Activity Moving to McKenzie County -- Another Reason, If You Needed More Reasons -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

For Les, a dyed-in-the-wool oilman, who probably still has oil in his veins and a golf club in his hands -- who will appreciate this bit of trivia -- 

There were two interesting announcements coming within 24 hours of each other that have a bit in common.

First, the very interesting announcement from CLR that their initial test of a deeper sub-formation of the Three Forks formation was highly successful:

The Company successfully completed the Charlotte 2-22H (91% WI) in McKenzie County, North Dakota, in October 2011, with the well producing 1,140 gross Boepd in its initial one-day test period. This is the Company’s first horizontal test of a deeper bench in the Three Forks formation.

“We’re very pleased with such a solid well in our first test of the lower benches of the Three Forks,” said Harold Hamm, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Second, this announcement from NOG and WLL: a record IP in the Bakken:

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (AMEX: NOG) today announced its participation in the Tarpon Federal 21-4H Bakken well in McKenzie County, North Dakota.  The Tarpon Federal 21-4H is a Whiting Petroleum operated well and had a 24-hour initial production (IP) rate of 7,009 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), setting a new Williston Basin record for a Bakken well.  The Tarpon Federal produced 4,815 barrels of oil and 13,163 Mcf of natural gas on October 17, 2011 after being fracture stimulated with 30 stages.

So, what do they have in common? Location, location, location.

A month or so ago, had you climbed to the top of the rig drilling CLR's Charlotte, you could have seen the Whiting Tarpon well/rig off to the northeast: the two wells are in the heart of the Bakken, the bull's eye in McKenzie County, and only about 12 miles apart.

So, in a very, very small area, we have CLR suggesting that there is yet another payzone in the Bakken pool, a second/deeper bench in the Three Forks, and you have WLL reporting a record IP in the middle Bakken, practically in each other's back yard.

It's hard to say who won bragging rights in the last 24 yours: CLR or WLL?