By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 31 -- Whiting Petroleum Corp., Denver, plans to drill 30 wells with at least an average 80% working interest in 2008 at Sanish field in North Dakota, where it just completed two strong oil wells in Mississippian-Devonian Bakken shale and is building a gas processing plant.
The company, which expects to have results on two more wells by Mar. 31, also plans to participate in 40 wells in Parshall field with about 20% working interest. It is adding a fourth rig at Sanish that will spud a single-lateral well in a few days.
The Liffrig 11-27H well, completed Jan. 24 in Sanish field, Mountrail County, flowed 2,247 b/d of oil and 1.7 MMcfd of associated gas from Middle Bakken at 9,920 ft true vertical depth. The 24-hr test was on a 17/64-in. choke with 1,300 psi flowing casing pressure.
The single lateral well, drilled on a 1,280-acre unit, penetrated 7,720 ft of horizontal pay in Middle Bakken.
The Locken 11-22H well, 2 miles north, flowed 1,323 b/d and 2 MMcfd from Bakken and averaged 818 b/d and 828 Mcfd in the first 30 days on production. It penetrated 7,625 ft of horizontal pay.
Sanish field's 41-42° gravity oil brings at or near the West Texas intermediate posted price, or $3.50-6.50 below New York Mercantile Exchange prices.
Whiting plans to start up a gas processing plant nearby in April at 3 MMcfd and expects volumes to rise to 18-33 MMcfd in the fourth quarter. Sanish gas heating value is 1,700 btu/cf, and natural gas liquids yield is expected to be 150-170 bbl/MMcf.
