Company applies to drill oil well near Dickinson

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An oil well could soon appear just west of Dickinson after the Energy Committee approved an application during a meeting at City Hall Thursday morning.

Filed by Halek Operating N.D. LLC, the well would be located about 1/2 mile northwest of the Stark County shop, just off of Highway 10, said City Engineer Shawn Soehren.

A public hearing regarding the application is slated for Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m. during a City Commission meeting at City Hall.

Heather Barnes, Halek’s director of corporate relations, said the well will be one of the first in North Dakota for the Billings, Mont.-based company and they hope to start drilling as soon as possible upon approval of all permitting.

The wellbore, or hole, will be drilled strictly vertical close to the bottom of the Lodgepole Formation, or to about 9,800 feet, Barnes said.

Drilling is expected to last about 21 days and noise will be minimized as much as possible, Barnes said.

All residents within 1,000 feet of the site must be notified, Soehren said.

The initial application called for a lined reserve pit, measuring 80 feet by 100 feet by 6 feet, lined with 12 mil liner, said Doug Bruner, a drilling contractor speaking on Halek’s behalf at Thursday’s meeting.

However, Dean Goodall, who was at the meeting on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute, had concerns with the liner.

“I would make a recommendation being as close to town as it is to safeguard a little more, 16 mil isn’t that much more to ask and we have seen failed 12 mils. We haven’t seen any failed 16 mils,” Goodall said.

The Energy Committee approved the application provided the company uses a 16 mil liner and surrounds the location with a vinyl or chain link fence.

With a local housing shortage, Barnes said the company expects to bring in housing for its workers, Barnes said.

This well may not be the only one Halek drills in the area.

“We’re just moving into the area. We plan on drilling 17 wells in the next 18 months,” Barnes said, adding they will be located throughout northwestern North Dakota and the Dickinson area.

An oil well application recently filed by Wesco Operating Inc. will be brought before the City Commission on Monday at 5:30 p.m. for a public hearing.

The Wesco well would be located directly south of Patterson Lake, Soehren said.

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