Delphi Energy brings Montney horizontal wells on stream

March 1, 2013
Delphi Energy Corp. of Calgary reported encouraging results from its initial development of its Montney play at Bigstone where Delphi last year brought three horizontal Montney wells on stream and recently brought on stream a fourth horizontal well (OGJ Online, May 22, 2012).

Delphi Energy Corp. of Calgary reported encouraging results from its initial development of its Montney play at Bigstone where Delphi last year brought three horizontal Montney wells on stream and recently brought on stream a fourth horizontal well (OGJ Online, May 22, 2012).

The 15-10-60-23W5 well at East Bigstone was drilled in late-2012 to 4,455 m depth with a lateral length of 1,424 m. The well was completed using a 20-stage slickwater hybrid completion. Total drill and completion costs were estimated at $8.3 million. East Bigstone is northwest of Edmonton, Alta.

The well was brought on production Jan. 27. During its first 12 full days on production, the well averaged 4.2 MMcfd of raw gas. Associated condensate and natural gas liquids also were produced.

Total production rate over this initial period was 990 boe/d, of which 37% was NGLs.

Initial results of this well, and particularly a new completion design employed, were very encouraging as compared with the first three wells drilled in East Bigstone, which were completed with gelled oil hydraultic fracturing, Delphi said.

Delphi expects to commence drilling operations after spring break-up on the previously announced farm-in acreage to earn a 75% interest in the Montney and Nordegg on the 32.5-section land block. All total, Delphi will hold an average working interest of 85% in 78.5 sections of prospective Montney and Nordegg rights in the Bigstone area.

The company's Montney production at East Bigstone was shut-in on Feb. 12 because of unscheduled pipeline repairs on a third-party main gathering pipeline. The outage was expected to continue until early March.