Huge Day in the Bakken: Eleven (11) New Permits. Of Note: Hess

The daily activity report for August 2, 2010, almost blew me away: eleven (11) new permits, including three for Hess and although two are in the SWSE quadrant of section 5-155-93 and one is in the SESW quadrant of the same section, based on the description, it sounds like all three wells will be on one pad. These Hess wells will be in the very good Alger field in Mountrail County. [Note: actually there are probably just 10 new permits today; the first one was reported yesterday, I believe. But it's still double digits.]

Generally there are 3 - 5 new permits each day in the Bakken; when I see six or seven, it's exciting, but seldom do I see new permits in double digits. 

It appears that NDIC is switching to a new category for daily activity reports. In the past, NDIC had a category called "Plugged or Producing" but still on the confidential list. Today's report did not have that category, but did have another category called "Confidential Status Granted." I assume that is the new name for the old "Plugged or Producing" category. As the week plays out, we will know for sure.

If that is accurate, that "Confidential Status Granted" is the new name for the old "Plugged or Producing" category, it is interesting to note that CLR was granted a permit for one of their wells on May 5, 2010, and on today's daily activity report, it is already shown as confidential status granted, meaning that CLR plugged the well or it's producing. I haven't seen a plugged well in ages; this is, no doubt, a producing well. May 5, 2010, to August 2, 2010 -- spud to fracking to completion. Pretty good.