Brigham Exploration Company announces that its operated Strand 16-9 #1H produced approximately 2,264 barrels of oil equivalent per day from the Bakken formation during an early 24 hour flow back period. The Strand was completed with 26 frac stages and represents Brigham's highest reported 24 hour flow back rate to date of its eight long lateral, multi-stage fracture stimulation completions in the Williston Basin.
The Strand was successfully fracture stimulated and produced approximately 1,947 barrels of oil and 1.9 MMcf of natural gas, or 2,264 barrels of oil equivalent, from the Bakken formation during a 24 hour period. Brigham maintains an approximate 21% working interest in the Strand, which is the fourth well completed under the drilling participation agreement with U.S. Energy Corp. Brigham's interest in the Strand will increase upon payout of the first six wells in the drilling participation agreement.
Importantly, the Strand represents Brigham's third consecutive successful producer in the northwestern portion of its Rough Rider acreage position in Williams County, North Dakota. The Strand is approximately 8 miles to the southeast of Brigham's BCD Farms 16-21 #1H completion and roughly 6 miles to the east of Brigham's Lee 16-21 #1H completion. The Strand is also Brigham's sixth consecutive high rate producer in its Rough Rider project area of Williams and McKenzie County, North Dakota. Brigham has now completed eight consecutive high rate Bakken and Three Forks wells in the basin with early peak production rates averaging approximately 1,900 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Brigham is expected to commence completion operations on the Williston 25-36 #1H (~ 35% working interest) and the State 36-1 #1H (~ 15% working interest) in mid December. The Williston and the State, which represent the fifth and sixth drilling participation agreement wells, are expected to be completed with 32 and 30 frac stages, respectively. Brigham has reached total depth on the Jackson 35-34 #1H (~ 58% working interest) and is expected to run 29 swell packers to bottom later this week.
Brigham is currently in the process of rigging up drilling operations on the Owan Nehring 27-34 #1H (~ 49% working interest), which is a Bakken well in the western portion of its Rough Rider acreage, and the Liffrig 20-29 #1H (~ 72% working interest), which is a Three Forks well in its Ross project area in Mountrail County. Subsequent to completing drilling operations on the Jackson, Brigham will commence the Jack Erickson 6-31 #1H (~ 15% working interest), which will be a Bakken well in our Rough Rider project area proximate to the Brad Olson 9-16 #1H.
Bud Brigham, the Chairman, President and CEO, stated:
"Our operations and geological steering groups continue to deliver exceptional and consistent performance with the completion of the Strand. We believe our completions using a high number of frac stages, perf and plug and ceramic proppant represent an optimal recipe that we'll continue to modify slightly in order to further improve results. We're excited with the opportunity to slightly increase the number of frac stages with the Williston and State wells to 32 and 30 stages, respectively, and thereby maximize results on our approximate 150,000 net acres in our core Rough Rider, Ross and Parshall / Austin project areas."