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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Inappropriately exuberant

If you want to see why I'm "inappropriately exuberant" about the Bakken, check out my summary of the NDIC dockets, February 24 - 25, 2010.  Tracker is requesting permits for 225 wells in one case, and I count about eleven requests from CLR for Eco-Pads.

Oil futures are hovering around $77/bbl oil.

There are now 92 active rigs in North Dakota, two more than yesterday, and almost three times as many as the low point about a year ago.

Yeah, I'm excited.

[On another note, it is literally impossible for me to keep up with all the great news coming out of the oil patch in North Dakota. With earnings season beginning, it's even more difficult. Energy companies are reporting upbeat earnings, increasing dividends, and getting upgrades. Even oil companies that took a "hit" this quarter compared to a year ago, are still being upgraded -- can you spell "XOM"? If they took a "hit" this quarter, it had to do with relative decreased price of oil compared to last year, or due to refining. Money is being lost with refining, but the good news for refiners -- more and more refineries are shutting down in the US. And don't worry about new refineries being built in the US -- environmentalists will see to it that doesn't happen. A Brazilian company is exploring a new refinery in the US. That will be interesting to follow.]

NDIC Dockets for February 24 - 25 - 26, 2010

For my use; I cannot verify accuracy.

The docket: this is simply another term for "agenda." The North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) holds hearings two or three times a month to act on requests by oil companies to drill wells, change the rules regarding specific oil fields, adjudicate conflicts, etc. The NDIC publishes the agenda about two weeks in advance, sometimes earlier. My shorthand notes ensure that I actually read the entire docket (the February 24 - 25, 2010, docket was 31 pages long) and provides an "index" of sort to refer back to the original document.

To see the full docket, go to the NDIC site, and click on "Hearing Dockets", 3rd menu item down on the left sidebar.

I don't understand a lot of the jargon, but one can get an idea of who the "movers and shakers" are in the Bakken (North Dakota oil).  Note regarding items below: a) 1280 means 1280-acre spacing; b) formal names are often the name of a specific oil field in the Williston oil basin, e.g., Cottonwood, Lake Ilo, Parshall, Sanish, etc); c) Eco-Pads, a proprietary concept developed by CLR for multiple wells on a single pad; and, d) items in red/bold signify something particularly interesting.

By doing this, if something interests me, I can go to the original document on the NDIC site and get the details.

Note: there is a huge backlog of wells that need to be drilled; getting the approval is only the first step; for the individual mineral rights owner or leaseholder-to-be, it's still a lottery.


February 24 - 25, 2010, NDIC docket.


February 24, 2010
12085: EOG, Hess, Oasis, St Mary, Cottonwood spacing.
12086: MRO, Tracker, Lake Ilo spacing.
12087: XTO, 1280 - 1 well
12088: BR, revoke a Tracker permit
12089: BR; pooling 1280 - 1 well
12090 -- 12092: BR: pooling or amending single wells
12093: Hess, 3 hz per 1280-acre spacing each -- 3 wells
12094: Hess, 3 hz per 1280 acre spacing each -- 3 wells
12095: Hess, legal
12096: Hess, legal
12097: Hess, flaring
12098: Hess, flaring
12099: Petro-Hunt, 1280-spacing, 4 wells
12100: Oasis, 1280, 1 well
12101: Oasis, 1280, 1 well
12102: Oasis, flaring
12103: Oasis, 1280-spacing; no mention of wells
12104: Oasis, modify setback
12105: Oasis, 8 wells in Williams County
12106: Oasis, 1 well
11830, cont: Oasis, 1280, 7 wells
12107: St Mary, 1280, 4 wells
12108: St Mary, 1280, 5 wells, Ambrose
12109: St Mary, pooling, Ambrose (12108)
12110: St Mary, 1280, 3 wells, Williams County
12111: St Mary, 1280 4 wells
12112: MRO,to allow a third well in a 1280-space
12113: MRO, pooling 1 well
12114: MRO, pooling 1 well
12115: MRO, pooling, 1 well
12116: Tracker, 1280, 8 wells, Little Knife
12117: Tracker, 1280, 7 wells, Todd, Bull Butte
12118: Tracker, 1280, 7 wells, Stony Creek
12119: Tracker, 1280, 13 wells, Truax, Stockyard Creek
12120: Tracker, 1280, 2 wells
12121: Luff, siting stripper well
12122: American, 1280, 1 well
12123: American, 1280, 3 wells
12124: American, pooling 1 well 640
12125: KOG, 1280, 3 wells, Heart Butte
12126: WLL, 1280, 1 well; 960-acre -- 1 well
12127: WLL, pooling, 1 well
12128: WLL, pooing, 1 well
12129: WLL, 1280, 1 well
12130: WLL, pooling 1 well, 1280
12131: WLL, 1280, 51 wells; St Demetrius
12132: WLL, 1280, 5 - 10 wells?
12133: WLL, 1280, 5 wells
12134: WLL, 1280, 1 well
12135: WLL, infill well
12136: WLL, 1280, 3 wells
11980, cont: WLL, 1280, 3 wells
11981, cont: WLL, 1280, 3 wells
12137: Murex, 1280, 1 well
12138: Murex, pooling 1 well, 1280
12139: Murex, polling 1 well, 1280
11967, cont: Helis, Sundance, redefine Spotted Horn


February 25, 2010
12140: BR, CLR -- spacing for Oakdale
11853, cont: Fidelity, Murex, Oasis, et al, spacing for Sanish, and redefine field limits.
12009, cont: BR, Encore -- spacing for Bear Creek
12010, cont: BR, CLR, Zenergy -- spacing for Elidah
12011, cont: BR, CLR -- spacing for Pershing
12141: Zenergy -- temporary spacing for pool discovered in 152-98
12142: Zenergy -- extend Painted Woods / Squires -- 1280 for 1 well
12143: Zenergy -- extend Banks, 1280 -- 3 wells
12144: Zenergy -- 1280 -- 1 well
12145: Zenergy -- pooling, 1 well
12146: Zenergy -- redefine Mandaree
12147: Peak -- extend Spotted Horn for 2 wells, 640-acre
12148: Samson -- redefine Foothills
12149: Samson -- 1280; 3 wells in Ambrose
12150: Samson -- Blooming Prairie, 1280, 12 wells
12151: Samson -- Forthun, 1280, 8 wells
12152: Samson -- 1280, 1 well
12153: BEXP -- temporary spacing for the Jackson well and pool
12154: BEXP -- flaring
12155: BEXP -- flaring
12156: BEXP -- flaring
12157: BEXP -- 1280, 1 well
12158: BEXP -- 1280, 3 wells
12159: BEXP -- 1280, 2 wells
12160: Baytex -- pooling, Ambrose, 1 well
12161: Baytex -- pooling, Ambrose, 1 well
12162: Baytex -- pooling, Ambrose, 1 well
12163: Baytex -- pooling, Whiteacre, 1 well
12164: Golden Eye -- 1280, 16 wells
12165: Zavanna -- extend Stony Creek
12166: Hunt -- flaring
12167: Hunt -- 2 wells
12168: Slawson -- 640, 2 wells in Sanish, Van Hook
12169: Slawson -- 1280, 1 well, Van Hook
11921, cont: Slawson -- pooling, 1 well, Big Bend
11922, cont: Slawson, pooling, 1 well, Big Bend, Zephyr #1
11925, cont: Slawson, pooling, Coyote #1
11928, cont: Slawson, spacing Wombat #1
12170: Tracker -- about 75 1280-acre pads, 3 wells on each; about 225 wells total
10792, cont: Tracker, 1 well
12171: Anschutz, pooling 1 well
12172: Anschutz, 31 1280-acre units, with 1 well each; 31 wells
12173: XTO -- 1280, 2 wells
12174: XTO -- 1280, 1 well
12175: XTO -- 1280, 2 wells
12176: XTO -- 1280, 1 well
12177: XTO -- 1280, 2 wells, if I read this correctly; increase density
12178: XTO -- same language as 12177; 2 more wells
12179: XTO -- ditto, 2 more wells
12180: XTO -- ditto, 2 more wells
12181: XTO -- ditto, 2 more wells
12182: XTO -- 1280, 2 wells
12183: XTO -- 1280, 2 wells
12058, cont: XTO -- pooling, 1 well
12184: EOG -- 15 1280-acres; Painted Woods; 2 hz wells on each = 30 wells
12185: EOG -- 640 acre, 1 well
12186: EOG -- "multiple wells" on what looks like 2560-acre spacing
12187: EOG -- 11 1280-acre units in Clear Water; 11 wells
12188: EOG -- 1280; 1 well
12189: EOG -- pooling 1 well
12190: EOG -- pooling -- 1 well
12191: EOG -- 8 1280-acre spacing; 8 wells
12192: EOG -- salt water disposal
11673, cont: EOG -- temporary spacing for new pool discovered; Fertile
12193: North Plains -- 2 hz wells; 640-acre
12194: North Plains -- 1 hz well; 1280-acre
12195: Viersen -- legal issue involving James Hill and EOG
12196: TRZ Energy, Tracker -- revoking a CLR permit
12197: TRZ, Tracker -- revoking a CLR permit
12198: CLR -- revoking an Encore permit
12199: CLR -- temporary spacing for pool discovered, Obert #1
12200: CLR -- temporary spacing for pool discovered, Ole #1
12201: CLR -- 1280, 1 well
12202: CLR -- Eco-Pads x 4; 16 wells on 4 pads
12203: CLR -- Eco-Pads x 3; 12 wells on 4 pads
12204: CLR -- Eco-Pad x 1; 4 wells on 1 pad
12205: CLR -- Eco-Pad x 1; 4 wells on 1 pad
12206: CLR -- increase density; 1280, 1 well
12207: CLR -- Eco-Pads x 2; 8 wells on 2 pads
12208: CLR -- Eco-Pad x 1; 4 wells on 1 pad
12209: CLR -- Eco-Pads x 2; 8 wells on 2 pads
12210: CLR -- Eco-Pads x 2; 8 wells on 2 pads
12211: CLR -- Eco-Pad x 1; 4 wells on 1 pad
12212: CLR -- Eco-Pad x 1; 4 wells on 1 pad
12213: CLR -- increase density; 1280, 1 well
12214: CLR -- increase density; 1280, 1 well
12215: CLR -- increase density; 640, 1 well
12216: CLR -- increase density; 1280, 1 well
12217: CLR -- increase density; 1280, 1 well
12218: CLR -- increase density; 1280, 1 well
12219: CLR -- 1280, 1 well
12220: CLR -- increase density; 1280, 1 well
12221: CLR -- increase density; 1280, 1 well
12222: CLR -- 6 1280; 6 wells
12223: CLR -- 10 1280; 10 wells
12224: CLR -- pooling, 1 well
12225: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12226: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12227: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12228: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12229: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12230: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12231: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12232: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12233: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12234: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12235: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12236: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12237: CLR - pooling 1 well
11722, cont: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12023, cont: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12028, cont: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12029, cont: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12031, cont: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12033, cont: CLR -- pooling 1 well
12035, cont: CLR -- 2 1280; 2 wells
12014, cont: CLR -- temporary spacing for Traxel#1
12021, cont: CLR -- Eco-Pads x 2 1280; 4 wells each = 8 wells
11854, cont: CLR -- Eco-Pads x 2 1280; 4 wells each = 8 wells
11764, cont: Eagle Operating -- unitize Woburn-Madison; injection of fluid
11965, cont: Ward Williston -- unitzie Little Deep Creek-Madison
12068, cont: Newfield, temporary spacing for pool discovered by Chanel #1
12082, cont: Prima, temporary spacing for pool discovered by MacTavish #32

February 26, 2010

12238: Hess, 2 1280-acre spacing; 3 wells each; 6 wells
12239: Hess, request to have BEXP's Sorenson well (#18654) revoked, Alger

Green Energy: Notes From All Over

December 29, 2011: Let's see how this story ends; a re-look five years from now and then ten years from now will be necessary. For archives only.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's government passed legislation in June setting the country on course to generate a third of its power through renewable sources — such as wind, solar, geothermal and bioenergy — within a decade, reaching 80 percent by 2050, while creating jobs, increasing energy security and reducing harmful emissions.
December 13, 2011: Canada withdraws from the Kyoto Protocol

December 15, 2010
Federal funds for green energy drying up.
December 4, 2010
The party's over. Hurrah. Cancun conference collapses.
November 19, 2010: Recap of some wind turbine stories from the past year --
October 27, 2010: Vestas to close five production plans across Scandinavia; low European demand for wind energy; follows Vestas' closing of the only British wind turbine plant in Britain last year

October 23, 2010: 346,000 billboards on small parcel in the Mojave Desert; what an environmental travesty.

October 21, 2010: Obama administration takes credit for Bush-era wind projects. That's not unusual. What is unusual is that the most liberal mainstream media outlet is reporting it: MSNBC.

September 19, 2010: Energy from the Cape Wind project off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts will cost about 20 cents per unit of energy compared to about 7 cents for electricity derived from conventional energy. Proponents of the project say the increased cost to customers will be about $1.75/month in utility costs. That's very, very hard to believe. Also, the cost of the wind energy will increase at least 3.5 percent a year going forward. The Cape Wind project developers have not found anyone to buy the "second"  half of the energy they produce. The largest electrical utility in the northeast, National Grid, has agreed to purchase the "first" half of the energy produced by the Cape Wind project.

September 10, 2010: So you, the pick-up truck owner, want to go green? Read this first. The truth is finally starting to reach the mainstream media.

September 9, 2010: Minnesota-based Xcel will sell energy credits, providing about $2 cut in energy bills to North Dakota consumers. Cap and trade.

September 6, 2010: Fifteen (15) PowerPoint Slides that shook the earth

August 27, 2010: headline in today's Oregonian: "US Green Effort Not Sustainable." The story reports the demise of the new federal program allowing homeowners to tap low-interest government financing to install energy-efficient solar panels, windows and installation. The program was so fraught with fraud that the government shut it down. Consumers said it was a bureaucratic quagmire.

August 24, 2010: this is incredible. Some years ago, "to save the oceans," environmentalists were able to get a law passed to mandate retro-fitting coastal utility plants that use ocean water for cooling their systems. Passed several years ago, that law is scheduled to go into effect this year. Citizens of Los Angeles now learn that this bill will result in a six (6) percent rate increase for the next eight (8) years and now they're scrambling to get an exemption. I wish them luck.

March 16, 2010: Los Angeles utility bills will rise as much as 28% to "go green."

February 14, 2010: It's unraveling faster than a snowman melts in March: there has been no global warming (if there ever was any) since 1995.

February 14, 2010: The world may not be warming after all -- according to the UN. Something tells me this administration will be the last to know.









Well said.

February 13, 2010: Wyoming to tax wind farms -- "we welcome wind farms but they don't deserve special treatment."

February 12, 2010: Finally some sanity. Utah bill says "climate alarmists" are bogus. I hope Utah is just the first of 35 states to pass such a bill.

February 9, 2010: Clean-tech investment fell 45% in fourth quarter, 2009, compared to previous quarter. The full story is even more dismal.

February 6, 2010: Global warming movement collapse. You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.

February 2, 2010: Record amount of new wind energy last  year, but wind energy jobs actually decreased.