By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 3 -- Encore Acquisition Co., Fort Worth, plans to drill 9 operated and 19 nonoperated wells in 2009 in the Williston basin Bakken play, where it holds 300,000 net acres.
Encore participated in completions in 2008 with Continental Resources Inc., Newfield Exploration Co., Brigham Exploration Corp., and XTO Energy Inc.
Encore has drilled 13 operated Middle Bakken wells and 6 operated Three Forks/Sanish wells to date. Average initial rates were 380 boe/d from the Middle Bakken and 524 boe/d from the Three Forks/Sanish.
One goal is to reduce average well cost to $4 million from $5 million, the company said Feb. 3.
Encore also plans four refracs in the Cherry and Bear Creek project areas of North Dakota. Several wells in Elm Coulee field in Montana sustained higher production after refrac, the company said. The 2008 refracs averaged 85 boe/d of incremental production and 80,000 boe of incremental reserves for an estimated $500,000/well.
Refracs are applied 9-18 months after initial production, and other operators are starting refrac programs, Encore said.
