I will get to some of your other questions later...just got in, and it has been a long hot day.
Could they spend $200k, do the 4 hole RC drilling?
Four RC holes to 500' for 200K? Easily.
As for "daughter" holes.....more unnecessary complexity. Just move over and drill a new hole. Or drill an angle hole from the same pad. I don't think access is so difficult out there that they need to putz around with "daughter" holes. It is a JB thing designed to impress people.
That's the whole thing with JB - he likes to baffle with bullshit.