Introduction

Operators and service companies are working together more closely than ever to get the most out of the ground.

U.S. producers are completing extended reach long laterals, using multi-pad wells and are trying new techniques to reduce costs and increase production efficiency.

U.S. manufacturer General Electric Co. (GE) is deploying meters to determine how much water is mixed with gas and oil before production even begins. When oil prices are low, the operator can decide not to produce wells with high water content but save them for completion when prices recover.

General Electric is also working on pump controls that used to operate 24 hours a day. In Whiting Petroleum Corp.’s (WLL) Bakken Shale holdings, new speed controls on its pumps reduced equipment repair downtime by 48% and helped increase the productivity of its wells by 28%. New, remotely controlled well chokes under development can quickly adjust flows to maximize production without overtaxing pipelines.

Mud motor improvements for drilling, and coil fracks and sliding sleeves are getting better at pinpointing stage stimulation and their use is likely to increase.

Refracking producing wells is expected grow to at least 3,000 over the next two years. IHS forecasts they could make up as much as 11% of all hydraulic fracturing activity in the U.S. by 2020.

Activity Highlights

1. Linn Energy LLC: 6/23/15

Four directional Green River/Wasatch producers were completed by Houston-based Linn Operating Inc. (LINE) from a common drillpad in the Uinta Basin to extend Brundage Canyon Field to the south. The wells are in Section 9-6s-4w in Duchesne County, Utah.

  • The #11-9D-64 Federal produced 1.9 Mbbl of oil, 1.655 MMcf of gas and 3.132 Mbbl of water during November and December 2014.
  • The #12-9D-64 Federal produced 1.499 Mbbl of oil, 5.315 MMcf of gas and 4.155 Mbbl of water from Green River and Wasatch in November and December 2014.
  • The #13-9D-64 Federal produced 1.895 Mbbl of oil, 9,593 MMcf of gas and 3.144 Mbbl of water in November and December 2014.
  • The #14-9D-64 Federal produced 1.328 Mbbl of oil, 4.025 MMcf of gas and 5.192 Mbbl of water in November and December 2014.

Linn has not disclosed drilling or completion details on the four directional wells. The producers are less than two miles south of the main body of Brundage Canyon Field.

2. EOG Resources Inc.: 5/27/15

Five Mary’s Draw Field-Powder River Basin horizontal completions in Converse County, Wyo., were reported by Houston-based EOG Resources Inc. (EOG).

  • The #4-0310H Mary’s Draw is a Parkman producer in Section 3-40n-72w. It flowed 1.16 Mbbl/d of oil and 460 Mcf/d of gas and had a planned depth of 15,639 feet and a projected true vertical depth of 7,459 feet.
  • In the same section, #26-0310H Mary’s Draw produced 1.425 Mbbl/d of oil and 525 Mcf/d of gas from Parkman. It had a planned depth of 15,634 feet and a projected true vertical depth of 7,461 feet.
  • The #209-0310H Mary’s Draw is in Section 3-40n-72w and it flowed 1.205 Mbbl/d of oil and 1.015 MMcf/d of gas from Parkman. It had a projected depth of 15,623 feet and a projected true vertical depth of 7,463 feet.
  • To the southeast in Section 24-40n-72w, EOG completed two Turner Sand wells. The #7-24H Mary’s Draw flowed 915 bbl/d of oil and 1.9 MMcf/d of gas. It had a projected depth of 15,494 feet and a projected true vertical depth of 10,693 feet. The #8-24RH Mary’s Draw flowed 925 bbl/d of oil and 1.901 MMcf/d of gas. It had a projected depth of 14,888 feet with a projected true vertical depth of 10,437 feet.

3. Whiting Petroleum Corp.: 8/10/15

A Three Forks completion by Whiting Oil & Gas Corp. initially flowed 6.002 bbl of 44.7-degree-gravity oil, 10.932 MMcf/d of gas and 1.72 Mbbl/d of water. The #11-4TFH Flatland-Federal is in Section 4-152n-97w of McKenzie County, N.D.

  • The well was tested on a 48/64-inch choke following a 97-stage fracturing between 11,158 and 21,573 feet and the flowing casing pressure was 2,871 psi. A lateral extends from 10,890 feet southeastward to 21,670 feet. It bottomed in Section 9-152n-97w and the true vertical depth is 10,678 feet. The well was completed with a cemented liner and a 104 stage coiled tubing fracturing.
  • Denver-based Whiting also completed a Three Forks producer, #11-4TFHU Flatland-Federal, and a Middle Bakken producer, #11-4HR Flatland-Federal, from the same drillpad.

4. Newfield Exploration Co.: 7/8/15

An extended reach horizontal producer, the first in the township, was announced by Houston-based Newfield Exploration Co. (NFX).

  • The #1H-9X Scheffler, Section 16-17n-10w of Blaine County, Okla., was tested in an acidized and fracture-stimulated Mississippian lateral at 9,350 to 19,500 feet. It flowed 1.469 Mbbl of 44-degree-gravity oil, 1.52 MMcf of gas and 352 bbl of water. Tested on a 25/64-inch choke, the flowing tubing pressure was 1,075 psi and the shut-in tubing pressure was 1,077 psi. The prospect was drilled to the north to 19,664 feet, 9,068 feet true vertical, and bottomed in Section 9-17n-10w.

5. Continental Resources Inc.: 5/14/15

Oklahoma City-based Continental Resources Inc. (CLR) has completed five new high-volume Woodford producers in a 10-well horizontal density pilot project designed to evaluate the upper and lower Woodford in Stephens County, Okla.

  • According to IHS, #8-17-20XH Poteet, Section 17-2n-4w, was tested on a 36/64-inch choke flowing 14.2 MMcf/d of gas, 288 bbl/d of 62-degree-gravity condensate and 2.4 Mbbl/d of water following fracture-stimulation. Initial shut-in pressure was reported at 4,200 psi and flowing casing pressure at 3,975 psi. The 20,960-foot Scoop play well has a south lateral that bottomed in Section 20-2n-4w. True vertical depth is 16,074 feet.
  • The #7-17-20XH Poteet is on the same drillpad as #8-17-20XH Poteet. It was drilled southward to 23,945 feet, 16,220 feet true vertical, and bottomed in Section 20-2n-4w. It was tested on a 36/64-inch choke flowing 14.3 MMcf/d of gas, 244 bbl/d of 59-degree-gravity condensate and 2.5 Mbbl/d of water per day after fracturing at 15,714 to 23,802 feet.
  • In Section 17-2n-4w, #5-17-20XH Poteet flowed 14.9 MMcf/d of gas with 319 bbl/d of 36-degree-gravity condensate and 2.46 Mbbl/d of water. Production is from perforations at 15,812 to 23,928 feet. Tested on a 36/64-inch choke, the shut-in casing pressure was 3,925 psi and the flowing casing pressure was 3,400 psi. The lateral extends southward to a depth of 24,070 feet, 16,267 feet true vertical, and bottomed in Section 20-2n-4w.
  • About 40 feet east on the company’s drillpad, #6-17-20XH Poteet was drilled southward to 24,166 feet, 16,335 feet true vertical, and bottomed in Section 20-2n-4w. It produced 13.2 MMcf/d of gas, 278 bbl/d of condensate and 2.12 Mbbl/d of water. It was tested on a 34/64-inch choke with a shut-in pressure of 4,500 psi and flowing casing pressure of 3,225 psi. The discovery was fracture-stimulated at 15,905 to 24,020 feet.
  • The #3-17-20XH Poteet is in Section 17-2n-4w and was drilled on a two-well pad offsetting the #5- and #6-17-20XH pad to the east. The well flowed 11.5 MMcf/d of gas, 282 bbl/d of condensate and 2.43 Mbbl/d of water. It was drilled to 23,539 feet, 16,082 feet true vertical, and bottomed in Section 20-2n-4w. It was perforated and fractured at 15,786 to 23,315 feet.

Contact the author, Larry Prado, at lprado@hartenergy.com.