Week 32: August 8, 2021 -- August 14, 2021

Top story of the week:

• Joe Biden is still president.
• Kamala Harris starts looking to 2024;
• US exits Afghanistan; within hours Taliban has Kabul surrounded;
• Gasoline prices continue to soar; $6 gasoline is here;
• Consumer sentiment plummets
• Covid-19 super-spreading events: Obama's 60th; Sturgis Rally; Iowa State Fair
  

Top international non-energy story:

• Afghanistan
• Tokyo Olympics end; lowest television ratings on record
  

Top international energy story:

• Despite small number of active rigs, Aramco posts nearly 300% leap in 2Q21 profits;
• Europe has a real natural gas problem on its hands.

Top national non-energy story:

• Privately-owned Cargill reports biggest profit in its 156-year history.
• Berkshire earnings.

Top national energy story:

• Another M&A story: Chesapeake and Vine.

Top North Dakota non-energy story:

• North Dakota natural gas production projection.
• Red River Water Project underway.

Top North Dakota energy story:

• That three-well fire north of Charlson has been extinguished.
• Record number of producing wells; production maintained m/m;

Geoff Simon's top North Dakota energy stories:

• Quick connects.

Operators:

Operations:

Wells:

• Lodgepole reef well: 27x jump in production.

Pipelines:

Fracking:

Bakken economy:

Commentary:

• Best operators in the Bakken. 
• Devon.
  
• Cathie Wood.
• The real cost of killing the Keystone XL.
• The real cost of California's renewable energy policies.
• Any wonder there's a southern surge?
• US calls on OPEC to pump more oil.
• Just one of many vaccines in the US; why all the hysteria?
• How credibility is lost. 
• Supply-demand imbalance.
  

ESG:

• Carbon capture and storage.