So Much For The President's Goal of Less Regulatory Interference -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Link here. The link will likely be broken soon because it is to a regional newspaper.

A proposed refinery on the reservation is in limbo because the EPA is asking for design plans.

Promoters feel they have provided the EPA all that is required by law. They say design plans are not required by law.

Apparently the EPA doesn't even have the necessary regulations in place to provide guidelines for analysis to allow the permitting process to go forward.

A tribal spokesman said said the EPA can't grant the necessary permits because they don't have them. He said when Richard Nixon was president in the 1960s, the Clean Air Act was passed and the EPA has had 40 years to work on regulations but hasn't done it.

Further, the spokesman said if the refinery was built off the reservation they could have a permit from the state of North Dakota in about six months. But since the refinery would be built on the reservation, which is federal land, they need the federal permit.

Anybody with common sense would allow the state to provide the analysis, documentation and whatever else is needed and then make a recommendation to the EPA, but common sense is something in short supply in federal bureaucracies.
So much for the president's goal to cut back on regulatory delays. Sort of like the "permitorium" in the Gulf.

The good news is that the refinery is trivial in the big scheme of things; it is designed to process 15,000 bopd. The sad thing is that native Americans are caught, once again, in the bureaucratic morass. Let's hope our new senator is as successful as the previous senator was in opening the reservation to energy development. 

Brooklyn Field Northeast of Williston -- CLR -- 80 Permits/Wells -- 36 Sections -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Notes

The Rennerfeldt / Mildred wells are tracked here. 

Updates

June 10, 2021: CLR with permits for four more Springfield wells in Brooklyn oil field.

• CLR has permits for four Springfield FIU wells in NWNE 17-155-98, to be sited 385' FSL and between 1813' FEL and 1948' FEL

May 4, 2021: CLR with permits for eight more wells in Brooklyn oil field. 

June 14, 2020: the updated graphic --

June 14, 2020: CLR to report three new Brooklyn wells this week -- two Boston wells and one Boise well.

January 12, 2020: overview of the field, update. 

January 12, 2020: random look at a CLR Brooklyn well. Huge.

January 12, 2020: projections_2020.

January 12, 2020: off confidential list this next week --

• 35825, 602, CRL, Gjorven 7-21H1, 46 stages; 6.3 million lbs; Brooklyn, t9/19; cum 58K 11/19;

September 23, 2019: the most recent Brooklyn oil field coming off confidential list --

• 35824, 1,483, CLR, Gjorven Federal 6-21H, Brooklyn, t9/19; cum 98K 11/19; #29369 -- back on line; subtle jump; won't last; see this post;
  

August 28, 2019: most recent Brooklyn oil field coming off confidential list --

• 30553, 1,349, CLR, Fjorven Federal 5-21H1, Brooklyn, t819; cum 115K 11/19;

June 2, 2019: Brooklyn oil field update here. 

June 2, 2019: note all the Brooklyn oil field wells coming off confidential list this week.

May 4, 2019: look how busy the Brooklyn oil field is today -- in one small area, four rigs.

October 29, 2018: what the Brooklyn field looks like today (at this link): 

December 20, 2015: a well on a 5,210-acre unit will come off confidential list this weekend; will be reported Monday. 

November 22, 2014: CLR getting better wells in the Brooklyn oil field?

November 22, 2014: from the December, 2014, NDIC dockets --

• 23424, CLR, Brooklyn-Bakken, establish a 5120-acre unit (8 sections); 2 wells; Williams

October 17, 2014: note #23106 below; this well has one of the best IPs as of 8/14; it was drilled/completed about the time Harold Hamm was talking about newer completion methods (high proppant volume); it was also the Three Forks; some have opined that the where found together, the Three Forks may in fact better than the middle Bakken.

Permits

2022 (none throughout September 1, 2022)

2021
38645,
38363,
38362,
38361,
38360,
38299,
38298,
38297,
38296, drl/A, CLR, Rolf Federal 10-17H1, Brooklyn, t--; cum 81K 7/22;
38295,
38294,
38293,
38292, PNC, CLR, Bismarck 8-9HSL1, Brooklyn,

 

2020 (none)

2019 (none)

2018 (list is complete)
35825, 602, CLR, Gjorven 7-21H1, Brooklyn, t9/19; cum 58K 11/19;
35824, 1,483, CLR, Gjorven Federal 6-21H, Brooklyn, t9/19; cum 98K 11/19;
35672, SI/NC-->F/A, CLR, Boston7-25 H1, Brooklyn, first production, 3/20; t--; um 148K 12/20;
35673, SI/NC-->F/A, CLR, Boise 8-24H, Brooklyn, first production, 3/20; t--; cum 152K 12/20;
35674, SI/N-->F/A, H1, cum 108K 12/20;
35675, SI/NC-->F/A, H1, cum 118K 12/20;
35676, SI/NC-->SI/A,  cum 166K 12/20;
35677, SI/NC-->F/A, H1, cum 136K 12/20;
35659, SI/NC-->SI/A,  HSL1, cum 148K 12/20;
35658, SI/NC-->F/A, HLS1, cum 121K 12/20;
35657, SI/NC-->F/A, HSL, cum 163K 12/20;
35656, SI/NC-->F/A, , HSL, cum 172K 12/20;
35644, SI/NCC-->F/A, H1, cum 115K 12/20;
35643, SI/NC-->F/A,  cum 136K 12/20;
35642, SI/NCC-->F/A, H1, cum 111K 12/20;
35641, SI/NC-->F/A, cum 158K 12/20;
35580, PNC, Gjorven 7PA, H1,
35579, PNC, Gjorven 6PA,
35566, 1,360, CLR, Gjorven 9-21H1, Brooklyn, t9/19; cum 178K 12/20;
35565, 1,444, CLR, Gjorven 10-21H, Brooklyn, t9/19; cum 95K 11/19;
35564, 1,421, CLR, Gjorven 11-21H1, Brooklyn, t9/19; cum 82K 11/19;
35563, SI/NC, CLR, Gjorven 12-21HSL, Brooklyn, see this post;
34768, 1,395, CLR, Helena..., HSL1, pt3/19; cum 130K 11/19;
34698, 1,872, CLR, Rolf..., H1, t4/19; cum 87K 7/19;
34697, 1,760, CLR, Rolf..., H, t4/19; cum 114K 7/19;
34696, 1,324, CLR, Rolf..., H1, t4/19; cum 72K 7/19;
34695, 1,601, CLR, Rolf..., H1, t4/19; cum 105K 7/19;
34694, 2,006, CLR, Springfield..., HSL, t2/19; cum 1l0K 7/19;
34693, 1,376, CLR, Springfield..., H1, t3/19; cum 88K 7/19;
34692, 1,553, CLR, Springfield..., H, t3/19; cum 99K 7/19;
34691, 940, CLR, Springfield..., H1, t4/19; cum 76K 7/19;
34690, 1,058, CLR, Springfield..., H1, t4/19; cum 101K 11/19;

2017 (list is complete)
None.


2016 (list is complete) 
None.

2015 (list is complete)
32259, loc, CLR, Sacramento 9-11H1SL, 
32258, loc, CLR, Sacramento 8-11HSL, 
31619, conf, CLR, Juneau 8-11HSL1,
31567, loc/PNC, CLR, Olympia 6-2H1,
31566, loc/PNC, CLR, Olympia 7-27H,
31565, loc/PNC, CLR, Charleston 6-22H1,
31564, loc/PNC, CLR, Charleston 7-22H,
31515, 150, CLR, Topeka 9-12H1, t8/16; cum 89K 11/19; -- needs to be re-fracked;
31514, 256, CLR, Topeka 10-12H, t8/16; cum 76K 8/18;
31502, 1,127, CLR, Juneau 10-2H, t4/18; cum 118K 11/19;
31501, 776, CLR, Juneau 12-2H1, 60 stages; 8 million lbs, t4/18; cum 56K 7/19;
31344, conf, CLR, Charleston 2-22H,
31343, conf, CLR, Charleston 3-22H,
31342, conf, CLR, Olympia 2-27H,
31341, conf, CLR, Olympia 3-27H,
31186, 1,494, CLR, Richmond 5-26H, t8/17; cum 267K 12/20;
31185, 1,264, CLR, Richmond 4-26H1, t8/17; cum 191K 7/19;
31184, 370, CLR, Addyson 5-23H, t2/16; cum 163K 8/18;
31183, 607, CLR, Addyson 4-23H, t2/16; cum 215K 11/19;
30554, 1,481, CLR, Gjorven Federal 4-21H1, Brooklyn, t7/19; cum 126K 11/19;
30553, 1,349, CLR, Gjorven Federal 5-21H, Brooklyn, t8/19; cum 115K 11/19;
30552, PNC, CLR, Gronfur 4-28H1,
30551, PNC, CLR, Gronfur 5-28H,

2014 (list complete)
30096, 1,543, CRL, Charleston 4-22H1, Brooklyn, 4 sections, Three Forks, 59 stages, 6 million lbs, t8/17; cum 213K 4/19;

30095, 2,043, CLR, Charleston 5-22H, Brooklyn, 4 sections, 59 stages; 9.2 million lbs, t8/17; cum 105K 10/17;
30094, 1,506, CLR, Olympia 4-27H1, Brooklyn, 4 sections, 59 stages, 5.9 million lbs, t8/17; cum 76K 10/17;
30093, 1,854, CLR, Olympia 5-27H,Brooklyn, 4 sections, 59 stages, 9.2 million lbs, t8/17; cum 101K 10/17;
29866, 697, CLR, Helena 5-7H, Brooklyn, t9/15, 30 stages; 3.4 million lbs; cum 207K 10/17;
29748, 881, CLR, Helena 5-7H1, Brooklyn, Three Forks, 30 stages, 7.3 million lbs, t9/15; cum 133K 10/17;
29747, 670, CLR, Helena 6-7H, t9/15; cum 236K 12/20;
29746, 756, CLR, Helena 7-7H1, Brooklyn, Three Forks, 30 stages; 7.3 million lbs; t9/15; cum 180K 8/18;
29481, 917, CLR, Barney 7-29H, t5/15; cum 257K 4/19;
29480, 1,010, CLR, Barney 6-29H1, t5/15; cum 237K 4/19;

29371, 864, Gronfur 3-28H1, Three Forks B1, 30 stages, 5.9 million lbs sand/ceramic, t5/15; cum 22K 5/15;
29370, 822, Gronfur 2-28H, middle Bakken, 30 stages, 3.4 million lbs sand/ceramic, t5/15; cum 294K 8/18;
29369, 883, Gjorven Federal 3-21H1, Three Forks, 29 stages, 5.5 million lbs sand/ceramic, t5/15; cum 215K 4/19;

29368, 1,130, Gjorven Federal 2-21H, 30 stages; 3.4 million lbs, t5/15 cum 258K 4/19;

29196, 559, CLR, Mildred 6-19H1, t8/15; cum 53K 12/15; only 9 days in 12/15;
29195, 622, CLR, Mildred -19H, middle Bakken, 2560-acre; t8/15; cum 270K 8/18; 
29194, 827, CLR, Mildred 8-19H1, 5,120-acre spacing; 17/18/19/20/29/30/31/32 -155-98; t8/15; cum 235K 11/19;
29193, 657, CLR, Rennerfeldt 6-30H1, producing, t5/15; cum 35K 11/19; cum 300K 7/22;
29192, 1,051, CLR, Rennerfeldt 7-30H, producing, t5/15; cum 39K 11/19; cum 371K 7/22;
29191, 772, CLR, Rennerfeldt 8-30H1, producing, t5/15; cum 211K 11/19; cum 254K 7/22;
28986, 534, CLR, Bismarck 6-9H1, Three Forks B1, t6/15; cum 168K 11/19;
28985, 700, CLR, Bismarck 7-9H, t6/15; cum 230K 11/19;
28657, 766, CLR, Topeka 7-12H, t11/14; cum 222K 11/19;
28656, 873, CLR, Topeka 6-12H1, t12/14; cum 167K 11/19;
28643, 858, CLR, Boston 2-25H, t2/15; cum 296K 11/19; off line 10/19; remains off line 11/19;

28642, 818, CLR, Boston 3-25H1, t2/15; cum 89K 11/19; off line 10/19; remains off line 11/19;
28641, 878, CLR, Boise 2-24H, t2/15; cum 227K 11/19; offline 10/19; remains off line 11/19;

28640, AB/801, CLR, Boise 3-24H1, t2/15; cum 228K 9/19; offline 9/19; remains off line 11/19;  cum 254K 3/21;

28627, 569, CLR, Rennerfeldt 5-30H1, t5/15; cum 241K 11/19;
28626, 904, CLR, Rennerfeldt 4-30H, t5/15; cum 299K 11/19;
28625, 728, CLR, Mildred 5-19H1, t12/14; cum 245K 11/19;
28624, 876, CLR, Mildred 4-19H, t12/14; cum 291K 11/19; 324K 7/22;

2013 (list complete)

26753, 956, CLR, Juneau 7-11H, middle Bakken, 30 stages, 3.4 million lbs, t6/14; cum 192K 11/19;
26754, 622, CLR, Juneau 6-11H1, t6/14; cum 174K 11/19; cum 109K 7/22;

2012 and before: see original post (scroll down)

Updates

December 27, 2017: no new permits in all of 2016 and 2017.

June 11, 2014: random note on the Brooklyn oil field. 

October 16, 2013: This is the first permit issued for a Brooklyn well in calendar year 2013 (see above). The last Brooklyn permit was issued December 10, 2012.

May 26, 2013: data for the Brooklyn field has been updated. There are no rigs in the Brooklyn field at the present time. There are two CLR rigs in Dollar Joe oil field, immediately to the east. It appears that CLR has moved from the Brooklyn to the Dollar Joe, moving closer to the very prolific and first oil field discovered in the Williston Basin: the Beaver Lodge. CLR has about five locations in the Beaver Lodge; one actively producing well (#17663) which is not a particularly good well, drilled in 2009.

March 25, 2013: random update regarding CLR's 2560-acre spacing in the Brooklyn oil field.

February 25, 2013: the field is still very active; a rig continues to work this field; about 18 wells still on confidential status; all but two sections held by production (but last two sections with a well on confidential); production numbers have been updated below

December 10, 2012: two more permits in Brooklyn field, CLR

November 6, 2012: two more permits for Brooklyn oil field, section 29;

October 31, 2012: two more permits for Brooklyn oil field; section 12;

September 24, 2012: added four more Brooklyn oil field wells; four more "Juneau" wells; looks like four wells on one pad in section 11;

September 17, 2012: added two more Brooklyn oil field wells; two more "Bismarck" wells;

July 20, 2012: added two more Brooklyn oil field wells; looks like they could be naming some of the wells after the home towns of their roughneck crews.

June 26, 2012: CLR has permits for four more Brooklyn oil field wells; same section, perhaps same pad: two additional "Mildred" wells; and, two additional "Rennerfeldt" wells (the original Mildred and Rennerfeldt wells have each produced slightly more than 100K bbls to date)

May 30, 2012: CLR has permits for six more Brooklyn oil field wells; I think they are three 2-well pads. This is really quite a field.

April 19, 2012: another CLR permit in Brooklyn oil field; pattern developing.

March 30, 2012: a reader noted, in the March 28, 2012 hearing dockets:

Case No. 17195:
Application of Continental Resources, Inc. for an order amending the field
rules for the Brooklyn-Bakken Pool to create two 2560-acre spacing units
comprised of Sections 14, 23, 26 and 35; and Sections 18, 19, 30 and 31,
T.155N., R.98W., Williams County, ND, authorizing the drilling of
multiple horizontal wells from said well pad within each 2560-acre spacing
unit; eliminating any tool error requirements and such other relief as is
appropriate.

Much has been discussed elsewhere regarding the size of spacing units. Someone smarter than I may be able to explain the reason for this CLR request. Note: all Bakken-Brooklyn oil field leases are now held by production; current spacing in the entire Bakken-Brooklyn is 1280-acre. [Update, Octoer 15, 2013: it is now very well understood why operators went to 2560-acre spacing. Update, October 7, 2012: one reason for larger spacing units is to eliminate waste by allowing better siting.]

March 29, 2012: another CLR permit added to this small field: 22679, Helena 3-7H. 

February 24, 2012: it looks like all leases in Brooklyn field are now held by production. It will be interesting to see if CLR moves the rig to another field, or continues to develop the Brooklyn.

January 23, 2012: the list of wells below has been updated (IPs, and cumulative production numbers)

See update, October 6, 2011, here.

King of Brooklyn, Devil Doll

Original Post 

Continental Resources has a cluster of wells in Brooklyn oil field about thirteen miles northeast of Williston, North Dakota, and about five miles directly north of state highway 1804 east of Williston on the way out to the lake. It is one township in size, 36 sections, T155N-R98W. Data below is updated periodically.

Permits: 2012 and before

• 7712, PA, Dudley, Gjorven 14-21
• 19158, 333, CLR, Gronfur 1-28H, t1/11; cum 283K 11/19; cum 321K 7/22;
• 19361, 408, CLR, Barney 1-29H, t3/11; cum 298K 11/19;
• 19652, 993, CLR, Helena 1-7H, Brooklyn, Bakken, t10/11; cum 253K 11/19;
• 19831, 180, CLR, Gjorven 1-21H, s2/11; t7/11; cum 44K 11/19; small jump in 9/19;
  
• 20183, 282, CLR, Rolf 1-20H, s6/11; t6/11; cum 384K 11/19; huge jump, 1/19;
• 20200, 688, CLR, Mildred 1-19H, t6/11; 306K 11/19;
• 20205, 859, CLR, Rennerfeldt 1-30H, ; t8/11; cum 286K 11/19;
• 20475, 808, CLR, Olympia 1-27H; s7/11; t10/11; cum 335K 11/19; nice jump, 7/17;
• 20491, A, CLR, Charleston 1-22H, Three Forks; cum 214K 11/19; 6 miles southeast of Epping, North Dakota; it is the first Three Forks Formation lateral drilled in this township and is near the center of the Brooklyn field, west of the Nesson Anticline; background gas as high as 2,900; a 6' target situated from 20' to 26' below the lower Bakken shale; placed on a pump in the summer of 2012; no fracking data in the file although it was completed 8/11;  
• 20970, 388, CLR, Boise 1-24H; t10/11; cum 245K 11/19;
• 21010, 816, CLR, Bismarck 1-9H; t11/11; cum 275K 11/19;
• 21015, 740, CLR Juneau 1-2H; t11/11; cum 191K 11/19; nice jump in 4/18;
• 21053, 764, CLR, Richmond 1-26H, cum 277K 11/19; nice jump 7/17;
  
• 21086, 667, CLR, Springfield 1-8H;  t1/12; cum 296K 11/19; huge jump;
• 21095, 871, CLR, Addyson 1-23H; t2/12; cum 270K 11/19;
• 21302, 645, CLR, Topeka 1-1H; s9/11; t12/11; pump; cum 245K 11/19;
• 21433, 542, CLR, Sacramento 1-10H, t1/12; 30 stages; 2.5 million lbs, S+C,  cum 224K 11/19;
• 22143, 238, CLR, Boston 1-25H; t12/12; cum 278K 9/19; off line 9/19; remains off line11/19;
• 22267, 341, CLR, Helena 2-7H, t10/12; cum 173K 11/19;
• 22272, 471, CLR, Bismarck 2-9H, t9/12; cum 212K 11/19;
• 22679, 822, CLR, Helena 3-7H, Brooklyn, t10/12; cum 240K 11/19;
• 22741, 533, CLR, Bismarck 3-9H/Sacramento Federal 4-10H, t8/12; cum 158K 11/19;
• 23013, 876, CLR, Sacramento Federal 4-10H, t4/14; cum 233K 11/19; a max gas of 10,000 units; slight jump in 8/18?
• 23014, 865, CLR, Sacramento Federal 5-10H, Brooklyn, Three Forks, a max gas of 2,783; t4/14; cum 192K 11/19;
• 23015, 894, CLR, Sacramento Federal 6-10H, 30 stages; 4.5 million lbs all ceramic; max gas 3,451 units; t9/14; cum 213K 11/19;
• 23016, 1,161, CLR, Sacramento Federal 7-10H1, Three Forks, 30 stages; 5.9 million lbs sand/ceramic; t9/14; cum 193K 11/19;
• 23019, 754, CLR, Sacramento 3-10H, t1/14; cum 197K 11/19;
• 23020, 922, CLR, Sacramento 2-10H, t1/14; cum 269K 11/19;
• 23218, 725, CLR, Mildred 3-19H,  4 sections, t4/13; cum 255K 11/19;
• 23219, 624, CLR, Mildred 2-19H, 4 sections, t4/13; cum 294K 11/19;
• 23220, 475, CLR, Rennerfeldt 3-30H, 4 sections, t5/13; cum 235K 11/19;
• 23221, 475, CLR, Rennerfeldt 2-30H, 30 stages; 2.6 million lbs sand/ceramic; a max trip gas of over 5,000 units, 4 sections, t5/13; cum 306K 11/19;
• 23242, 102, CLR, Addyson 2-23H, 4 sections, t3/13; cum 172K 9/19; off line 9/19; remains off line 11/19;
• 23243, 645, CLR, Addyson 3-23H, Brooklyn, 4-section spacing, t4/13; cum 122K 9/19; off line 9/19; remains off line 11/19; cum 113K 7/22;
• 23244, 911, CLR, Richmond 2-26H,  Brooklyn, 4 sections; t6/13; cum 214K 9/19;  small jump 8/18? off line 9/19; remains off line 11/19;
  
• 23245, 721, CLR, Richmond 3-26H, Three Forks, 29 stages, 2.5 million lbs sand/ceramic; gas shows light; 4 sections; t6/13; cum 165K 9/19; off line as of 9/19; remains off line 11/19;
• 23291, 629, CLR, Topeka 3-12H, t2/13; cum 175K 11/19;
• 23292, 575, CLR, Topeka 2-12H, t2/13; cum 194K 11/19;
• 23806, conf, CLR, Bismarck 4-9H, t9/14; cum 207K 11/19;
• 23807, 994, CLR, Bismarck 5-9H, t9/14; cum 215K 11/19; cum 243K 7/22;
• 23875, 662, CLR, Juneau 2-11H, Brooklyn, t12/13; cum 133K 11/19;
• 23876, 901, CLR, Juneau 3-11H, t10/13; cum 178K 11/19;
• 23877, 802, CLR, Juneau 4-11H, Brooklyn, t3/14; cum 206K 11/19;
• 23878, 570, CLR, Juneau 5-11H, Brooklyn, t3/14; cum 151K 11/19;
• 24324, 832, CLR, Topeka 4-12H, t6/14; cum 174K 11/19;
• 24325, 966, CLR, Topeka 5-12H, t7/14; cum 2270K 11/19; cum 301K 7/22;
  
• 24377, 244, CLR, Barney 3-29H-2, t5/13; cum 155K 11/19;
• 24378, 515, CLR, Barney 5-29H-2, t9/13; cum 262K 11/19;
• 24578, 565, CLR, Barney 2-29H-2, t3/13; cum 171K 11/19;
• 24579, 285, CLR, Barney 4-29H-1, t8/13; cum 246K 11/19; cum 275K 7/22;

Very active field, for such a small field.

Eight Rigs-On-Site, Dickinson Area -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

There are currently eight rigs-on-site in the Dickinson area, southwest North Dakota, Stark County (January 23, 2011). The formations being targeted: Three Forks and the Lodgepole.

There is an interesting driller out here: Core 53 Oil and Gas, LLC. This is the only well that has been drilled by this company in North Dakota, at least according to the NDIC database. If it's a TF well, very, very expensive, and I would think some other large operator is backing them; if it's a vertical into the Lodgepole, that's a different story; and, it very well could be with all the recent interest in the Lodgepole.

19444, 3,106, WLL, Hecker 21-18TFH, huge story, click on link
19623, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-17TFH, wildcat

19820, Whiting, Dietz 21-17TFH, Gaylord field
16649 -- Salt water disposal

19853, Core 54 Oil and Gas, LLC, Longshot 10-23 1, wildcat
19975, DRY, Armstrong, Zastoupil 1-17, Armstrong, wildcat, just outside Dickinson city limits on southwest side; just outside of Patterson Lake field

19275, Fidelity, Oukrop 24-24H, wildcat

20195, Oil for America, Dohrmann 14-1, wildcat; this is same immediate area as another Oil for America well, the Dohrmann 13-1, also a wildcat, on the confidential list.

Update

April 28, 2011: Due to mechanical difficulties at the Obrigewitch 21-17TFH, Whiting believes that only one or two frac stages of the well’s total 16 frac stages are contributing to current production. Despite these difficulties, the Obrigewitch well was completed flowing 1,189 BOE per day. Whiting holds a 96% working interest and a 77% net revenue interest in the well.

Christian Science Monitor: Some Are Starting To Blame Administration for High Gasoline Prices

According to recent polls, the price of gasoline is the #3 issue on the minds of Americans. The top two issues are jobs and the federal deficit.

Something tells me most Americans really don't worry that much about the deficit on a day-to-day basis. They worry about their jobs, they worry about their cash flow, they worry about their retirement (maybe that's where the deficit fits in; but it probably has more to do with Wall Street), and they worry about health care expenses. And they worry about whether their car will start, assuming they have a car.

I have opined for quite some time that the administration's worst nightmare is $100 oil and 10% unemployment. For all practical purposes we are already there, but "we're" just waiting for the headlines.

As the price of oil moves to the top of worries voiced by Americans, it will be interesting to see how the administration reacts. The Christian Science Monitor is reporting that more and more folks are starting to equate high gasoline prices with the administration's energy and environmental policies.

I have been noting how the administration has reacted in the past. It will be tough to change course for some. I know with the appointment of GE's CEO as the new economic adviser, there will be a call for more federal support (subsidies) for wind turbines, despite evidence that wind energy will do nothing for the number one issue for Americans: jobs.

Update On ONEOK's $500 Million Pipeline Project -- Sidney, Montana -- Another $1.5 Billion in the Bakken

This pipeline project was previously announced, but it's easy to lose track of all that is going on. This is a huge story and the update needs a stand-alone post.

Earlier note:

ONEOK announces onstruction of a 525- to 615-mile NGL pipeline, the Bakken Pipeline, to transport unfractionated NGLs produced from the Bakken Shale in the Williston Basin to the Overland Pass Pipeline, a 760-mile NGL pipeline extending from southwestern Wyoming to Conway, Kansas; $500 million project

The Sidney Herald provides an update today (January 23, 2011).  It's a regional paper and I assume the link will be broken soon.

ONEOK, also known as Bear Paw Energy, has already notified affected landowners for surveying properties, and its looking into purchasing private access for constructing the pipeline. In addition to the Bakken Pipeline, ONEOK is building three new gas plants in North Dakota. The move amounts to a significant financial impact for the MonDak region.

“When it’s all said and done,” an ONEOK spokesman said, “we’ll be investing approximately $1.5 billion in your region, including this pipeline.”

The project should begin in 2012 and be operational sometime in 2013.

On another note, if you like wild animal web cams, a black bear web cam is fascinating. In Minnesota, Lily,  has just given birth to two cubs (in her den). Bears usually have cubs every other year, but Lily gave birth to Hope in 2010. Coincidentally, Hope is sharing the den with her mother, and now her two little brothers this winter.  I leave the site on with the volume turned up while surfing the net and updating the blog.