Oil Well in Royal Oak/Rocky Ridge

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Dentoman

The size of the company is probably my main concern as well.
I also agree that the communities are likely getting worked up over the wrong issues .... that's why I came here for some real info.

So, if at the community forum, if I get up and say that I demand that they get "cement to the surface" will you be available for back-up when they ask me a follow-up question, like "Why?" .... "Hold on, I need to call Fotze, he seemed to know what he was talking about on CalgaryPuck"

You could ask if they're planning to do a cement bond log as well, which is used to test the quality of the cement bond. One reason that cement is important is to keep reservoir fluids from migrating up along the outside of the casing to the surface. You could also ask how often they're planing to check for surface casing vent flow, which is basically just monitoring whether that has happened or not.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by fotze

Also, demand microseismic frac monitoring so they can actually determine where the bigass frac has gone 'to protect you groundwater'.

I'll bet you a dollar that if they do that the results would be inconclusive!

Also, wouldn't they have to drill another well to put the seismic receiver in first, or can you do that with ground based seismic receivers? The only time I've been involved with one of those the receivers went in 2 nearby wellbores at the formation depth...

[tenyardrambo]

i take my dog for a walk around the sobeys walmart area at night and you can hear lots of constuction noise...I thought it was a secret military base at first HA now the oil well news sure makes sense now

[Buzzard]

^ I'm more willing to bet it's the massive gravel pit operations/concrete plants less than a km away.

[JD]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

You could ask if they're planning to do a cement bond log as well, which is used to test the quality of the cement bond. One reason that cement is important is to keep reservoir fluids from migrating up along the outside of the casing to the surface.

As a cementer, I cringe at this suggestion. It's prudent and correct, mind you...

A CBL is open to interpretation as much as anything in this industry, so even between qualified professionals, you can get differing opinions, let alone in a public forum with uninformed views muddying the waters.

With a well like this, you'll very likely run a lightweight lead slurry to ensure returns to surface. In this area, probably 1400 kg/m³ or less. Problem is, those types of cements tend to show poorly on a CBL. So then you're in a catch 22 situation where the public expects cement returns (which they should) but also expect to get positive feedback on the CBL result (which they also should).

So then upon analyzing the CBL, someone will say, "there's no cement from here up!". So we'll go out to remediate and perf and try to circulate to surface but instead pressure up and find that there actually was good cement there all along.

I suppose you could demand proper hole cleaning and mud conditioning and casing centralization and reciprocation/rotation and adequate preflushes and spacers pumped in the optimized flow regimes and a high quality lightweight cement slurry with low fluid loss and no free water, but then the waters would really be muddy. And then you also get back to that point fotze made about the operator being small and perhaps eager to save a buck here and there.

It still amazes me that some companies will try so hard to cheap out on the cement.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by JD

With a well like this, you'll very likely run a lightweight lead slurry to ensure returns to surface. In this area, probably 1400 kg/m³ or less. Problem is, those types of cements tend to show poorly on a CBL.

Reading your post, I thought of the poor ignorant members of the public . . .

"OMG, did he say LEAD?! Near our community!? OMG, their gonna poison our soil, water, children, <insert various nouns here> - We gotta stop them!

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by JD

As a cementer, I cringe at this suggestion. It's prudent and correct, mind you...

A CBL is open to interpretation as much as anything in this industry, so even between qualified professionals, you can get differing opinions, let alone in a public forum with uninformed views muddying the waters.

With a well like this, you'll very likely run a lightweight lead slurry to ensure returns to surface. In this area, probably 1400 kg/m³ or less. Problem is, those types of cements tend to show poorly on a CBL. So then you're in a catch 22 situation where the public expects cement returns (which they should) but also expect to get positive feedback on the CBL result (which they also should).

So then upon analyzing the CBL, someone will say, "there's no cement from here up!". So we'll go out to remediate and perf and try to circulate to surface but instead pressure up and find that there actually was good cement there all along.

I suppose you could demand proper hole cleaning and mud conditioning and casing centralization and reciprocation/rotation and adequate preflushes and spacers pumped in the optimized flow regimes and a high quality lightweight cement slurry with low fluid loss and no free water, but then the waters would really be muddy. And then you also get back to that point fotze made about the operator being small and perhaps eager to save a buck here and there.

It still amazes me that some companies will try so hard to cheap out on the cement.

Which is basically the problem with having a debate about an oil well in a public forum in the first place. I don't think anyone here is involved with the well, and different considerations apply in different situations.

I've used CBLs in the past to ensure I have good cement between two different perf intervals where I'm going to shoot all my perfs at the same time and then coilfrac, and I can't have communication outside the casing between the perfs or I'll get a casing collapse. But this isn't multi-horizon gas, so that shouldn't be a problem.

[The Yen Man]

I didn't realize Royal Oak was close to so many things. A remand centre, an insane asylum, a city dump, AND a Mormon church? Wow, Royal Oak is definitely where all the action is.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I didn't realize Royal Oak was close to so many things. A remand centre, an insane asylum, a city dump, AND a Mormon church? Wow, Royal Oak is definitely where all the action is.

Indeed, they have a hell of a lot more things to worry about than a single oil well.

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Indeed, they have a hell of a lot more things to worry about than a single oil well.

I agree ..... like having Gord Lowe as our alderman.

Won't be at the open house, which will probably be a gong show anyways with no real info given out. This thread pops up first on Google when you search Royal Oak oil well so hopefully some residents can get some info from here and go in with a little more background information.

I think my only issue is the company size as was pointed out ... if the money runs out, what happens then?

If this well goes ahead, I anxiously await the community response when the rig goes up ... I am sure the majority have never seen a drilling rig except on TV.

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by fotze

I think they are required to have blowout insurance. But I also think its is only for $10MM, which would probably be eaten up in the first 3 hours of the blowout if it happened there.

Realistically, what are the odds of a blowout? I know it is very small, but what would the actual percentage of wells or drilling rigs that actually blowout?
I'm likely more concerned about the increase in drunken fights outside the Blind Monk due to the drilling rig crew scrapping with the locals .... you know, like in Brooks.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I didn't realize Royal Oak was close to so many things. A remand centre, an insane asylum, a city dump, AND a Mormon church? Wow, Royal Oak is definitely where all the action is.

The casino was narrowly avoided, apparently.

[chemgear]

Apparently this was sent out a few minutes ago:


Subject: Reminder of Oil Well Information meeting

Just a Reminder that The Rocky Ridge Ranch Homeowners Association, the Rocky Ridge Royal Oak Community Association, and a group of concerned Residents are holding an information forum to provide residents with information related to the drilling of an exploratory sweet oil well in Royal Oak.

The information forum will be held on February 11, 2012 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM at the North West Family Church located at 10307 Eamon Rd NW, Calgary, Alberta.

The following individuals will be presenting (among others):
Alderman Dale Hodges, MLA Lindsay Blackett, City of Calgary Environmental Assessment and Liabilities manager Rick Cieszki, Kaiser Exploration GM Ned Beattie and representitives from the ERCB (Energy Reasources Conservation Board).

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by fotze

Great, so a bunch of people who will have no clue what they are talking about and one guy who will, but is instructed to say nothing.

I see Gord Lowe won't be there .... not surprised by that one.
I think this open house will be a giant waste of time and will not provide any real insight or information.

[Inferno099]

Originally Posted by Dentoman

I see Gord Lowe won't be there .... not surprised by that one.
I think this open house will be a giant waste of time and will not provide any real insight or information.

Originally Posted by chemgear

Apparently this was sent out a few minutes ago:


Subject: Reminder of Oil Well Information meeting

Just a Reminder that The Rocky Ridge Ranch Homeowners Association, the Rocky Ridge Royal Oak Community Association, and a group of concerned Residents are holding an information forum to provide residents with information related to the drilling of an exploratory sweet oil well in Royal Oak.

The information forum will be held on February 11, 2012 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM at the North West Family Church located at 10307 Eamon Rd NW, Calgary, Alberta.

The following individuals will be presenting (among others):
Alderman Dale Hodges, MLA Lindsay Blackett, City of Calgary Environmental Assessment and Liabilities manager Rick Cieszki, Kaiser Exploration GM Ned Beattie and representitives from the ERCB (Energy Reasources Conservation Board).

Originally Posted by fotze

Great, so a bunch of people who will have no clue what they are talking about and one guy who will, but is instructed to say nothing.

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...ub=CalgaryHome

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/02/11...g-in-royal-oak


And as per usual course - a lot of people show up (over 400+), and those answering questions spewing a bunch of answers without actually answering the questions.

The forum was really a waste of time, but on par as the usual - once a level of government official(s) decide on something - residents are not going to change the direction.

I reaslize of course a lot of us in the city & these two communities earn our living either working directly for E&Ps, service companies for the industry or indirectly by providing services or products to the O&G industry & employees / citizens of the city.

I am not so much worried about property value in short term as I plan on living here for 15-20 years longer.

That being said - the city & province already messed up the area by reducing access / exit by closing off one entrance/exit to crowchild trail that for over 15+ years was a main route as the area continued to develop. I know many other communities have similar issues; but does not mean because city planning was not good in some areas - we should change more communities from having decent entrance/exits to less than adequate.

Back to the well - whether the fear is warranted or not (I do not know enough about H2S if Kaiser actually drill through the cardiam & into the 'sour gas' area - if there would be an emergency for the community or not) - this seems to be most residents concern.

If there is ANY chance this is a possibility & with the lack of exit points & non-existent ERP - then the well should not be drilled.

This is completely different than if being drilled in a rural area where there are not the same population density that would have to be evacuated.

During the work day, I am down town, but my son (in a day home) and many other people do stay in the community when the drilling will be taking place.

I would be concerned if there is any remote chance for a major emergency to occur if people would be even able to get out if they were sonmehow notified.

Cheers!

[TurnedTheCorner]

Hopefully they have terrible geologists and the formation is dry. Well drilled, well plugged, all within summer 2012.

[Inferno099]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Hopefully they have terrible geologists and the formation is dry. Well drilled, well plugged, all within summer 2012.

By attending the information session - the province has not yet approved the surface lease to allow Kaiser to begin.

One think to note is that Kaiser does not believe that the residents are thinking reasonably and are only thinking emotionally regarding this issue & he seems to believe the political / emotional opposition to the well may have the province / ERCB not approve the surface lease.
My thought is that the surface lease will be approved, as my perception is that once any level of government has approved something - the public forums only delay what has been decided upon to give the impression of public input.

Of note residents also heard Kaiser has i think it is over 1,000 hectares of land in Calgary city limits - therefore this well may be a test scenario to determine if Kaiser decides to continue with further drilling within the city limits.

[Mr.Coffee]

this thread is highly amusing to me and particularly fotze's posts. Couldn't agree more with his point about the lack of education to our public about our economy's engine, it is appalling how little the media / majority of people know about what strikes me as not a very complex business. I just returned from vacation where we happened to stay at some eco lodge place. I got into a large chat with the owner, who asked where I was from... the inevitable discussion about the oilsands and his disdain for them was sort of like talking to a 3 year old about monsters under the bed and his opinions were loaded with misinformation - and I barely know anything about the oilsands myself.

Anyway, not sure what is meant by "province hasn't approved the surface lease", that doesn't really make any sense. Is the surface title held by the Alberta Crown or a resident? I just am curious because it's inner city land so, strikes me as odd it would be Crown surface title. At any rate, surface rights are (usually) not a barrier to the well being drilled, but they can delay things. Typically people think that they can just say no to oil companies and they'll go away, but this is incorrect. The province has deemed oil and gas a resource for the people of Alberta and therefore obstructing without some kind of super legitimate reason its' production because you just don't want the inconveniences of a well being drilled on your land usually doesn't work with the ERCB. If a well is disputed, and the company is still bent on drilling, they will file for a hearing and have the ERCB provide an order of entry. A bit of an aside, but thought it might fit well here for the residents of the community. If Kaiser can show legitimacy in its' dealings with the community, the well will likely be drilled if Kaiser wants to drill it bad enough. Also, frankly, this is no different than many of the farmers disputing wells and that have had their land torn up for the last 70 years in this province, in fact I bet some of them are loving this story that it is now happening to city dwellers.

The article (I assume without really reading it) is referring to the mineral rights being Crown, that is what Kaiser would have leased. They'll need the surface rights but that's worked out with the surface land owner. Also, now that I think about it, I think you need your surface package (ERP, survey, lease, D56 approvals, etc.) to get your well licence- which they have- so yeah, pretty sure the surface has been taken care of (could be wrong here I guess, not my speciality but pretty sure).

Kaiser owning 1000 hectares equates to a little under 4 sections, which isn't exactly a craptastic amount of land. Let's say the well works out, what if the rest of their targets are along deerfoot trail? It's not like all of their targets will be approved by the ERCB. What if the well spews water? What if they run out of money? there's like 100000 what ifs so stating they own some other lands is just scare mongering. I'll have a look at who else owns lands in Calgary tomorrow and I bet it'll be every tom dick and harry oil co owning some zone or another.

Also, running out of money while yes, is an issue, don't worry, AB orphan fund should eventually one century take care of the abandonment.

Also, not so sure about that $10MM blowout insurance... that seems a little high to me. Anyway, carry on.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Also, frankly, this is no different than many of the farmers disputing wells and that have had their land torn up for the last 70 years in this province, in fact I bet some of them are loving this story that it is now happening to city dwellers.

1) 20,000 + nearby residents makes it a little different

2) The farmers aren't aware of this because they are too busy crying about the dry winter

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

1) 20,000 + nearby residents makes it a little different

Does it? As a province we/our elected representatives have decided to put up with the inconvenience of oil/gas drilling for the huge financial benefits we get from it (royalties, etc). Granted there are more people being mildly inconvenienced here (myself included), but the principle that nimby-ism doesn't run the province is important, imo. I value the healthcare/education/low taxes we get from our billions of dollars of resource revenue every year.