Armstrong Spuds First Confirmation Test to Lodgepole Discovery
Stark County, North Dakota
Dickinson, N.D.–based Armstrong Operating (Armstrong) has moved in Patterson/UTI rig No. 490 and has spud their first delineation attempt from their vertical Lodgepole discovery in Stark County, North Dakota. The company is drilling ahead at the Gruman #18-3, ne-ne 18-139n-96w, a vertical Lodgepole venture that will have a projected depth near 10,000’. This confirmation test is roughly a half-mile west of the discovery well at the Laurine Engel #1, nw-nw 17-139n-96w. Representing the field opener for Paterson Lake, the Laurine Engel #1 is still being held on a confidential basis with no official IP released to the public. Latest data show that for an undetermined number of days in November 2009, the well made 13,582 bo.
This new field discovery by Armstrong is the tenth such reservoir of its type to be found in North Dakota. Prior to staking the Gruman #18-3, Armstrong had requested 320-acre spacing for this carbonate mound and supplied the following reservoir and fluid properties to the North Dakota Industrial Commission to support their spacing request:
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Reservoir temperature:
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230°F
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Reservoir drive:
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Rock and fluid pressure
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Reservoir type:
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Porous limestone
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Porosity (oil zone):
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11%
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Est. permeability:
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8,600 MD (DST)
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Water saturation:
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30% (est., in pay zones)
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Est. recovery factor:
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35% (with water flood)
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Est. ultimate recovery:
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1–1.6 mmbo stb
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Gravity:
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47° API
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Bubble point:
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1,500 psi (est.)
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Solution gas/oil ratio:
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500 scf/bbl
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Initial formation vol. factor:
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1.34 rb/stb (est.)
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Although the size of this new reservoir does not compare to what is found immediately west at Eland Field, according to Armstrong, this new mound will be able to ultimately recover up to 1.6 mmbo with water flood. Eland Field, the largest Lodgepole reservoir found to-date in the continental United States, has cumulated more than 28 mmbo and 15.2 bcfg following its discovery in 1994.
The location of Armstrong’s new Lodgepole reservoir is within a 4-mile radius of the nine carbonate mounds previously discovered in this immediate area. Conoco kicked off this play in 1993 with the completion of the company’s deeper pool discovery at Dickinson Field. The #74 Dickinson State, sw-nw 32-140n-96w, was completed flowing 2,045 bopd and 1.16 mmcfgpd from Lodgepole perfs at approximately 9,721’–9,850’. Since early 1993, this well has cumulated more than 2.8 mmbo, 1.6 bcfg, and 2.4 mmbw. Total production from the nine Lodgepole reefs found in the immediate area exceeds 55.6 mmbo and 31 bcfg from 27 active wells.