A client wanted to fast-track a development program from project award to production within 13 months while aligning with environmental constraints and tax credit guidelines.
The Challenge
The project required accelerating development timelines while remaining compliant with Colorado wildlife restrictions, environmental permitting requirements, and investment tax credit deadlines.
The Approach
IPT applied disciplined project management techniques to produce early deliverables, set surface casing before wildlife activity deadlines, complete air quality permits, plan drilling and frac stimulation completions, manage offset well plug and abandonment (P&A) operations, and execute facilities design and construction in parallel to optimize the overall schedule.
The IPT team leveraged experience from drilling and completing more than 6,000 projects in the United States and over 400 disposal wells to efficiently plan and execute the well program while meeting strict wildlife noise compliance regulations and tax credit deadlines, with a target of first oil production within 13 months of project award.
In accordance with state requirements, IPT also located all existing wells, developed plans to plug and abandon eight wells due to existing penetrations into the Niobrara formation, and obtained the required state approvals.
The Solution
After project award, IPT reviewed all project information and prepared four surface casing wells to be spud and completed before December 1, just five weeks after project award. This timeline ensured compliance with Colorado wildlife restrictions on noise between December 1 and July 1 while also enabling the client to qualify for an investment tax credit.
IPT designed the four wells, ordered surface casing, secured a drilling rig and wellsite services, built the pad location, and completed the surface casing well program by late November. In parallel, IPT completed air quality permits, production facilities design, frac stimulation completion design, plug and abandonment designs, and ordered long lead items. Wellsite services were procured in April for a planned well spud in July.
IPT executed plug and abandonment operations and well drilling in July, followed by a 192-stage frac stimulation program. Production facilities installation was performed as a simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) activity to ensure completion aligned with frac stimulation operations. First production was scheduled for early November, with all activities completed before the December 1 wildlife noise compliance deadline.
The Results
Drilling, frac stimulation operations, and facilities construction were completed on time and within cost estimates, with no lost time accidents occurring during the project.
Project management and field execution involve coordinating all technical, regulatory, and operational activities required to bring a well from planning to production. This includes scheduling, engineering oversight, procurement, and on-site supervision.
Effective project management ensures that drilling, permitting, and completion activities are aligned and executed in parallel when possible. This reduces downtime and accelerates overall project delivery.
Parallel execution allows multiple workstreams such as permitting, facilities design, and completions planning to progress simultaneously. This is critical for meeting aggressive timelines and avoiding bottlenecks.
Environmental regulations such as wildlife restrictions and air quality requirements can dictate when operations can occur. Proper planning ensures compliance while maintaining project momentum.
Legacy wells are identified and evaluated early in the process. If necessary, they are plugged and abandoned to meet regulatory requirements and prevent interference with new development.
If you are planning a development program with tight timelines, regulatory constraints, or complex operational requirements, IPT Well Solutions can help you execute with confidence.
Contact our team to discuss how we can support your next project.