Production from over 1000 horizontal wells drilled in the Bakken Formation in western North Dakota since 2000 exhibit a distinct bimodal distribution with average best month producing rates in the area of south-central Mountrail County exceeding 1000 BOEPD. Key geologic factors contributing to the exceptional performance of this area include excellent stratigraphic trapping conditions in the Middle Bakken dolomitic sandstone along the eastern edge of the basin, active generation and expulsion of oil from Bakken organic mudstones (upper and lower Bakken Shale) into vertically adjacent Middle Bakken and Three Forks reservoir intervals, and fracture enhanced permeability associated with tectonic and bed limited fracturing. The performance of these wells are also heavily influenced by the application of modern horizontal drilling techniques with long-reach lateral wellbores oriented at a high angle to the direction of maximum horizontal stress, facilitating exposure to existing open fractures and optimizing potential to initiate new transverse fractures with fracture stimulation treatments. Recent improvements in drilling technology have resulted in an average 40% reduction in days from spud to rig release. Modern well completions employ swelling packers and sliding sleeves to facilitate the subdivision of the 10,000 foot horizontal wellbore into multiple segments which can each be separately treated during fracture stimulation. High effort, surface microseismic monitoring of these stimulations reveals the orientation, spacing and distribution of natural and induced fractures as well as the fracture half-length, thus providing constraints on the stimulation efficiency and drainage area surrounding Bakken horizontal wellbores.

Cirque Resources LP formed in 2007 as a private exploration and production company focused on unconventional oil and natural gas resource plays in the Rocky Mountain region and select other basins. Cirque’s technical team has concentrated on identifying company-building resource plays and acquired large strategic leasehold positions. Cirque has leased approximately 800,000 acres in a dozen high potential, largely oil prone projects, building on advanced technology and new concepts in resource plays. Cirque brings partners into its projects prior to conducting exploration drilling and subsequent development.

Encana strives to balance environmental stewardship with maximum resource recovery in the Piceance basin of western Colorado.  Both objectives require advanced technology and Encana is a technical leader in both areas.  Environmental protection technology utilized by Encana includes wildlife habitat management, multi-phase gathering and an underground water delivery system to reduce truck traffic and tankage, and extended reach directional drilling with simultaneous operations on minimum footprint pads to reduce surface disturbance.  Encana's subsurface technology is also advancing quickly in the Piceance Basin, including the use of horizontal drilling, fit-for-purpose drilling rigs, microseismic imaging, petrophysics, hydraulic fracturing and artificial lift.  Together, these efforts allow Encana to maximize our resource recovery efficiency while minimizing impacts to the environment we live in.

REBALANCING THE PORTFOLIO - A NEW LOOK AT OIL PLAYS AND GIS METHODS
Chairperson: Wendy Zhou- Room 205
200s Corridor