165 Active Rigs: Bless Those North Dakota Rough Necks, Truckers, Frac Crews, and Everyone Else Associated WIth Moving In, Rigging Up, Drilling, and Completing a Bakken Well

The weather is so bad, or was so bad that almost 15 percent of all North Dakota wells are shut in due to snow and ice on the roads. Temperatures well below zero (although temperature-wise, North Dakota did have some nice days in January, comparatively speaking).

Of the 5,331 active wells in North Dakota, 677 were shut in sometime during January, 2011, due to inclement weather.

And through all of that, I don't think the number of rigs actively drilling ever dropped below 163. The record of number of active rigs drilling in North Dakota is 168.

Tonight there are 165 rigs actively drilling in North Dakota.

Bless the rough necks, the truckers, the frac crews, and everyone else associated with moving in, rigging up, drilling and completing a Bakken well.

Addendum:

After completing the above note, I went back to see if there was any more news out there, and look what I stumbled upon: one of the most prolific Bakken counties in North Dakota has taken the very unusual step to close some roads.

• Dunn County, declaring an official countywide snow emergency, has taken the seldom-taken step of closing some roads in the county until it either quits snowing, or spring comes, whichever is first
• Closures were accomplished to save overtime costs, wear and tear on men and equipment in order to save overtime and wear and tear on men and equipment
• Although not a record, the snow is up to five feet deep on the roads
• But drifting has caused snow to pile up to 10- and 12-feet along the road
• There is no place for the snow removal equipment to put the snow
• The county has 13 graders, 4 pay loaders and 2 caterpillars for 900 miles of road