The largest single operating cost for producers in the Berland field, southwest of Fox Creek, is related to transportation of produced water for disposal. Often times, trucking costs vary greatly depending on the distance from a producer’s development to their nearest disposal option. In a low commodity environment, when the disposal option is at a great distance from the producing field, the trucking costs alone can make a play uneconomic.
Specifically, the Berland field is home to prolific Montney acreage with water production that required producers to haul produced water distances greater than 160 km away, often leading to hauling times in excess of four hours round-trip. Producers in this field have long been after a water management solution that will allow them to focus on executing their development plans.
Delphi Energy identified that Catapult’s solution and partner rate would lower their water handling OPEX below their existing cost of trucking water volumes alone. The savings will enable Delphi to deploy more capital towards drilling more wells and increasing production. Being pipeline connected to Catapult’s Berland facility not only eliminates the costs for trucking water but also promotes environmental and social governance. Less trucks on the roads also has the benefit of increasing safety while lowering Delphi’s carbon footprint. It’s estimated the solution will eliminate >15,000 annual truck trips, thus reducing CO2 emissions by >1200 tonnes.
Highlights:
- Infield facility drastically reduces local operators’ water handling OPEX
- Pipeline connection to producer’s battery, reducing damage to infield road infrastructure
- Pipeline connection allows for interrupted production through periods of bad weather or during spring break-up season
- Catapult drilled an exploratory Bigstone Leduc well at our own risk
- Freed up capital, allows producers to drill additional wells
Associated Links:
Press Release: Delphi & Catapult Partnership”
