156: A New Record

This really is remarkable. I went to confirm that "we" had gone to 155 active rigs in North Dakota. I was sent that alert earlier today. When I finally found time to visit the NDIC site, I was surprised to find that "we" had gone to 156 rigs.

Quite incredible.

Click here to see the phenomenal progression.

Here's the story in the Minot Daily News regarding this new record.

Someone sent in a note that Minot is in the middle of a boom that is quite extraordinary. In addition to oil, the Air Force Base just north of north is expanding (with a second B-52 squadron assigned there now), and something else that escapes me right now.

Williston is the "center" of the basin, but ... and don't take this out of context ... Minot has always been a destination for those living in western North Dakota and southern Canada, not Williston. In 2000, Minot, the fourth largest city in North Dakota, had a population of 37,000 which probably did not include the Air Force base. Williston, on the other hand had only 12,000. Grand Forks, the third largest city, had a census count of 51,000. I assume there is talk that Minot could surpass Grand Forks. I doubt that will happen, but on the other hand, as we go through some data regarding the Bakken this upcoming week, one has to wonder.

By the way, back in May of this year (only four months ago), the director of the NDIC opined that it was unlikely that "we" would break the record set back in 1981. The director felt that lack of water for fracking and lack of housing for workers would prevent that many active drilling rigs.