Experienced Roughnecks From the Gulf Flying into the Bakken

The Oil Patch Hotline is reporting some interesting news:

• 139 active rigs now, another dozen are expected between now and the end of the year
• Critical shortage of roughnecks is forcing some operators to fly in workers from the Gulf
• New computer controlled rigs can cost $16 million to build; require experienced hands
• Day rates for these rigs: $16,000
• Roughnecks from Louisiana are in the Bakken for two weeks; then fly home for two weeks
• At $16,000 day rates, producers fleeing natural gas and moving to oil
• Five companies mention they will have more rigs in the Bakken by the end of the year

Source at the BakkenBlog; dated July 29, 2010; will be there for 30 days; then archived