Whiting To Acquire 17,000 Acres In the Williston Basin Bakken; $260 Million

Updates

August 28, 2013: a reader tells us that the seller was Petro-Hunt, LLC. 
 

Original Post

A reader sent this press release; I completely missed it earlier today:

Whiting Petroleum Corporation announced today that it has signed a purchase and sale agreement with a private party to acquire certain producing oil and gas wells and development acreage in the Williston Basin in Williams and McKenzie counties of North Dakota and Roosevelt and Richland counties of Montana. The purchase price is $260 million, subject to customary adjustments, and the acquisition has an effective date of August 1, 2013.

The properties primarily target the Middle Bakken and Three Forks zones and include 17,282 net (39,310 gross) acres located in and around Whiting’s acreage in the Missouri Breaks and Hidden Bench prospects in its Western Williston Basin area. The properties include 13 operated 1,280-acre Bakken/Three Forks drilling spacing units with an average working interest of 58% and net revenue interest of 48%. 92% of the acreage is held by production.

Net oil and gas production from the properties is estimated to average 2,420 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day in August 2013. Whiting estimates proved reserves at 17.1 million BOE with 85% of reserves being oil. Whiting also estimates 24% of the reserves are proved developed producing and 76% are proved undeveloped.

James J. Volker, Whiting’s Chairman and CEO, commented, “This acreage expands our presence in our Western Williston Basin area where we have seen recent strong production growth primarily as a result of positive drilling results at our Hidden Bench, Tarpon and Missouri Breaks prospects.”

At the link, there should be a map of the properties.

One year of 2,420 bopd = 800,000 bbls / year (yes, I know there is a significant decline rate in the first two years). At 48% net revenue and about $75/bbl, that's about $30 million. $260 million - $30 million = $230 million for about 17,000 net acres, or about $13,500/acre. So, we will see what others come up with. If anywhere close to "accurate," it certainly suggests the Bakken is holding its value.