacing) wells into Sections 15, 16, 21, 22, 27, 34, T156N-R94W from pad location in Section 3, T155N-R94W. Agreement covers well sites, tank batteries, electric utilities, roads, and drilling operations. (2019-09-27)
Surface rights and off-spacing clearance persist as operational constraint for all future drilling campaigns on EN-LALIM B / AICHA 156-94 pad. Limits drill site mobility to Section 3 pad and restricts lateral placement geometry to defined sections.
Hess Anti-collision standards establish 1.5 minimum separation factor for planning; real-time corrected surveys; gamma-ray geo-steering in laterals crossing same formation. Survey frequency: 93–100 feet in lateral, increasing as needed for collision avoidance. (2025-07-31)
Anti-collision protocol and survey frequency apply to all future wells on pad and offset wells within infill cluster. Level 1 warnings (separation factor <0.5) with EN-Lalim A and Lalim D wells create persistent geometric constraints on lateral placement and frac operations. Hess MOC framework conditions future lateral geometry modifications.
Bakken Petroleum System rule (inferred from permit stipulations and NDIC Commission Order 34736 context): any changes to casing point, TD length, or completion technique within Bakken-Three Forks system require prior NDIC approval. (Unknown)
This constraint persists across all future operations. Any deviation from approved casing design (7-inch casing to 10,601 ft MD), production liner (4.5-inch, 9,796–32,071 ft MD), or completion method (plug and perf after first stage frac-out) requires regulatory variance before implementation.
Historical Operator Profile
Total Wells:N/A
Active Wells:N/A
Notable Patterns:None identified
Confidence Assessment
Level: High Rationale: Permit document is complete and official (NDIC File 42717, approved 2026-02-13 by Petroleum Engineer Nathaniel Erbele). All dates are explicitly stated except historical SUA effective date (2019-09-27), which is contemporaneous. Anti-collision report is detailed with quantitative separation factors and well-by-well analysis. Order No. 34736 reference is explicit in permit stipulations. Off-spacing waiver letter and affidavit are dated and notarized. No material dates are missing. OCR quality is high; no significant text extraction errors observed. Permit-cycle signals are directly traceable to document locations with minimal inference required.