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In 1999, we began operations in the Rocky Mountain Region, which includes our Colorado and North Dakota
operations. The region is further divided into four operating areas; (1) Grand Valley Field,
(2) Wattenberg Field, (3) NECO area and (4) North Dakota area. The Rocky Mountain Region includes
approximately 310,000 gross acres of leasehold and approximately 2,117 oil and natural gas wells
in which we own an interest (approximately 99% are operated by us). The general details of each
area within the region are further outlined below:
Grand Valley Field, Piceance Basin, Garfield County, Colorado.
We commenced operations in the area in late 1999 and currently own an interest in 225 gross, 102.9 net,
natural gas wells. Our leasehold position encompasses approximately 7,800 gross acres with
approximately 3,900 net undeveloped acres remaining for development as of December 31, 2007.
We drilled 53 gross, 41.7 net, wells in the area in 2007 and produced approximately 8.2 Bcfe net to
our interests. Development wells drilled in the area range from 7,000 to 9,500 feet in depth and
the majority of wells are drilled directionally from multi-well pads ranging from two to eight or
more wells per drilling pad. The primary target in the area is gas reserves, developed from multiple
sandstone reservoirs in the Mesaverde Williams Fork formation. Well spacing is approximately
ten acres per well.
Wattenberg Field, DJ Basin, Weld and Adams Counties, Colorado.
We commenced operations in the area in late 1999 and currently own an interest in 1,242 gross,
747.6 net, oil and natural gas wells. Our leasehold position encompasses approximately 65,000 gross
acres with approximately 13,100 net undeveloped acres remaining for development as of December 31, 2007.
We drilled 158 gross, 106.1 net, wells in the area in 2007 and produced approximately 11.1 Bcfe net to
our interests. Wells drilled in the area range from approximately 7,000 to 8,000 feet in depth and
generally target oil and gas reserves in the Niobrara, Codell and J Sand reservoirs. Well spacing
ranges from 20 to 40 acres per well. Operations in the area, in addition to the drilling of new
development wells, includes the refrac of Codell and Niobrara reservoirs in existing wellbores
whereby the Codell sandstone reservoir is re-stimulated or fraced a second time and/or initial
completion attempts are made in the slightly shallower Niobrara carbonate reservoir.
NECO area, DJ Basin, Yuma County Colorado and Cheyenne County, Kansas.
We commenced operations in the area in 2003 and currently own an interest in 586 gross, 383.3 net,
natural gas wells. Our leasehold position encompasses approximately 104,500 gross acres with
approximately 55,300 net undeveloped acres remaining for development as of December 31, 2007. We
drilled 123 gross, 115 net, wells in the area in 2007 and produced approximately 3.6 Bcfe net to
our interests. Wells drilled in the area range from approximately 1,500 to 3,000 feet in depth and
target gas reserves in the shallow Niobrara reservoir. Well spacing is approximately 40 acres per well.
New drilling operations range from exploratory wells to test undrilled, seismically defined,
structural features at the Niobrara horizon to development wells targeting known reserves in
existing identified features.
North Dakota, Burke County.
We commenced operations in the area in 2006 and currently own an interest in 13
gross, 4.6 net, oil and natural gas wells. We divested the majority of our Bakken project acreage in
late 2007 (see Note 16, Sale of Oil and Gas Properties, to our consolidated financial statements
included in this report). Our remaining leasehold encompasses two project areas in Burke County and
encompasses approximately 101,300 gross acres with approximately 60,000 net undeveloped acres
remaining for development as of December 31, 2007. The eastern area acreage is prospective for
development of oil and gas reserves in the Nesson Formation. Nesson development wells are approximately
6,000 feet in depth with single or multiple horizontal legs to 4,000 feet or more in length for a
measured length of 10,000 feet or more per leg. The westernmost acreage block is undeveloped and
includes approximately 22,746 gross and 18,607 net acres. The western project targets exploratory
horizontal drilling to the Midale/Nesson Formation at depths of approximately 6,800 feet with a
lateral leg component of up to 6,100. We drilled one unsuccessful vertical exploratory well in 2007
and anticipate additional exploratory activity in 2008.
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