File #42730 | Firebird Services, LLC | McKenzie County
API
3305310760
Target Formation
Inyan Kara (Dakota Group); Swift formation as lower confining zone
Permit Explained
Yes
Permit Cycle Assessment
The permit approval is conditioned by five contemporaneous regulatory signals: (1) the well site designation as an area of interest under NDIC PP 2.01, triggering a 10-day public comment window satisfied prior to hearing; (2) approval of a tank dike dimension variance contingent on as-built schematic submission within 30 days of construction completion; (3) a hard one-year completion deadline (by 24 February 2027) beyond which the permit expires; (4) a mandatory pre-injection pressure test on the high-pressure injection pipeline, with results reportable on Well Sundry Form; and (5) an uncontested public hearing on 22 January 2026 with no objections lodged. The order issued by the Industrial Commission on 9 February 2026 relies on geologic findings that the injection zone (Dakota Group) contains >10,000 ppm TDS, confining zones are free of known open faults or fractures, and the well will be constructed to prevent fluid movement into underground sources of drinking water. The UIC permit is anchored to the Commission order and operator compliance with all stipulations in the Oil and Gas Division injection permit.
Permit Cycle Signals (5)
Area of Interest Designation Under NDIC PP 2.01 triggers 10-day public comment period (2026-02-24)
Well pad located within area of interest as it relates to public lands; regulatory requirement for extended comment window prior to approval
Tank Dike Variance Approved Contingent on As-Built Submission (2026-02-24)
Operator requested waiver to NDAC 43-02-03-53.3(5) due to insufficient tank dike dimensions; variance approved with condition that as-built site schematic must be submitted within 30 days after facility construction completion
Permit Expiration Contingent on Completion Date (2027-02-24)
Permit explicitly conditions: 'Unless the well is completed as Saltwater Disposal well by February 24, 2027, this permit shall expire and be of no further force and effect.' One-year deadline embedded in approval.
Pressure Test to 100 psi Over Maximum Allowable Injection Pressure Required Pre-Injection (2026-02-24)
Pressure test mandate on high-pressure injection pipeline between pump and wellhead must be completed and reported on Well Sundry Form before fluids are injected; directly conditions operational approval
Public Hearing Held 22 January 2026; No Objections Received (2026-01-22)
Commission hearing record states 'No one appeared in person to support or object to the application and no written comments or objections to the application were received prior to the hearing date.' Absence of opposition documented as predicate to approval.
Historical Non-Routine Signals (5)
Co-Located SWD Facility with Oil Production Wells on Same Pad (Unknown)
SWD facility and oil production facilities (MARY 25-36-1-12 1H, 2H, 3H, 4H) are co-located within the same berms on a single pad. This design creates ongoing operational integration: source fluids originate from the co-located horizontal wells; containment systems are shared; and reclamation is tied to the life of all wells on the pad.
Surface Use Agreement with Landowner Augustus M. Tarnavsky Requiring Restoration to Original Condition (2025-12-12)
Firebird Services (operator) is bound by a surface use agreement with landowner; this agreement specifies that land will be restored to original condition after well plugging. Agreement persists through property sales. Two bonds held with ND DMR are directly tied to surface reclamation and will not be released until full reclamation completes to DMR standards.
NDDOT Approach Permit Approved with Condition of Coordination on Future State Highway Project (2025-12-18)
NDDOT is conducting a concurrent 4-lane US-85 construction project. Operator directed to use existing state-constructed approach rather than install a new one due to safety concerns. Operator must coordinate with DOT during future reclamation to ensure driveway is reclaimed to DOT satisfaction. Future well abandonment operations are constrained by state highway construction timelines and maintenance protocols.
Anti-Collision Analysis Conducted Against Four Offset Horizontal Wells on Same Pad (2025-12-08)
MWD survey program and anti-collision avoidance modeling are planned for the SWD wellbore to avoid collision with MARY 25-36-1-12 1H, 2H, 3H, and 4H laterals. Survey frequency constraints (100 ft vertical, 30 ft in curve, 90 ft lateral) and certified survey submission protocols persist throughout drilling. Well geometry is locked to offset well positions.
Class II Injection Fluid Restricted to Produced Water and Defined Waste Streams; No Third-Party Volume Acceptance Currently Planned (2026-02-24)
Permit restricts injection to Class II fluids (produced water from oil and gas, drilling waste, enhanced recovery fluids, etc.). Current plan is to inject only on-pad water from co-located wells; no third-party truck unloading planned. Any future expansion to third-party volumes or deviation from Class II definition requires prior written approval from Director.
Historical Operator Profile
Total Wells:N/A
Active Wells:N/A
Notable Patterns:None identified
Confidence Assessment
Level: High Rationale: Well file contains complete permit approval chain (Industrial Commission Order 35404, Oil and Gas Division Permit, UIC Plan, all stipulations, public hearing record, geologic analysis, and anti-collision clearance). Permit approval date is explicit (9 February 2026; permit issued 24 February 2026). All time-bound conditions are documented with exact dates. No material discrepancies between order, permit, and technical submissions. Operator assertions and regulatory responses are internally consistent. OCR quality is high and document chain of custody is traceable.