Hi everyone!
I could use some help understanding how things are done with multiple wells on the same well pad. We had two wells drilled last summer, two drilling permits. But there were 4 drilling permits for this well pad, and only 2 drilled by Nabors B23.
This Feb now, the other 2 drilling permits were renewed (they would have expired the end of March). And they are still on the Confidential list.
My question is: How do they come back and drill again, when there are 2 wells producing already?
Do they bring in the large drilling rig and all that goes with it, again, onto the well pad? Why didn’t they drill all four when they had it all on there the first time last year? Just trying to understand how they come back and drill around the two that are producing. How is this done?
Drilling permits: 38109 and 38111 are drilled and producing. 38110 and 38112 are the ones that were renewed and still on the Confidential List.
Silver Hill is the company, and it’s LFM2 wells. Leaf Mountain.
Thanks for any input. And I don’t need to know when they would drill… just HOW do they fit a Rig again and all that goes with it!
The surface pad is usually about five acres or so, plenty big enough to fit in the rig, the trailers, the rack for drill pipe, mud pits, frack trucks, etc. They build a road into the site and can use it for months. Most modern rigs can move a bit or they have a drill floor that has slots in it. The two wells that are already drilled do not actually have the same surface hole location. If you check the permit for the two wells already drilled, they are just a few feet different.
LFM2 18-06 161-93 BMB API 3301301913 has a surface location Lat of 48.762407 Lon -102.8052287. (sections 18/6 in 161N-93W) but the surface location is in section 19.
LFM2 19-31 161-93 BTF API 3301301911 has a surface location Lat of 48.762151 Lon -102.8052273 (sections 19/31 in 161N-93W)-just a bit to the south.
The remaining permits:
LFM2 19-31 161-93 AMB API 3301301912 has a surface location Lat of 48.7622311 Lon -102.805228. (sections 19/3 in 161N-93W) This is in between the first two. They may move it a tad.
LFM2 18-06 161-93 ATF API 3301301914 has a surface location Lat of 48.7625029 Lon -102.8052294. (sections 18/6 in 161N-93W) but the surface location is in section 19. This will be north of the first well by a bit. They may move it a tad. No guarantee on either of these…
As to why they did not do all four at the same time, could be several factors. How the drilling costs and completions fit in with their overall portfolio and if they were trying to drill out leasehold and save many sections by production, what their rig schedule contract was, weather (big deal in ND).