News
January 30, 2011: Zavanna and USEG in partnership. This makes sense. If you scroll down to near the end of the original post, it is noteworthy that Zavanna has a lot of permits, but there has not been a lot of activity. I've wondered what has been going on with Zavanna. This partnership with USEG reminds me of the partnership with BEXP back in 2009; that partnership worked out very well for both.
Original Post
This is a very long post. Some folks thought this movie a big cheesy. I did not.
Earlier this summer, I helped my two granddaughters with a real-grass-growing diorama placed in a huge roasting pan, and populated with toy animals found on the African savanna. Perhaps that's why Zavanna has always captured my interest, along with the fact that the company has a noticeable presence just east of my home town of Williston, North Dakota.
File this information under "coffee table talk." Much of it is factual, but there are opinions stated on this page, the kind of comments I might make sitting around the table having coffee at the Economart in Williston. Of course, no one would be listening to me; they would be talking about sports.
But for folks interested in Zavanna LLC, here is the information I have in my database. The older data is not as good, but data continues to improve. I didn't really start following the Bakken until sometime in 2007; I forget when I first started blogging about it (I deleted my original site and started over in 2008 or thereabouts, maybe 2009). It seems like a long, long time ago.
Click here for Zavanna's website. From the website --
According to the website, "Zavanna LLC, was founded in August of 1994 to exploit its unique proprietary computer-based Technology for oil and gas exploration, development and acquisition in the United States. In 2001, Zavanna Canada Corp. was formed to explore for the significant remaining oil and gas reserves in the western sedimentary basin of Canada.
"Currently, Zavanna is guiding horizontal and conventional drilling in portions of East Texas, West Texas, the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, Florida, the Williston Basin of North Dakota, and Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada.
"Zavanna operates wells in North Dakota, Texas, Alberta and Saskatchewan. However we prefer to join with other operating companies."Additional comments, facts, and opinions, based on review of my review of the limited data I have on Zavanna operations in the North Dakota Bakken:
- Zavanna has one rig in the North Dakota Bakken, Nabors 688; drilling Louise 1-35H, one mile south of Gene 1-22H, in Stockyard Creek
- Zavanna is currently focused on Stockyard Creek, east of Williston
- Its website says it prefers to join with other operating companies, and that data I do not have.
- In 2009, Zavanna was granted a number of permits; they gave these future wells names of feral cats found in the "Savanna" of Africa (lion, tiger, cheetah, serval, ocelot, etc). Most of these were associated with Stony Creek (northeast of Williston) and a few in Stockyard Creek. The two fields abut; Stony Creek is slightly more west and farther north than Stockyard Creek. Both are small fields: both roughly a township in size.
- Zavanna acquired a fair number of permits (about a dozen) from Zenergy in the 2007 time frame.
- Zavanna was drilling Madison wells in 2006 and 2007 but moved to the Bakken in 2008 time frame.
- I haven't actually counted every last data point, but it appears that Zavanna has a fairly high percent of cancelel permits.
- In addition, there are a lot of permits that seem to be languishing
- Curiously, there is a "Jaguar" well in the Big Bend field, but it is not a Zavanna well; it is a Slawson well. Could Zavanna and Slawson partnered on this well? Zavanna does not list Slawson as one of its business partners at its website
- There are several IPs for Zavanna wells in 2006 and 2007, and then tapering off significantly to only two in 2008. Then back up to four in 2009, but only one in 2010. The past two years have been some of the most active years in North Dakota
At $5,000 / acre = $230 million
My data base does not go back that far, so I don't know, but looking at the November, 2010, docket, Zavanna might have additional significant acreage in the Foreman Butte oil field.
2012 -- as of June 5, 2012
Nine file numbers
22314, conf, Zavanna, Browning 28-22 1H, Foreman Butte,
22458, conf, Zavanna, Witt 34-27 1H, Foreman Butte,
22553, conf, Zavanna, Sabertooth 1-24H, Stony Creek,
22759, conf, Zavanna, Martinez 36-25 1H, Foreman Butte,
22760, conf, Zavanna, Rogers 1-12 1H, Foreman Butte,
22813, conf, Zavanna, Sylvester 1-32H, Springbrook,
22957, conf, Zavanna, NSI 14-15H, Stockyard Creek,
22958, conf, Zavanna, NSI 23-24H, Stockyard Creek,
23007, conf, Zavanna, Double Down 24-13 1H, East Fork,
2011
Eighteen file numbers
20370, PNC, Zavanna, SS 20-17 1H, East Fork,
20375, 1,011, Zavanna, Niels 32-29 1H, Stockyard Creek, t4/12; cum 26K 4/12;
20414, drl, Zavanna, Larsen 32-29 1H, Foreman Butte,
20439, conf, Zavanna, Thelma 1-21H, Stockyard Creek,
20478, 674, Zavanna, Koufax 3-10 1H, Foreman Butte, t11/11; cum 49K 4/12;
20484, 1,126, Zavanna, Thunderbird 25-36 1H, Long Creek, t3/12; cum 54K 4/12;
20510, 705, Zavanna, Everett 1-15H, Stockyard Creek, t1/12; cum 40K 4/12;
20590, conf, Zavanna, Skogen 17-20 1H, Glass Bluff,
20868, PNC, Hunter 2-11 1 H, Foreman Butte,
21226, 996, Zavanna, Panther 16-21 1H, Stony Creek, t4/12; cum 17K 4/12; 996
21227, conf, Zavanna, Leopard 20-17 1H, Stony Creek,
21372, conf, Zavanna, Bunning 35-26 1H, Foreman Butte,
21739, conf, Zavanna, Kepner 9-4 1H, Glass Bluff,
21864, conf, Zavanna, Wells 6-7 1H, Foreman Butte,
21868, conf, Zavanna, Barker 24-13 1H, Boxcar Butte,
21873, conf, Zavanna, Bengal 1-2H, Stony Creek,
21874, conf, Zavanna, Tony 1-3H, Stony Creek,
22044, conf, Zavanna, George 19-30 1H, Stockyard Creek,
2010
Seventeen file numbers
18824, 855, Zavanna, Gary 1-24H, Stockyard Creek, t10/10; cum 115K 4/12;
19032, 604, Zavanna, Hanson 28-33 1H, Stockyard Creek, t11/10; cum 75K 4/12;
19123, 112, Zavanna, Marlin 27-34 1H, Stockyard Creek, t7/11; cum 1K (not a typo); 4/12;
19328, 853, Zavanna, Earl 1-13H, Stockyard Creek, t6/11; cum 123K 4/12;
19436, 930, Zavanna, Louise 1-35 H, Stockyard Creek, t6/11; cum 107K 4/12;
19813, 977, Zavanna, Olson 8-5 1H, Glass Bluff; t12/11; cum 62K 4/12;
19821, 983, Zavanna, Cheryl 14-23 1H, Glass Bluff, t11/11; cum 54K 4/12;
19849, loc, Zavanna, Kepner 9-4 1H OLD, Glass Bluff,
19895, PNC, Zavanna, Lassey 16-21 1H,
19981, 1,003, Zavanna, Gust 2-11 1H, Long Greek, t3/12; cum 64K 4/12;
19982, 1,197, Zavanna, Bruce 5-8 1H, Crazy Man Creek, t1/12; cum 77K 4/12;
20000, drl, Zavanna, CDK 15-22 1H, Glass Bluff, Bakken,
20085, conf, Zavanna, Nelson 3-10 1H, Long Bluff,
20093, drl, Zavanna, Skorpil 11-2 1H, Glass Bluff, Bakken,
20094, 867, Zavanna, Wang 10-3 1H, Glass Bluff, Bakken, t3/12; cum 28K 4/12;
20105, 737, Zavanna, Crescent Farm 7-6 1H, Glass Bluff, Bakken, t3/12; cum 29K 4/12;
20111, 718, Zavanna, Wildcat 1-11H, Stony Creek, Bakken, t8/11; cum 81K 4/12;
2009
Sixteen file numbers
17979, 706, Zavanna, Lynx 1-27H, Stony Creek, Bakken, t7/11; cum 85K 4/12;
18009, 1,128, Zavanna, Gene 1-22H, Stockyard Creek, Bakken, t4/10; cum 119K 4/12;
18014, 1,075, Zavanna, Bobcat 1-25H, Stony Creek, Bakken, t1/10; Bakken; cum 111K 4/12;
18015, 1,267, Zavanna, Grasser 1-26H, Stockyard Creek, Bakken, t5/10; cum 160K 4/12;
18016, PNC, Hanson 1-28H
18021, 851, Zavanna, Marty 1-20H, Stockyard Creek, t8/10; cum 106K 4/12;
18054, 489, Zavanna, Rodney 1-14H, Stockyard Creek, Bakken, t6/11; cum 80K 4/12;
18063, 1,034, Zavanna, Ocelot 1-15H, Stony Creek, Bakken, t4/12; cum 24K 4/12;
18064, 1,085, Zavanna, Cougar 1-35H, Stony Creek, Bakken, t7/11; cum 104K 4/12;
18067, drl, Zavanna, Lion 1-14H, Stony Creek,
18069, 783, Zavanna, Tiger 1-23H, Stony Creek, Bakken, t6/10; cum 98K 4/12;
18070, PNC, Leopard 1-20H,
18071, drl, Zavanna, Cheetah 1-10H, Stony Creek, Bakken,
18075, 764, Zavanna, Jaguar 1-22H, Stony Creek, Bakken, t3/12; cum 24K 4/12;
18092, loc, Zavanna, Serval 1-9H, Stony Creek, Bakken,
18133, PNC, Panther 1-16H,
2008
Ten file number
17446, 49, Zavanna, Leonard 1-23H, Stockyard Creek, Bakken, t12/08; cum 96K 4/12;
17453, 225, Zavanna, Puma 1-26H, Stony Creek, Bakken, t2/09; cum 78K 4/12;
17846, PNC,
17857, PNC,
17882, PNC,
17904, PNC,
17905, PNC,
17915, PNC,
17384, 150, Zavanna/Zenergy, Jean Baptiste 1-11H, Buford, Madison, t9/08; cum 87K 4/12;
2007
Eight file numbers
16705, PNC,
16723, 140, Zavanna, Brushy Bill 1-19H, Stockyard Creek, Madison, t9/07; cum 36K 4/12;
16866, 78, Zavanna, Brunelle 1-29H, Stockyard Creek, Madison, t2/08; cum 34K 4/12;
16569, 108, Zavanna/Zenergy, Pvt Frazier 1-34H, Briar Creek, madison, t6/07; cum 77K 4/12;
16601, 32, Zavanna/Zenergy, Sakakawea 1-21H, Briar Creek, Madison, t2/008; cum 20K 4/12;
16638, 86, Zavanna/Zenergy, Charbonneau 1-14H, Briar Creek, madison, t9/07; cum 216K 4/12;
16738, 125, Zavanna/Zenergy, Ft Buford 1-16H, Briar Creek, madison, t10/07; cum 97K 4/12;
16889, 48, Zavanna/Zenergy, Pompey 17-18H, Briar Creek, Madison, t3/08; cum 38K 4/12;
2006
Nine file numbers
According to my data base, all nine permits/file numbers/wells were originally Zenergy's but in the summer of 2007, they were acquired by Zavanna (I could be wrong on this, but that's what my database suggests; I was just starting to follow the Bakken in late 2006, so it was all new to me, and I was not sure how best to store data for later retrieval; it's still a problem)
Except for the two most recent file numbers, all were in McKenzie County
- 16107, Jan 23, 2006, No reports, No additional data
- 16175, Nov 20, 2006, 267, Madison
- 16212, Apr 10, 2007, 170, Madison
- 16258, May 24, 2007, 199, Madison
- 16264, Jun 1, 2006, No reports, No additional data
- 16414, Jun 7, 2007, 135, Madison
- 16417, Aug 7, 2007, 217, Madison
- 16418, Jun 7, 2007, 50, Madison
- 16455, Aug 7, 2007, 130, York 1-2H, Briar Creek, short lateral
- 16481, Feb 10, 2009, Stockyard Creek, No reports, No additional data; a short lateral, 15-154-99
NDIC Hearing Dockets
February, 2012- 17093 - 17133, Zavanna, pooling (~41 wells)
- 16426, Zavanna, amend Stockyard Creek-Bakken, establish 4 1280-acre units; 1 well each, Williams
Is there any info on what spacings are part of the new agreement made with US Energy Corp? I have been following this with some interest and sounds like Zavanna intends to secure another rig in Q2 2011.
ReplyDeleteTwo comments regarding your question.
ReplyDeleteFirst: the percent working interest is the bigger issue; and there's no way I have access to that data. The bigger the working interest, of course, the better, especially if it turns out to be a great well.
Second: generally speaking, the spacing has already been determined in most of the Bakken. Certainly in the designated fields, spacing has been determined and can be seen on the GIS map server at the NDIC home page.
Third: if the spacing is 1280-acre, then it will be a long lateral; 640-acre, then a short lateral. The trend is for 1280-acre spacing in North Dakota. I could be wrong on this, but it's my understanding based on a NDIC hearing docket some months ago, unless ruled otherwise, producers can assume "new" fields / extensions to existing fields, will be spaced at 1280-acre units. So, if spacing has not been determined, a company would probably need permission from NDIC for spacing other than the new norm.
Fourth: regardless of the spacing units, producers can put more than one well into a spacing unit. There is a case in which one company has requested permission to place "multiple" wells on one or more 320-acre units. And in the core of the Bakken, WLL is routinely putting seven wells on 1280-acre units. BEXP will put in 3 wells on 1280-acre units, and is testing (with pilot wells) whether the units can be economic with 4, 5, or 6 wells. CLR, of course, will also have multiple wells in one spacing unit.
Finally: if you don't own mineral rights, but invest in USEG, it probably matters less how much USEG puts into a specific well, and matters more how they distribute their money over several wells. Hopefully, they have bigger working interest in the best wells, and a smaller working interest in wells that are not so good.
Regarding the comment above, more information can be found at:
ReplyDeletehttp://milliondollarway.blogspot.com/2011/01/useg-announces-great-well-and-another.html
I did not reference it because I assumed you had already seen it. Regardless at that post, it was noted that the three wells USEG is currently involved in, are all long laterals with about 30 stage fracture plans.