Pages

Monday, June 28, 2010

Gasland, The Movie, To Be on HBO

According to one of my readers, "Gasland," the movie will soon be showing on HBO.

For those interested in what the movie is about (the hazards of fracking), click here.

It was nice to see that "Gasland" did not win an Oscar.

It's just a matter of time.
It's Just A Matter of Time, Brook Benton


The above has a few jumps, but if you goto the YouTube site, you can find other renditions with better recordings. 

Off-Topic: AAPL and T

Completely off-topic, I apologize. I'm traveling and I don't get to post much and when I get the chance to post, I take advantage of it.

I have held shares in ATT for decades; started with a gift from my father to our daughters. I really don't know how well I could have done elsewhere compared to ATT, but it really has been quite an incredible run. Not much appreciation over the years (at least lately) but the dividends keep rolling in. I see ATT is now paying 6.7%. Savings accounts in banks -- what are they paying -- 1%?

One has to be impressed with ATT committing itself to these high payouts. ATT is in a very competitive business. It has committed to heavy capital spending to improve its network and would probably like to use the dividend money for this capital expenditure; to continue with the high dividend, one has to give ATT some credit.

I do not hold shares in my favorite company, AAPL. I missed investing in AAPL years ago and took a different investing route (mostly energy and telecommunications). When I started investing, AAPL was not in telecommunications. I missed AAPL but not upset; there are always places to invest.  My daughters and I grew up with Apple computers. They were six years old and two years old when we got our first Apple computer in 1984/1985 time frame. They and I have never had anything other than Apple in our homes. I am not recommending AAPL one way or the other; just commenting/reminiscing on a great company/great memories. We got our first Apple computer while stationed overseas in Germany.

Getting back to T: I think traders can do very, very well in this market due to the volatility but one has to be a) nimble; and, b) courageous. I am neither. I am not a trader; just an investor, and tend to buy and accumulate, selling infrequently. I tend not to buy a stock if it doesn't pay a dividend. Over time, all of my dividend-paying companies have increased their dividend payouts and it really makes a difference. One doesn't get rich, but it helps.

This will all come to an end in the not-too-distant-future when tax rates go back up on dividends, but that's fine. The country voted to "spread the wealth" by "transferring money from successful corporations and investors to government programs." It could be worse: the federal government hasn't nationalized any companies except, depending on one's definition of nationalizing, General Motors and the big banks.

Another Analyst's Views of Investing in the Bakken

Another analyst's views of investing in the Bakken: gives a call-out to Whiting and KOG, two of my favorites.

If I don't hold shares in a company in the Bakken that I say I favor or like, it's because I am limited in number of companies I feel I can invest in or amount of money available at any time for investing. I am heavily invested in energy and some days I just don't have enough money to invest in all the companies I would like. WLL and KOG fall into that category. If I had the funds I would invest in WLL and KOG. As it is, of the companies heavily connected to the Bakken, I am accumulating shares in CLR, ENB, and NOG. I used to hold a fair amount of MDU (one of my larger holdings) but with broad downturn in economy, I sold MDU quite awhile ago. MDU is now one I would start accumulating if I had a bit more cash. I also take advantage of huge dividends some royalty trusts are paying, some in the Bakken.

For long-term investors, used to a bit of volatility, I think accumulating shares in companies in the Bakken, and for conservative investors, I think MDU should be considered.

BEXP Setting New Records With Number of Frac Stages

BEXP is setting a new record with number of frac stages: BEXP successfully ran 38 swell packers in the Wright 4-33 #1H and anticipate completing the well with 38 frac stages, which would represent a new company record in the Williston Basin.

In addition, BEXP is experimenting with other techniques such as micro-seismic technology. 

In the press release linked above, BEXP also talked about going into Montana's Roosevelt County, which they call their Pale Rider prospect. Previously, I did not know the name of this prospect; I just called it "eastern Montana."  I don't follow activity in Montana (just too much to cover with North Dakota) but this will help keep folks abreast of what BEXP is doing in the big picture.

BEXP With Three New Wells

Again, I apologize: I am not posting very often because I am traveling.

I see BEXP has announced three new wells. As usual they had a very good 24-hour flowback.
  • Ross-Alger 6-7 #1H, 3,070, Ross-Alger
  • Owan 29-32 #1H, 2,302, Rough Rider
  • Abe 30-31 #1H, 1847, Rough Rider
For those interested in a more detailed look at the three BEXP prospects in the North Dakota Bakken, click here.