BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
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IN THE MATTER OF THE PROMULGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN OPERATIONS FOR THE NIOBRARA AND CODELL FORMATIONS, WATTENBERG FIELD, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO |
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CAUSE NO. 407
DOCKET NO. 160800342
TYPE: SPACING
ORDER NO. 407-2041 |
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
The Commission heard this matter on June 12, 2017, at the Rio Blanco County Courthouse, 555 Main Street, Meeker, Colorado, upon application for an order to establish an approximate 670-acre drilling and spacing unit for Sections 17 and 18, Township 6 North, Range 66 West, 6th P.M., and approve up to ten horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas, and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara and Codell Formations.
FINDINGS
The Commission finds as follows:
1. Great Western Operating Company, LLC (Operator No. 10110) (“Great Western” or “Applicant”) is an interested party in the subject matter of the above-referenced hearing.
2. Due notice of the time, place and purpose of the hearing has been given in all respects as required by law.
3. The Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter embraced in said Notice, and of the parties interested therein, and jurisdiction to promulgate the hereinafter prescribed order pursuant to the Oil and Gas Conservation Act.
4. On February 19, 1992, amended August 20, 1993, the Commission issued Order No. 407-87 which among other things, established 80-acre drilling and spacing units for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara and Codell Formations, with the permitted well locations in accordance with the provisions of Order No. 407-1. Sections 17 and 18, Township 6 North, Range 66 West, 6th P.M., are subject to this Order for the Niobrara and Codell Formations.
5. On April 27, 1998, the Commission adopted Rule 318A, the Greater Wattenberg Area Special Well Location, Spacing and Unit Designation Rule. Sections 17 and 18, Township 6 North, Range 66 West, 6th P.M., are subject to this Rule for the Niobrara and Codell Formations.
6. On June 30, 2016, Great Western, by its attorneys, filed a verified application (“Application”) pursuant to §34-60-116, C.R.S., for an order to establish an approximate 670-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-described lands (“Application Lands”) and to approve up to ten horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara and Codell Formations, with the productive interval of the wellbore to be located no closer than 460 feet from the unit boundaries, and no closer than 150 feet from the productive interval of any other wellbore located in the unit, without exception being granted by the Director:
Township 6 North, Range 66 West, 6th P.M.
Section 17: S½
Section 18: S½
7. Applicant stated that the proposed wells shall be located on no more than one multi-well pad within the drilling and spacing unit, subject to Rule 318A, unless the Director grants an exception.
8. On August 8, 2016, supplemented August 18, 2016, and May 25, 2016, Great Western, by its attorneys, filed with the Commission a written request to approve the Application based on the merits of the verified Application and the supporting exhibits. Sworn written testimony and exhibits were submitted in support of the Application.
9. On August 15, 2016, Synergy Resources Corporation (“Synergy”) filed a Protest. On September 2, 2016, Great Western filed a Response and Motion to Dismiss Synergy’s Protest. On September 16, 2017, Synergy filed a Response to Great Western’s Motion to Dismiss. On September 23, 2016, Great Western filed a Reply to Synergy’s Response to Great Western’s Motion to Dismiss. On September 30, 2016, the Hearing Officer entered his Order Granting Great Western’s Motion to Dismiss Protest, and allowed Synergy to file an amended protest.
10. On October 7, 2016, Synergy filed an Amended Protest. On May 23, 2017, Synergy, now known as SRC Energy, Inc., withdrew its Amended Protest.
11. Land testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Santiago Rodriguez, Senior Landman for Great Western, showed that Great Western holds oil and gas leasehold interests and has a right to drill in the Application Lands.
12. Geologic testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Willis Wilcoxon, Geologist for Great Western, showed that the Niobrara Formation is present throughout the Application Lands, is approximately 270 to 310 feet thick, and is generally of uniform thickness throughout the Application Lands. The geologic testimony also showed that the Codell Formation is present throughout the Application Lands, is approximately 21 to 25 feet thick, and is generally of uniform thickness throughout the Application Lands.
13. Engineering testimony and exhibits submitted in support of the Application by Lewis S. Wandke, Senior Engineer for Petrotek Engineering, showed that the drainage area for analog horizontal Niobrara Formation wells is estimated at 113 acres, and an appropriate 670-acre drilling and spacing unit is therefore not less than the maximum area than can be efficiently, economically and effectively drained by a horizontal well producing oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation. The engineering testimony also showed that the drainage area for analog horizontal Codell Formation wells is estimated at 132 acres, and an appropriate 670-acre drilling and spacing unit is therefore not less than the maximum area than can be efficiently, economically and effectively drained by a horizontal well producing oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Codell Formation.
14. The above-referenced testimony and exhibits show that granting the Application will allow more efficient reservoir drainage, will prevent waste, will assure a greater ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons, and will not violate correlative rights.
15. Great Western agreed to be bound by oral order of the Commission.
16. Based on the facts stated in the verified Application, the Synergy Amended Protest having been withdrawn, and based on the Hearing Officer review of the Application under Rule 511, the Commission should enter an order to establish an approximate 670-acre drilling and spacing unit for Sections 17 and 18, Township 6 North, Range 66 West, 6th P.M., and to approve up to ten horizontal wells within the unit, for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara and Codell Formations.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. An approximate 670-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-described lands, is hereby established, and a total of up to ten horizontal wells within the unit, are hereby approved, for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara and Codell Formations:
Township 6 North, Range 66 West, 6th P.M.
Section 17: S½
Section 18: S½
2. The productive interval of the wellbore will be located no closer than 460 feet from the unit boundaries, and no closer than 150 feet from the productive interval of any other wellbore located in the unit, unless the Director grants an exception.
3. The proposed wells shall be located on no more than one well pad within the drilling and spacing unit, subject to Rule 318A, unless the Director grants and exception.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED:
1. The provisions contained in the above order shall become effective immediately.
2. The Commission expressly reserves its right, after notice and hearing, to alter, amend or repeal any and/or all of the above orders.
3. Under the State Administrative Procedure Act, the Commission considers this Order to be final agency action for purposes of judicial review within 35 days after the date this Order is mailed by the Commission.
4. An application for reconsideration by the Commission of this Order is not required prior to the filing for judicial review.
ENTERED this 21st day of June, 2017, as of June 12, 2017.
OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By__________________________________
Peter Gowen, Acting Secretary