Eight (8) New Permits -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Daily activity report, December 28, 2011 --

Operators: Hess (3), BEXP, MRO, OXY USA, Denbury Onshore, and Petro-Hunt

Fields: Big Gulch, Ellsworth, Lake Ilo, St Anthony, Tobacco Garden, and North Tioga.

Hess has a wildcat in Burke County; BEXP has a wildcat in McKenzie County.

Only one well released from confidential list:

• 18181, 753, EOG, Fertile 19-29H, Mountrail County

About 15 previously producing wells (on DRL status) have now been completed, including these:

• 19058, 2,834, BEXP, Bures 20-29-1H, Mountrail
• 19765, 55, Sequel, Bull Moose 22Y-32, Duperow, recompleted from Red River, McKenzie
• 19788, 3,742, BEXP, Charlie Sorenson 17-8 1H, Mountrail
• 20306, 2,232, BEXP, Bures 20-29 2, Mountrail

In addition there were another 22 wells that were reported as producing or plugged (in the Bakken, they are "always" producing; "no" dry wells in the Bakken)

Of note, CLR canceled permits for the Sorenson-Thronson Eco-Pad in Mountrail County

And, of interest, in light of KOG's acquisition of North Plains. North Plains acquired the following from Newfield:

• 19962, conf, Komodo State 154-97-16-1H, Truax, Williams County. The location makes sense; the Truax field seems to be "owned" by North Plains.

Those 22 newly reported wells was one of the longest such lists I've seen in a very long time. And the BEXP wells noted above are still thrilling to see. Those three BEXP wells are on a single 4-well pad in the Alger oil field; the fourth well (20306) is still confidential. #19058 and #20306 are both long laterals running south; #19788 is a long lateral running north; I assume #20305 will also run north.