Whiting Petroleum Corp., Denver, said it has identified more than 50 vertical Red River prospects at its Big Island Ordovician Red River oil and gas play in Golden Valley County, ND, in the Williston basin.
The company said it has identified the prospects using 3D seismic interpretation and porosity anomalies and that the 122,109 net acre block, which extends into Wibaux County, Mont., has multiple geological objectives. The prospects average two drilling locations each.
Five vertical Red River wells drilled to date at Big Island have been completed as successful oil producers. Estimated ultimate recoveries for the wells range from 200,000 to 300,000 bbl of oil equivalent. Completion cost is estimated at $3.5 million/well.
For example, Whiting completed the Rieckhoff 44-22 flowing 480 b/d of oil equivalent on Aug. 2 and the Stecker 23-3 flowing 283 boe/d on June 30. All of the drilling has been in Golden Valley County thus far.
The company is drilling its first horizontal Red River well, the Schaal 22-15H, to determine the potential of the Red River as a resource play on the block.
