Table of Contents

This information has been reproduced with the permission of Information Handling Services, Inc. (IHS).

The new API numbering structure looks like: 31-101-20130-03-00, where the sets of digits refer to the following types of information.

API

State Code

The first two digits of the API number represent the surface location of the state the well is located in. In this example, the surface location of this well is located in state code 31 or New York. Keep in mind that the bottom hole location of this well may be in a contiguous state such as Pennsylvania, but the API number is based on the surface location. Please refer to a State Code List for a complete listing of state and pseudo-state codes.

County Code

The third through fifth digits of the API number represent the surface location of the county where the well is located. In this example the well is located in county code 101 or Steuben County. Again, keep in mind that the bottom hole location may be in a contiguous county, but the API number is based on the surface location.

Unique Well Identifier

In most states, the sixth through tenth digit of the API number is assigned as a unique number within the county the well is drilled. In a few states, the unique well identifier is based on the permit number and may only be unique within the state.

In most cases the series 00000 has been used for historical wells (i.e. wells drilled prior to the issuance of API numbers). The series 10000-50000 are used by most states for current numbers.

Directional Sidetrack Codes

The sidetrack code is the eleventh and twelfth digits of the API number. It is used to identify each sidetrack uniquely for the well. A good rule of thumb is to increment the sidetrack code for each unique bottom hole location of the well. In the example above, this is the third sidetrack off the original wellbore.

Event Sequence Code

The thirteenth and fourteenth digits of the API number indicate how many operations there have been on a single borehole. It is incremented only when part of the borehole identified in the 11th and 12th positions is deepened, recompleted, or worked over. Since the example above shows a code of 00, we know that this is the original drill of sidetrack #3 even though the original and either or both of the previous sidetracks may have been recompleted. (It is important to remember that this code may vary between data vendors based on their database recompletion criteria.)

Examples

Figure 5 shows a vertical wellbore that has been plugged back twice. Therefore, the API numbers associated with this well are:

23-001-20130-00-00 (original wellbore)

23-001-20130-00-01 (1st plug back)

23-001-20130-00-02 (2nd plug back)

Figure 6 shows a vertical wellbore that has been plugged back once, sidetracked once, and the sidetrack plugged back once. Therefore, the API numbers associated with this well are (the sequence would be the same if original had been directional):

05-001-20333-00-00 (original wellbore)

05-001-20333-00-01 (plug back of original wellbore)

05-001-20333-01-00 (1st sidetrack of original wellbore)

05-001-20333-01-01 (1st recompletion of 1st sidetrack)

Please note that even if the plug back to the sidetrack had occurred prior to the plug back of the vertical hole, the numbering would be as above.