Managing water use is the subject of two current university studies.

A Colorado State University program is working on a model and tools to optimize water management including treatment of frack water, reused water and use of fresh water. The study is in conjunction with Noble Energy Inc.’s (NBL) Wattenberg Field water management facility in Colorado. According to Dr. Ken Carlson, “Water management more than treatment—it includes transportation and storage. We see this as a GIS issue.”

“The ultimate solution would be to have a ‘black box’ at or near the drilling pad that would cost effectively and reliably determine the water’s quality and transport it for agricultural or irrigation use, treatment or to a disposal facility where it could be turned into a surface beneficial re-use“.

“Knowing the water quality is paramount to determining water’s final use or re-use.”

A West Virginia University research team has been evaluating methods for managing frack water withdrawals and returns from large gas wells in the Marcellus Shale by converting the briny wastewater into a suitable, partial replacement of the fresh water that is currently used as the fracturing fluid of choice. The objective is to develop and demonstrate a process for treating return frack water from Marcellus wells that will increase the recycle rate, while decreasing make-up water and disposal well requirements.

1. Oak Valley Operating LLC - 08/19/15

Three Eagle Ford wells were completed by Oak Valley Operating in Fayette County (RRC Dist. 3), Texas. The Southern Bay Field wells are on a 345.48-acre Upper Texas Coast lease in the Thomas Rumley Survey, A-268.The #1 H Richards North Unit flowed 526 bbl of 41-degree-gravity oil, 192 thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of gas and 580 barrels per day (bbl/d) of water from perorations at 10,025-15,955 feet. Tested on a 12/64-inch choke, the flowing tubing pressure was 2,450 pounds per square inch (psi).

The #2H Richards North Unit produced 460 bbl of 41.5-degree-gravity oil, 238 Mcf of gas and 560 bbl/d of water from fractured perforations at 10,025-16,955 feet. The flowing casing pressure was 2,200 psi when tested on a 12/64-inch choke. The 17,041-foot well has a true vertical depth of 10,203 feet with a lateral running parallel with #1H Richards North Unit.

The #3H Richards North Unit was tested flowing 392 bbl of 37.7-degree-gravity oil, 245 Mcf of gas and 685 bbl/d of water through fractured commingled perforations in Austin Chalk and Eagle Ford at 9,933-16,875 feet. It was tested on a 12/64-inch choke with a flowing casing pressure of 2,250 psi. True vertical depth is 10,249 feet at the 16,946-foot well. Oak Valley is based in The Woodlands, Texas.

2. American Energy-Woodford LLC - 08/14/15

IHS reported that American Energy-Woodford has completed four new horizontal Woodford along the eastern flank of the Nemaha Ridge in Payne County, Okla. The #2WH J. Bode 14-19N-1W in Section 14-19n-1w initially pumped 1.061 Mbbl of oil, 1.1 MMcf of gas and 1.03 Mbbl/d of water. It was perforated, acidized and fracture-stimulated between 5,347 and 9,501 feet in a south lateral. The respective measured and true vertical depths are 9,633 feet and 4,898 feet.

From the same pad 30 feet to the north in the same section, #1WH J. Bode 14-19N-1W initially pumped 266 bbl of crude, 380 Mcf of gas and 876 bbl/d of water. It was perforated, acidized and fracture stimulated through perforations at 5,296-8,964 feet, The respective measured and true vertical depths are 9,096 feet, 4,901 feet.

About two miles to the southeast from a common pad in Section 24-19n-1w, #1WH Buckner 24-19N-1W pumped 500 bbl of oil, 892 Mcf of gas and 1.68 Mbbl/d of water from a treated interval at 5,384-9,448 feet. The lateral extends northward across the section to a depth of 9,581 feet with a true vertical depth of 4,893 feet.

About 30 feet to the east, #2 WH Buckner 24-19N-1W pumped 421 bbl of oil, 978 Mcf of gas and 175 bbl/d of water. It was perforated and treated between 5,452 and 8,965 feet. This well was drilled with a parallel lateral extending to 9,088 feet, 4,920 foot true vertical. According to the Oklahoma City-based company, the recoverable oil- and gas-in-place in the 320-acre unit are calculated at about 400 Mbbl of oil and 3.38 Bcf of gas.

3. EOG Resources Inc. (EOG) - 08/14/15

A Lea County, N.M., Wolfcamp well was completed by Houston-based EOG Resources. The #701H Ruby 2 State Com produced 1.385 Mbbl of oil, 1.957 Mbbl of gas and 3.36 Mbbl/d of water from perforations at 12,912-17,406 feet. The Hardin Tank Field well was drilled to 17,530 feet, 12,726 foot true vertical. It is in Section 2-26s-34e. An offset well is planned at #2H Ruby 2 State Com and the venture has a planned depth of 17,157 feet, 12,432 foot true vertical.

4. Whiting Petroleum Corp. (WLL) - 08/10/15

A Three Forks completion by Whiting Oil & Gas initially flowed 6.002 bbl of 44.7-degree-gravity oil, 10.932 MMcf 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. It 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 south-southeastward to 21,670 feet. It bottomed in Section 9-152n-97w and the true vertical depth is 10,678 feet. It 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.

5. Eagle Rock Mid-Continent Operating LLC - 08/10/15

Eagle Rock Mid-Continent Operating reported preliminary completion results from a multi-zone eastern Anadarko Basin well in Section 29-5n-5w of Grady County, Okla. According to IHS, #1-29 McLemore flowed 445 bbl of oil, 2.06 MMcf of gas and 208 bbl/d of water through perforations in the following formations: Sycamore (13,340-13,398 feet), Woodford (13,463-13,682 feet); Hunton (13,761-14,156 feet);Viola (14,376-14,836 feet); Bromide (15,025-15,270 feet) and Tulip Creek (15,386-15,590 feet). The venture was directionally drilled northwestward about 333 to 15,684 feet, 15,674 foot true vertical. The new well is at the convergence of Chitwood Field and the Golden Trend. Eagle Rock is based in Houston.

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