Anschutz Enters Williams County Bakken Play

Company Plans Stepout to North Dakota Discovery

Denver-based Anschutz Exploration (Anschutz) is making its first foray into Williams County, North Dakota, looking for Bakken reserves. The company recently staked the State #1-36H-156-98, nw-ne 36-156n-98w, nearly a half-mile southwest of a horizontal Bakken discovery drilled by American Oil and Gas (American). This well, the Ron Viall #1-25H, sw-se 25-156n-98w, has produced up to 2,844 boepd and is currently flowing between 700 bopd and 800 bopd. American has two stepouts to this discovery: the Bergstrom #15-23H, sw-se 23-156n-98w, and the Johnson #15-35H, sw-se 35-156n-98w. Both of these prospects have been drilled and are waiting on frac.

It appears that Anschutz is working in conjunction with American, as section 36 had earlier been spaced by American for the Bakken on 640 acres, indicating that the bottom-hole location for the Anschutz venture will be in the s/2 of 36-156n-98w.

As mentioned, this staking by Anschutz represents the company’s first attempt to establish Bakken production within Williams County. The firm is very active some 75 miles to the southeast in Dunn County, where they currently have four drilling rigs under contract chasing the Bakken.