Larger Oil Well Spacing Units | Video

Jennifer Joas | 8/20/2012

Larger spacing units for oil wells are becoming more common, especially in harder to reach areas. The Industrial Commission reviewed an application for a 1800 acre spacing unit that would drill in a suitable for wildlife area in McKenzie County, adjacent to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Normally, spacing units are around 1,280 acres, but with this larger unit, operators will have to drill farther underground. These wells are most common near Lake Sakakawea or in the flood plains near Williston.

"As we start to move into some of the wildlife areas, if we could use these longer larger spacing units, we could get further away from some of the essential habitat for wildlife," said Department of Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms.

The commission approved the spacing unit, as well as two other salt water disposal wells.

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