Continental's Bakken & Three Forks Density Test Yields Almost 15,000 boe/d

November 12, 2013 R.T. Dukes

Continental Resources Hawkinson Bakken Three Forks Density Test

Continental set a record with third quarter production of 141,900 boe/d. Bakken production grew 7% and accounted for 94,500 boe/d of the total.

Continental operated 20 rigs in the Bakken region during the quarter and grew gross production to almost 120,000 boe/d (94,500 boe/d net). That's 51% higher than the third quarter of 2012 and even more impressively, Montana production grew 17% over the second quarter.

Continental participated in the drilling of 203 gross (75 net) Bakken-Three Forks wells and the number of drilled, but not completed wells grew to 85. The company expects to participate in a total of 761 gross (282 net) Bakken & Three Forks wells in 2013.

The company also reached its year-end target of $8.0 million well costs during the quarter.

“....In addition, we completed our first density test in the Hawkinson spacing unit, demonstrating very strong initial production in the Middle Bakken and the first three benches of the Three Forks. Once again, Continental is pioneering the expansion and improved recoveries in the world-class Bakken oil play, demonstrating the productive potential of four to five stacked zones with multiple wells in each.”

— Harold G. Hamm, Continental's CEO

Continental Completes Hawkinson Unit & Plans Full Field Development in the Antelope Area

W. F. "Rick" Bott, COO, commented, "The Hawkinson project is a milestone event for CLR and further validates our vision for full field development of the Bakken -Three Forks reservoirs in this world class oil field."

Continental Resources Bakken - Antelope Area Map

The Hawkinson density project tested 14 wells in a single unit. Three wells were existing and another 11 were drilled to complete the test. Four Middle Bakken, three Three Forks 1, four Three Forks 2, and three Three Forks 3 wells were drilled and completed at 1,320 ft spacing and 660 ft spacing in adjacent zones. The 11 new wells yielded 13,400 boe/d in addition to the 1,450 boe/d being produced from the existing three wells. That's almost 15,000 boe/d from a single pad.

The company also announced full-field development plans in the Antelope area. This will include drilling 350 wells from pads with 20-30 wells each over the next four to five years. The area will be the first to see full field development in the deeper benches of the Three Forks.

Read the full release at clr.com

Bakken Deals Account for 33% of U.S. Shale Deals in Q3

November 8, 2013 R.T. Dukes

Oasis Petroleum Bakken Acreage Map - Acquisition Included

There were $1.8 billion in Bakken deals in the third quarter and that led all shale plays in terms of dollar value. There were $16.4 billion worth of deals in the third quarter and $5.4 were attributable to assets in shale plays.

The Eagle Ford in South Texas led with seven deals compared to the Bakken's three, but trailed the Bakken in total deal value by $100 million.

PWC only tracks deals with a value of more than $50 million. We actually covered four deals in the quarter:

Read the full oil and gas divestitures report at pwc.com

EOG Will Utilize Self-Sourced Sand in Bakken Completions

November 7, 2013 R.T. Dukes

EOG Resources is shifting to self-sourced sand for use in completions in the Bakken and Three Forks. The company has owned and operated sand mines supplying other plays for years.

EOG's sand mines will contribute to significant well cost savings.

Most of the company's current activity is focused in the core area of the Parshall field and the company's Antelope Extension. EOG plans to complete 54 net wells in those areas in 2013.

“EOG is consistently making the best oil wells in the best two oil plays in North America, the Eagle Ford and Bakken/Three Forks.”

— CEO, William R. "Bill" Thomas.

The company's utilization of more fluid and sand in completions is proving successful in the Bakken. The company has seen both improved recoveries and returns in the play.

EOG Bakken and Three Forks Well Highlights

Six wells produced initial rates of approximately 2,000 b/d of oil or more in Mountrail County
Three - Three Forks wells in the Antelope Area came online at rates between 1,235-2,100 b/d of oil

"Every quarter, EOG's technical understanding of the Eagle Ford and Bakken/Three Forks expands, as we further modify completion techniques that boost overall well productivity and economics," Thomas said.

EOG Increases Company-wide Production Growth Estimates

Production guidance in 2013 has been increased again. EOG expects 39% growth in oil production, 17% growth in NGL production and company-wide growth of 9%. That`s up from initial estimates of 28% crude oil growth, 10% NGL growth, and just 4% company-wide growth at the beginning of the year.

Marathon Oil's Bakken Production Holds Flat in Q3 - Drilling Faster

November 6, 2013 R.T. Dukes

Marathon Oil's Bakken production held flat at 38,000 boe/d in the third quarter as the company shut in production to complete adjacent wells. Compared to the third quarter of 2012, production is up 27%.

Flat production from one quarter to the next isn't a knock on Marathon, it's going to happen with the expanded use of pad drilling. Unless operators stagger their pad drilling perfectly (near impossible), we'll see lumpy production additions going forward.

“Marathon Oil achieved strong financial results in the third quarter, delivering $1.44 billion in operating cash flows before working capital changes, and adjusted net income of $617 million, 29 percent higher than the second quarter,” said Lee M. Tillman, CEO. “All three business segments performed well, capturing the higher liquid hydrocarbon realizations both domestically and internationally, compared to the second quarter.”

Marathon hit total depth on 21 gross wells and brought 21 gross wells to production during the quarter. The 2013 exit rate for production is estimated at 40,000 boe/d.

The company's average drilling time for each well fell from 15 days in the second quarter to 14 days in the third quarter. That's 20% faster than one year ago.

Marathon also discussed successful results in the Three Forks. The company is targeting the upper portion of the play and expects to explore the lower benches in 2014. Marathon has drilled 58 Three Forks wells to date and the formation accounts for more than 20% of the company's production in the region.

Read the full release at marathonoil.com

Halcon's Bakken IP Rate Improved Dramatically in the Third Quarter

November 5, 2013 R.T. Dukes

Halcon Resources' initial production rates have improved considerably across the Bakken. The company is completing wells with tighter stage densities, more proppant per stage (100% ceramics), and is using slick water in areas where gels were used in the past.

The company's best well to date was completed on the Fort Berthold Reservation in the third quarter. The Bakken well came online 3,914 boe/d.

Wells completed with the company's latest design have yielded results 20-60% better than comparable wells.

“Third quarter results were defined by continued expansion of our activities in the Williston Basin, El Halcon and other areas.”

— Floyd C. Wilson, CEO

Spud-to-total depth drilling times have fallen below 18 days at both the company's Fort Berthold and Williams County properties. Approximately 80% of drilling in 2013 and 100% of drilling in 2014 will be multi-well pads.

Halcon spudded 14 wells and completed 13 wells in the third quarter as net production increased 40%. The company will operate 5-6 rigs in the fourth quarter and 4-5 rigs in 2014.

The company continues to test downspacing across the play and the lower benches of the Three Forks. The first Three Forks Second Bench well is being drilled currently.

Downspacing tests at 660 ft/well have proven promising. The three Bakken wells tested at 660 ft spacing in the unit depicted above all came online at more than 2,500 boe/d. Halcon is planning the majority of Bakken development on the Fort Berthold Reservation at 660 ft spacing and plans to drill downspacing pilot tests in Williams County in 2014.

Halcon has 132 producing Bakken wells, 39 producing Three Forks wells, and 14 wells in various stages of drilling and completion.

Read the company's full Q3 press release at HalconResources.com