Murphy Creek Update

NEWS

January 20, 2013: a comment concerning this field posted elsewhere:

I was doing some personal research near some of my area. 5 Bartlett wells (145-95-16) caught my attention. I was seeing 80,000 mcf in one month. Similiar to what you are saying 4 million pounds of sand. A boost in an old well about three times higher than ever on oil production. My question is I did not see alot of oil yet unsure if not posted or shutting in very interesting overall next month or two should tell.
[The Bartlett wells do not look promising; strange.]

October 8, 2012: remember -- Encore --> Denbury --> XOM (Bakken assets)

August 8, 2011: Highway 22 will get temporary gravel fix for the winter; definitive repair in spring, 2012.

July 17, 2011: The major road running through this field, ND State Highway 22, was opened one or two weeks ago. 

July 17, 2011: In the original posting, I said Murphy field was fairly inactive. Not true this month: seven rigs on site. A lot of permits/wells have changed hands since the original post: a) OXY USA bought Anschutz; b) Denbury bought Encore; c) Hess bought Tracker's TRZ LLC.

March 27, 2010: 18453, Hess/Tracker, 2,121, Murphy 11-1H; s2/10; t5/10; cum 177K 2/12;

Quick Update of Murphy Creek Oil Field

Updates

March 23, 2012: a couple of things -- Murphy Creek permits/wells are being updated a bit lower down in the original post. Today: six rigs on site in this large field. In addition, several more (six) rigs in other fields but right on the edge of Murphy Creek; three of the Murphy Creek rigs are at the far north end; three farther south. The north half is still the most active, but increasingly more activity in the south. 

January 13, 2011 

IPs and Production Excepted: Those May Be Updated

Activity seems to be picking up again in the Murphy Creek oil field, but that may be an illusion; it's a huge field, so one would expect a fair number of new permits in a large field. But here's a quick review to be added to the original posting below:

Over the past couple of days, there have been a few permits issued for Murphy Creek; it has had some good wells. 

This is a huge oil field in the Williston Basin.

It totals about ten (10) townships in all, south and west of the reservation. The town of Killdeer is located at the very north of the oil field and is in an active area of drilling. In fact, one can pretty much divide the Murphy Creek oil field in half.

The southern half (T142-R95, T142-R94, T143-$93, T143-R94, and T143-95) has practically no activity.

On the other hand, the northern half (T144-R04, T44-R95, T144-R96, and T145-R95) is very, very active.

North half; lots of activity; the major players by township:

• 145-95: Denbury/Encore, MRO, CLR
• 144-96: MRO, Encore
• 144-95: MRO
• 144-94: Hess/Tracker

South half; minimal activity; the major players by township:

• 143-95: OXY USA/Anschutz
• 142-94: OXY USA/Anschutz
• 143-93: Hess/Tracker
• 142-95: OXY USA/Anschutz, Encore
• 142-94: OXY USA/Anschutz

As noted: Encore is now part of  Denbury and Anschutz assets have been bought by Oxy.

Original Posting
The Murphy Creek Field 
New permits have been added since original post

The February 25, 2010, NDIC docket piqued my interest in the Murphy Creek field.

Case #12170 was submitted by Tracker Resource Development II LLC. Tracker requested that the Murphy Creek be expanded by a number of sections in two neighboring townships; that the spacing units be 1280 acres; that Tracker be permitted to drill in 75 of those 1280-acre spaced units; and, that they could drill as many as three horizontal drills in each spacing unit. If approved, Tracker would be given the go-ahead to begin the process to ultimately drill 225 more wells in the Murphy Creek field.

The Murphy Creek field is an extremely irregular field, and at 286 sections, is one of the larger fields in the Williston Basin. If NDIC agrees to expand it, it appears that about 40 more sections would be added in townships 143-92 and 143-93.

Right now, the bulk of the sections are in townships 145-95, 144-96, 144-95, 144-94, 143-94, 143-95, 142-95, and 142-94.  In addition, there are sections in townships 145-96, 143-93, and 143-96.

The town of Killdeer (population: 713 in 2000, Wikipedia; wanna bet it's a lot bigger now?) sits at the very north of this oil field. The field is not particularly active right now but is directly south of the Killdeer field, the Chimney Butte field, and the Bailey field, all much smaller, but all much more active.

A long line of wells, sections 25, 26, 35, 36 in 144-96

• 22260, 930, MRO, Landbloom 24-26H, t7/12; cum 28K 10/12;
• 22261, 1,188, MRO, Landbloom 14-26H, t7/12; cum 36K 10/12;
• 20082, 1,683, BR, Intervale 31-35H, t9/12; cum 41K 9/12 ---
• 17119, 315, MRO, Krenzel 34-26H, t9/08; cum 78K 4/12;
• 18106, 823, BR, Intervale 41-35H, t9/09; cum 86K 4/12;
• 17573, 327, MRO, Wm. and Agnes Scott 14-25H, t11/08; cum 77K 4/12;
• 20435, 1,545, BR, Scott 21-36MBH, t11/11; cum 34K 8/12;
• 20436, 1,277, BR, Scott 31-26MBH, t11/11; cum 30K 8/12;
• 17989, 725, BR, Scott 31-36H, t6/09; cum 101K 4/12;
• 16835, 334, MRO, Houghton 34-25H, t1/08; cum 117K 4/12; 

A cluster of wells [added June 8, 2012]

• 20746, 678, CLR, Jack 2-9H, t2/12; cum 80K 10/12;
• 17702, 513, CLR/BR, Jack 14-9H, t5/09; cum 213K 10/12;
• 18074, 25, BR, Bartlet 21-16H, t9/09; cum 120K 10/12;
• 21487, 762, BR, Bartlett 11-16TFH, t9/12; cum 2K 10/12;
• 21484, 1,483, BR, Bartlett 31-16TFH, t9/12; cum 2K 10/12;
• 21485, 1,283, BR, Bartlett 21-16MBH, t9/12; cum 2K 10/12;

There is an interesting line of wells running east-to-west, sections 7 - 18 in 144-95 and extending into section 7, 8, 17, and 18 in 144-94. (IPs in red). [Updated Oct 4, 2010.]

17774, 393, Hess/Tracker, Lemieux 17-1H; s6/11; t9/11; F; cum 49K 4/12;
17765, 885, Hess/Tracker,Fritz 18-1H; s1/09; t3/09; cum 148K 4/12
18591, 463, Marathon, Joseph Schollmeyer 14-7H, t7/10; 75K 4/12;
18048, 1,214, Hess/Tracker, Larsen 13-1H, t2/10, 157K 4/12;
18453, 2,121, Hess/Tracker, Murphy 11-1H, t5/10, 186K 4/1/2;
18523, 1,447, Hess/Tracker, Kudrna 10-1H, t6/10; 156K 4/12;
17140, 291, Marathon, Kudrna 41-16H, Buck 44-21H, 67K 4/12;
18090, 384, Marathon, Kirkach 34-9H, 87K 4/12;
17942, 1,184, Marathon, Kovaloff 14-9H, s3/11; t10/11; F; cum 40K 4/12;
17891, 1,064, Marathon, Kovaloff 34-8H, s6/11; t11/11; F; cum 41K 4/12;
16987, 373, Marathon, Willard Kovaloff 21-17H, t6/08; 102K 4/12;
16995, 253, Marathon, Koberstine 14-8H, t7/08;, 76K 4/12;
17160, 378, Marathon, Viola Koberstine 34-7H, t8/08; 101K 4/12; 
17046, 306, Marathon, Irene Kovaloff 31-18Ht8/08; 91K 4/12;

There are many other examples of a string of wells all along one line; obviously they are right on a pipeline.

Permits in Murphy Creek (this section is being updated periodically):

• 18637, 501, Denbury/Encore, Franchuk 44-20SWH, s5/10; t5/11; F; cum 38K 1/12
• 18638, 2,184, Denbury/Encore, Franchuk 44-20NWH
• 18769, 1,722, CLR, Roadrunner 1-15H
• 18846, 971, Hess/Tracker, Dirkach 24-1H
• 18847, 353, Anschutz/OXY USA, Eleanor Twist 1-3-10H-143-95; t9/11; F; cum 15K 1/12;
• 19137, 2,928, Encore/Denbury Onshore, Franchuk 44-19NWH; s8/10; t1/11; cum 88K; 2/12;
• 19138, 2,616, Encore/Denbury Onshore, Franchuk 44-19SWH; s8/10; t1/1l; cum 83K; 2/12;
• 19206, 56, OXY USA/Anschutz, Nelson 1-12-1H-143-95; s10/10; t3/11; F; 56K 1/12
• 19284, 1,130, MRO, Edward Darwin 14-35H; s8/10; t7/11; F; cum 35K 1/12;
• 19374, 653, MRO, Darcy Dirach 14-12H, 31K in 3.3 months
• 19396, 82, MRO, Ernest Charchenko 34-33H
• 19608, DRY, OXY USA/Anschutz, Harlan Rebsom 1-2-11H-143-95
• 19642, 42, OXY USA/Anschutz, Darlene Dvorak 1-27-34H-143-9; 6K in January, 2012;
• 19728, 549, CLR, Dolezal 2-5H
• 19743, 1,002, MRO, Hartman 14-32H, s2/11; t7/11; F; cum 43K 1/12;
• 19792, PNC, Denbury Onshore/Encore, Wing 44-26NWH
• 19812, 332, Slawson, Turbo 1-21-16H
• 19914, 489,  OXY USA, Rebsom 1-23-14H-143-95; t4/12; cum 39K 10/12;
• 19924, 1,225, BR, Rifle Falls 31-25H, t 10/11; cum 22K 4/12;
• 19998, PNC, Tracker, Regeth 22-1H (new permit, same name, a few feet to the west)
• 20024, 486, Anschutz, Novasio State 1-16-21H-142-95, t6/11; cum 31K 4/12;
• 20081, 1,202, BR, Intervale 11-35H; s3/11; t8/11; F; cum 26K 1/12;
• 20082, 1,683, BR, Intervale 31-35H; t9/12; cum 41K 8/12;
• 20083, 25, OXY OXY/Anschutz, Richard Dvorak 1-33-28H-143-95; t9/11; cum 29K 4/12;
• 20161, 441, BR, Rifle Falls 41-25H; s6/11; t10/11; F; cum 11K 1/12
• 20194, 63, OXYUSA/Anschutz, Wannemacher 1-4-9H; s3/11; t9/11; F; cum 18K 1/12;
• 20279, PNC, Anschutz, State Jaeger 1-16-21H-142-94
• 20303, 763, MRO, Kovaloff 41-17H; s7/11; t10/11; F; cum 25K 1/12;
• 20304, 949, MRO, State Kovaloff 11-16H; s6/11; t11/11; F; cum 23K 1/12;
• 20411, 212, OXY USA/Anschutz, State Jaeger 1-21-16H-142-94; t11/11; cum 7K 4/12;
• 20435, 1,545, BR, Scott 21-36MBH, t11/11; cum 34K 8/12;
• 20436, 1,277, BR, Scott 31-36MBH, t11/11; cum 30K 8/12;
• 20453, 440, Hess/Tracker, Wallace 7-1H; s4/11; t9/11; cum 31K 1/12;
• 20472, PNC, OXY USA/Anschutz, Watkins State 1-35-36H-143-95
• 20473, PNC, OXY USA//Anschutz, George Miller 1-2-11H-142-95
• 20479, PNC, OXY USA/Anschutz, Tuhy State 1-36-25H-143-95
• 20480, PNC, OXY USA/Anschutz, Katie Heiser 1-1-12H-142-95
• 20765, 366, OXY USA, George Miller 1-11-2H-142-95, t6/12; cum 12K 10/12;
• 20750, DRL, OXY USA/Anschutz, Katie Heiser 1-1-12H-142-95; producing; no IP yet 8/12
• 20580, 540, OXY USA, Terry Dvorak 1-15-22H-142-95; t4/12; cum 12K 8/12;
• 20581, 65, OXY USA, Harland Rebsom 1-2-11H-143-95X; s3/11; t36K; F; cum 36K 1/12;
• 21263, 325, OXY USA, Wittinger 2-8-5H-143-95; 18 days in January, 2012 -- 14K;
• 21264, 509, OXY USA, Emil Veverka 2-17-20H-143-95; t1/12; cum 30K 8/12;
• 21285, 910, MRO, Person 24-35H, s10/11; t1/12; F; cum 19K 3/12;
• 21343, conf, MRO
• 21424, 939, Denbury, Johnson 43-27WNH, t5/12; cum 25K 8/12;
• 21461, 1,457, MRO, Ivan Hecker USA 41-6H 2, s9/11; t11/11; F; cum 46K 3/12;
• 21463, 1,039, Slawson, Turbo 2-21-16H, 10/11; t2/12; F; cum 14K; 2/12;
• 21484, 1,483, BR, Bartlett 31-16TFH, t9/12; cum 2K 10/12;
• 21485, 1,283, BR, Bartlett 21-16MBH, t9/12; cum 2K 10/12;
• 21486, 458, BR, Bartlett 21-16TFH, t9/12; cum 1K 10/12;
• 21487, 762, BR, Bartlett 11-16TFH, t9/12; cum 2K 10/12;
• 21493, 694, Hess, MC-Kudrna-144-95-1522H-1, s10/11; t2/12; F; cum 24K 2/12;
• 21505, 349, OXY USA, State Watkins 1-26-35H-143-95; t5/12; cum 25K 10/12;
• 21577, 1,186, MRO, Ernest Charchenko 14-33H, t5/12; cum 35K 8/12;
• 21583, 1.087, CLR, Roadrunner 3-15H, t7/12; cum 20K 8/12;
• 21584, 1,081, CLR, Clover 3-10H, t7/12; cum 39K 8/12;
• 21585, 1,210, CLR, Roadrunner 2-15H, t7/12; cum 24K 8/12;
• 21586, 1,345, CLR, Clover 2-10H, t7/12; cum 35K 8/12;
• 21635, 681, OXY USA, State Dukart 1-24-13H-143-95, t5/12; cum 23K 8/12;
• 21636, 581, OXY USA, State Tuhy 1-25-36H-143-95;
• 21674, 156, OXY USA, Annie Oakley 1-20-17H-142-94; t3/12; cum 10K 8/12;
• 21677, loc, OXY USA
• 21685, DRL --> loc, OXY USA; producing 21K in first month;
• 21686, 256, OXY USA, Kubik Trust 2-18-19H-143-5; t5/12; cum 67K 10/12;
• 21812, 1,291, MRO; Garry Sampson 34-32H; t4/12; cum 37K 8/12;
• 21813, 1,331, MRO; Garry Sampson 24-32H, t4/12; cum 45K 8/12;
• 21925, 401, Hess; MC-Heinert 144-94-2215H-1, t3/12; cum 21K 8/12;
• 22043, 332, Hess, MC-Steckler-143-9400805H-1, t4/12; cum 29K 8/12;
• 22133, DRL --> conf, OXY USA
• 22259, 1,262, MRO, Ernest Charchenko 24-33H, t5/12; cum 40K 10/12;
• 22260, 930, MRO, Landblom 24-26H, producing; t7/12; cum 28K 10/12;
• 22261, 1,188, MRO, Landblom 14-26H, t7/12; cum 36K 10/12;
• 22279, 1,108, OXY USA, State Kary 2-19-18H-144-96; t6/12; cum 44K 10/12;
• 22308, PNC, Hess
• 22369, 304, OXY USA, State Jablonsky B 1-36-25H-142-95; t5/12; cum 18K 10/12;
• 22442, 685, Hess, MC-Sickler-144-95-1423H-1, t8/12; cum 39K 10/12;
• 22444, loc --> drl, OXY USA
• 22449, loc, OXY USA
• 22478, 417, Hess, MC-Murphy 144-95-1102H-2, t8/12; cum 27K 10/12;
• 22567, dry, OXY USA, State Buffalo Bill 1-20-17H-143-94 OLD,

A small number of all the wells in Murphy Creek:

• 17094, 28, OXY USA, Sickler 22-1H, t7/08; cum 10K 10/12;
• 17785, PNC
• 17234, 308, OXY USA, Dvorak 10-1H, t7/08; cum 59K 10/12;
• 17708, PNC
• 17749, PNC
• 17802, PNC
• 18223, 354, Hess, Riemer 2-1H, t10/09; cum 71K 10/12;
• 17101, conf, Hess, Knutson 4-1H
• 17873, PNC
• 16769, 163, Hess, Hueske 12-1H, t2/08; cum 26K 10/12;
• 17525, 1,414, OXY USA, Twist 31-4H, t4/10; cum 124K 10/12;
• 18300, 1,562, OXY USA, Neal 1-33-28H-144-95, t2/10; cum 174K 10/12;
• 17448, 1,084, OXY USA, Wittinger 31-5H, t11/09; cum 132K 10/12;
• 17437, 583, OXY USA/Anschutz,Scott 34-7H, t8/09; cum 120K 10/12;
• 18353, 2,374, OXY USA, Kubik Trust 1-19-18H-143-95, t4/10; cum 256K 10/12;
• 18395, 2,207, OXY USA, Kathleen Stroh 1-20-17H-143-95, t6/10; cum 184K 10/12;
• 16740, PNC
• 16678, 315, Denbury Onshore, Truchan 11X-33H, t9/07; cum 93K 10/12;
• 16766, 252, Denbury Onshore, Rogne 44-34H, t12/07; cum 102K 10/12;
• 16765, 318, DenburyONshore, Rogne 11-35H, t1/08; cum 99K 10/12;
• 17971, 393, MRO, Isabelle Hartman 42-22H, t9/09; cum 80K 10/12;
• 17868, 1,248, BR, Catalina 11-23H, t5/09; cum 93K 10/12; 
• 17865, 259, MRO, Adam Ell 24-33H, t5/09; cum 91K 10/12;
• 16422, 293, MRO, Kukla 34-34H,t12/07; cum 96K 10/12;
• 17759, 160, MRO, Darwin 14-35H, okay well (LODGEPOLE); t2/09; cum 38K 10/12;
• 17712, 502, MRO, State Lazorenko 14-36H, t4/09; cum 112K 10/12;
• 17713, 427, MRO, State Lazorenko 34-26H, t4/09; cum 117K 10/12;