Opinion ID: 1759432
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Undisputed Evidence as to Deviated Drilling

Text: The State introduced in evidence Railroad Commission Form 2, the well completion report, which was signed and sworn to by defendant J. W. Baton for the HAL CO., before H. M. Harrington, stating that he had knowledge of the facts and matter herein set forth and that the same are true and correct. Next, the State introduced in evidence Railroad Commission Form 3 filed for HAL CO. and signed by Baton and Lutes. The last item under Date of Potential Test reveals that the well was completed at 3:15 p. m., April 21, 1952. The State also, after the verdict had been received, but before judgment, introduced Harrington's deposition. His evidence corresponded with the report as to the number of days of actual drilling. However, he did testify that the date the drilling began might have been as early as April 4. The State's Exhibit 46 and the testimony of Thomas H. Sellers, Sperry Sun surveyor, showed that the slanted well began its deviation at 100 feet and continued its deviation to the total depth of 5,090 feet, drilling that number of feet in sixteen days, which would result in an average drilling of at least 318 feet per day. The State also introduced an expert witness, Charles Pollard, who testified that in order to drill a slant well like the one in the instant case, it is necessary for a directional driller to prepare plans, charts, schedules and diagrams in advance so that the bottom of the hole can be located at the desired objective. Pollard testified that from a study of the State's Exhibit 45, the well in the instant case was intentionally deviated. The defendants made an attempt to destroy the effectiveness of this testimony through the cross-examination of Pollard. The cross-examination of the witness, Pollard, was conducted by Mr. Harrington, one of the defendants. The defendants claim that Pollard's testimony on cross-examination shows that the deviation could have been done with one tool, at one time. It is their contention that such testimony raises an inference at least that the directional drilling could have been limited to one day. We have carefully examined the testimony and find that Pollard did not testify, as claimed. Pollard did testify in answer to a hypothetical question that one deviation instrument or tool could have been used to deviate the well, but no question was asked as to what length of time would have been required to effect the deviations found in the present case. The State proved by expert witnesses, Thomas Sellers and Grady Bell, that in July, 1962, after the well was closed down by the Railroad Commission, they made a directional survey of the bore-hole of the well by the use of accurate instruments and methods, and found that the vertical depth of the well was 4,737.74 feet, that the horizontal displacement of the bottom of the well was 1,664.73 feet in a direction of North 87 degrees 56 minutes West from the surface location of the well, and that the actual length of the bore-hole was 5,090 feet. The State further proved by a qualified land surveyor, Ralph Andrews, that the bore-hole of the well crossed the property boundary line so that the bottom of the well was in a different tract of land than the surface location authorized by the permit to drill the well. None of the evidence, showing that the well was slanted and bottomed off the lease, was controverted or denied. Additional evidence will be related later in passing upon various questions presented in the applications for writ of error. The defendants offered no direct evidence. The only evidence introduced by the defendants was that elicited from the witnesses through cross-examination, or by the introduction of parts of the depositions of the defendants, Godfrey, Allgood, and Lutes. Godfrey's deposition had been taken in another case. However, it was stipulated that the deposition could be introduced in evidence in this case since the same lease and well were involved.