IN THE MATTER OF THE PROMULGATION AND
CAUSE NOS. 407, 232,
ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN
and 499
OPERATIONS IN THE CODELL-NIOBRARA SPACED
AREA, THE WATTENBERG GAS SPACED AREA
ORDER NOS. 407 217,
AND THE WATTENBERG FIELD,
232-162 and 499-21
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
This cause came on for hearing before the Commission on June 24, 1996, in Suite
801, The Chancery Building, 1120 Lincoln Street, Denver, Colorado, after giving
Notice of Hearing, as required by law on the application of Snyder Oil
Corporation for an order to amend Cause Nos. 407, 232, and 499 to allow the
Travellers No. 28-11M Well to be recompleted at an exception location 1,579 feet
FSL and 1,444 feet FWL, in the NE¼ SW¼ of Section 28, Township 2 North, Range 68
West, 6th P.M., for production from the Codell and Niobrara Formations and to
commingle with production from the Dakota and "J" Sand Formations.
FINDINGS
The Commission finds as follows:
1. Snyder Oil Corporation as applicant herein, 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.
4. In Order No. 407 1, the Commission established 80 acre drilling and spacing
units for the production of oil and/or gas and associated hydrocarbons from the
Codell Formation. Wells shall be located in the center of the 40 acre tract or
quarter quarter section with a tolerance of 200 feet in any direction. In Order
Nos. 407 10 and 407 13, the Commission amended Order No. 407 1 to include
production from the Niobrara Formation in certain lands and to allow the
downhole commingling of production from the Codell and Niobrara Formations,
including Section 28, Township 2 North, Range 68 West, 6th P.M.
5. In Cause No. 232, the Commission established 320 acre drilling and spacing
units for the production of gas from the "J" Sand in the Wattenberg Field with
one well allowed for each unit to be located in the NE¼ and SW¼ and no closer
than 990 feet to the boundaries of the quarter section. On August 21, 1979, the
Commission issued Order No. 232 20 which allowed a second well to be drilled on
each 320 acre unit, including Section 28, Township 2 North, Range 68 West, 6th
P.M.
6. In Order No. 499-1, the Commission established 320-acre drilling and spacing
units for the production of oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Dakota
Formation, identical to the 320-acre drilling and spacing units previously
established for the "J" Sand Formation required by Cause No. 232, with the
permitted well to be located in the NW¼ and the SE¼ of the section and no closer
than 990 feet to the boundaries of the quarter section, for certain lands,
including Section 28, Township 2 North, Range 68 West, 6th P.M. Subsequent
orders included additional lands, allowed the permitted well to be located in
any of the quarter sections and approved the downhole commingling of production
from the Dakota Formation with production from the "J" Sand Formation, Codell,
Niobrara and Sussex Formations.
7. In Order Nos. 499-15, 232-89, 407-125, 493-22, and 496-3, the Commission,
among other things, allowed the downhole commingling of production from the
Dakota and "J" Sand Formations with production from the Codell, Niobrara,
Sussex, and Shannon Formations, including Section 28, Township 2 North, Range 68
West, 6th P.M.
8. In Order Nos. 499-17, 232-94, 407-134 and 493-26, the Commission approved the
proposed allocation formula for this well.
9. This matter was heard by the Hearing Officer who recommends approval based
upon the testimony presented at the administrative hearing that an exception to
the permitted well location is necessary to reduce surface impact and recover
additional reserves from the Codell and Niobrara Formations.
10. An order of the Commission should be entered allowing the Travellers No.
28-11M Well to be recompleted at an exception location 1,579 feet FSL and 1,444
feet FWL, in the NE¼ SW¼ of Section 28, Township 2 North, Range 68 West, 6th
P.M., for production from the Codell and Niobrara Formations, for the 80-acre
drilling and spacing unit consisting of the N½ SW¼ of Section 28, and to allow
the commingling of production with the Dakota and "J" Sand Formations, for the
320-acre drilling and spacing unit consisting of the S½ of Section 28.
ORDER
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, that Order Nos. 499-5, 232-68, 407-103 and 493-13
shall be amended to allow the Travellers No. 28-11M Well to be recompleted at an
exception location 1,579 feet FSL and 1,444 feet FWL, in the NE¼ SW¼ of Section
28, Township 2 North, Range 68 West, 6th P.M., for production from the Codell
and Niobrara Formations, for the 80-acre drilling and spacing unit consisting of
the N½ SW¼ of Section 28, and to allow the commingling of production with the
Dakota and "J" Sand Formations, for the 320-acre drilling and spacing unit
consisting of the S½ of Section 28.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the provisions contained in the above order shall
become effective forthwith.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the Commission expressly reserves its right, after
notice and hearing, to alter, amend or repeal any and/or all of the above
orders.
ENTERED this 3rd day of July , 1996, as of June 24, 1996.
OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By Patricia C. Beaver, Secretary
Dated at Suite 801, 1120 Lincoln Street, Denver, Colorado 80203 May 22, 2002
(499-21)