ND Production Update

"Production in North Dakota's prolific oil path continues to grow exponentially," --- Associated Press, May 14, 2010.

"At the current pace, North Dakota is quickly gaining ground on California, the nation's third-biggest oil producer, industry officials say." -- ibid.

ND: 4,736 active wells
ND: average of 277,403 bbs/day (March, 2010)

Compare to 150,000 bbls/day in April, 2008.

A record 8.6 million bbls produced in March; up from previous high of 7.3 million bbls/day in February.

Prediction: production could hit 300,000 bopd this summer and 350,000 bopd next year.

Even natural gas production is setting new records: "an unprecedented 8.6 million cubic feet.

There are 114 active rigs in North Dakota; the last time there were a 100 rigs in ND was 1982. Thre was a record 146 rigs in October, 1981, but modern horizontal-drilling rigs are eight (8) times as efficient as the old rigs, according to experts.

California: 550,000 bopd
Alaska: 635,000 bopd
Texas: 1,000,000 bopd