July Hearing Dockets -- NDIC, North Dakota, USA -- Are Posted

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

15168: KOG, proper spacing for Twin Buttes-Bakken, Dunn
15169: KOG, to amend Banks-Bakken; up to 5 hz wells on 2 1280-acre units, McKenzie
15170: KOG, to amend Moccasin Creek-Bakken to establish a 640-acre unit; 3 wells on it, Dunn
15171: Oasis, define a field for the Logan 5601 42-35H well, Williams
15172: Oasis, define a field for the Jensen 5501 42-7H well, Williams
15173: Oasis, to amend Squires-Bakken; unrestricted flaring, Williams
15174: Oasis, amend Tyrone-Bakken, unrestricted flaring, Williams
15175: Oasis, flaring from Manhattan 5792 11-2H, Mountrail
14917, cont'd: Oasis, define field for Twobins 5501-42-20H and Drummond 5501-44-21H, Williams
15176: Whiting, temp spacing for Dry Creek 11-13TFH, Golden Valley
15177: Whiting, temp spacing for Rovelstad 21-13H, McKenzie
15178: Whiting, temp spacing for Johnson 34-8H, McKenzie
15179: Whiting, amend Tobacco Garden-Bakken, establish a 1280-acre unit; 2 hz wells; McKenzie
15180: Whiting, extend Ellsworth-Bakken; 2 1280-acre units; 2 hz wells each; McKenzie
15181: Hess, Beaver Lodge; up to 3 hz wells on a 1280-acre unit; Williams
15182: Hess, to revoke a CLR well, Burr 1-19H, Williams
15116: Hess, to revoke a North Plains well, Miller 4-14-1H, Williams
14928, cont'd: Hess, to revoke an OXY USA well, Kudrna 1-32-29H-143-95, Dunn
14935, cont'd: Hess, to revoke a CLR well, Foster 1-28H, McKenzie, Williams
14325, cont'd: to extend Truax-Bakken; 2 1280-acre units; Williams, McKenzie
15183: Murex, Stanley-Bakken; 4 hz wells to be drilled on 4 1280-acre units; Mountrail
15184: Marathon, Reunion Bay-Bakken; 4 hz wells on each 1600-acre unit in Zone IV, McKenzie, Mountrail
15185: Hess, Spotted Horn-Bakken; 3 hz wells on 1 1280-acre unit; McKenzie
15186: Helis, Blue Buttes-Bakken; add another 1280-acre unit; McKenzie
15187: Helis, Grail-Bakken; 3 hz wells on 12 1280-acre units; McKenzie; 36 wells total
15188: Helis, Croff-Bakken; 3 hz wells on 2 1280-acre units; McKenzie
14725, cont'd: SM Energy, proper spacing for West Ambrose-Bakken, Divide
14231, con'td: SM Energy, to revoke a CLR well, Koeser 1-11H, McKenzie
14451, cont'd: Sequel Energy, establishe 6 1280-acre units in McKenzie County, 1 hz well each
15189: North Plains, extend Truax-Bakken; 2 1280-acre units; 7 wells per 1280-acre unit; Williams, McKenzie
15190: North Plains, legalese, risk penalty for Sorenson Federal 15-5H, Sand Creek, McKenzie
14527, cont'd: North Plains, to revoke a CLR well, Sahron 1-17H, Williams
15037, cont'd: North Plains, to extend Truax-Bakken, 1 1280-acre unit; 7 wells on that unit; McKenzie, Williams
14519, cont'd: North Plains, to exten Truax-Bakken, 1 1280-acre unit; 6 wells on that unit; Williams
15159: QEP, create 2 1280-acre units; 1 hz well each unit; McLean
15192: Missouri Breaks, LLC, to confiscate production-related equipment at Missouri Breaks Unit 1, McKenzie
14541, cont'd: Oil for America, temp spacing for Zastoupil 22-1, Stark
15193: CCS Midstream LLC, construct a treating plant, Mountrail, to dispose of field waste
15194: Landtech Enterprises LLC, saltwater disposal, Williams
15195: Iowa Tank Lines, saltwater disposal, Williams
15196: Rocken On Disposal LLC, saltwater disposal, Dunn
15197 - 15210: Hess, pooling throughout the Bakken
15211 - 15213: Hess, saltwater disposal
15214: Petro-Hunt, pooling in Glass Bluff-Bakken, McKenzie
15215: KOG, pooling in South Fork-Bakken, Dunn
15216: Marathon, pooling in Moccasin Creek-Bakken, Dunn
15217: Whiting, pooling in Morgan Draw or Beaver Creek-Bakken, Golden Valley

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

15218: Newfield, proper spacing for Fertile-Valley-Bakken, Divide
15219: Newfield, proper spacing for South Tobacco Garden-Bakken, McKenzie
15220: Newfield, temp spacing for Larson 159-102-29-32-1H, Williams
15221: Zenergy, temp spacing for Rella 18-19H, Williams
15222: Zenergy, extend Dublin-Madison; 8 320-acre units; 1 hz well on each unit; Williams
15223: BEXP, temp spacing for Tufto 7-6, Williams
15224: CLR, revoke a Hess well, 2WX-7-1H, file no 20123, McKenzie
15225: CLR, amend field rules for Bear Creek-Bakken, Dunn
15059, cont'd: CLR, amend Elidah-Bakken, create a 2560-acre unit; multiple wells from one well pad, McKenzie
14543, cont'd: CLR, temp spacing fro Haag 1X-21H, Billings
14356, cont'd: CLR, ament Elm Tree-Bakken, to create a 2560-acre unit; four wells from one pad; McKenzie
14062, cont'd: CLR, temp spacing for Norway 1-5H, McKenzie
15526: Slawson, create 1 1280-acre unit, 1 hz well, McKenzie
14568, cont'd: Slawson, amend Big Bend-Bakken; create a 320-acre unit; 3 wells on the unit; Mountrail
15228: Corinthian, amend Souris-Spearfish; create about 320-acre units (hard to count); and 12 wells on each unit
15229: GMXR, extend Elkhorn Ranch or Four Eyes-Bakken, create 1 1280-acre unit; 1 hz well; Billings
15230: Samson Resources, extend West Ambrose-Bakken, create 1 1280-acre unit; 3 hz wells; Divide
15231: Chesapeake, create a 1280-acre unit; 1 hz well; Stark
15232: Chesapeake, create a 1280-acre unit, 1 hz well; Hettinger
15233: Chesapeake, create 2 1280-acre units, 1 hz well; Golden Valley
15234: Chesapeake, create 8 1280-acre units; 1 hz well each; Stark
15235: Strike Oil, Inc, complete Nelson 32-35, Renville
15236: Summit, recomplete Roosevelt Federal 2-4H, Billings
15237: Silver Oak Energy, LLC, 3 hz wells on a 640-acre unit, Cedar Hills-Red River "B," Slope
15066, cont'd: ERF, extend Eagle Nest-Bakken, create a 1280-acre unit, 7 wells on that unit; Dunn
14798, cont'd: Fidelity, amend Stanley-Bakken, create 3 1280-acre units; 1 hz well each, Mountrail
14081, cont'd: Sinclair, temp spacing for Bighorn 1-6H, Dunn
14370, cont'd: Encore Energy Partners Operating LLC, proper spacing for Schultz 1, McKenzie
15238: Newfield, pooling in Fertile Valley-Bakken, Divide
15239: Newfield, pooling in Fertile Valley-Bakken, Divide
15240: Newfield, saltwater disposal, Williams
15241: Hunt, pooling in Ross-Bakken, Mountrail
15242: Dakota-3 (WMB), pooling in Spotted Horn-Bakken, McKenzie
15243: Dakota-3 (WMB), pooling in Reunion Bay-Bakken, Dunn
15244: Dakota-3 (WMB), pooling in Reunion Bay-Bakken, Dunn
15245: Dakota-3 (WMB), pooing in Reunion Bay-Bakken, Dunn
15246: Dakota-3 (WMB), pooling in Van Hook-Bakken, Mountrail
15247: Dakota-3 (WMB), pooling in Van Hook-Bakken, Mountrail
15248: Dakota-3 (WMB), pooling in Squaw Creek-Bakken, McKenzie
15249 - 15252: Dakota-3 (WMB), pooling in various Bakken fields
15253 - 15258: OXY USA, pooling in various Bakken fields
15259: Slawson, saltwater disposal, Mountrail
15260 - 15265: Samson Resources, pooling in various Bakken fields
15266 - 15269: EOG, pooling in various Bakken fields
15270: EOG, complete 8 wells on a 1280-acre unit, Spotted Horn-Bakken, McKenzie
15271: EOG, salt water disposal, Clear Water Field, Burke
15272: EOG, salt water disposal, Round Prairie Field, Williams
15273: BEXP, complete 4 wells on a 1280-acre unit; Catwalk-Bakken, Williams
15274: BEXP, complete 4 wells on each 1280-acre unit; 6 units; Squires-Bakken, Williams; 24 wells
15275: BEXP, Painted Woods-Bakken; flaring, Williams
15276: BEXP, Todd-Bakken, flaring, Williams, McKenzie
15277: BEXP, Cow Creek-Bakken, flaring, Williams
15278: BEXP, Sandrocks-Bakken, flaring, McKenzie
15279: BEXP, Catwalk-Bakken, flaring, Williams -- the Williston 25-36 1H well
15280: BEXP, Johnson 33 1H, flaring, Mountrail
15281: BEXP, Kvamme 2 1H, flaring, Mountrail
15282: BEXP, Hallingstad 27 1H, flaring, Mountrail
15283: BEXP, Bergstrom Family Trust 26 1H, flaring, Mountrail
15284 - 15292: BEXP, pooling in various Bakken pools
15293: ERF, saltwater disposal, McKenzie
15294: XTO, legalese, risk penalty, MonDak-Bakken, McKenzie
15295 - 15305: XTO, pooling in various Bakken pools
15306 - 15319: CLR, pooling in various Bakken pools
15320: Denbury Onshore, legalese, risk penalty, McKenzie
15321 - 15325: Denbury Onshore, pooling in various Bakken pools
15326: Summit, commingling in Roosevelt-Red River and Stonewall Formations, Billings
15237: Arsenal Energy, Eagle Operating, and Ward Williston, amend Black Slough-Bakken, flaring, Burke
15238: BEXP, others, ament East Fork-Bakken, flaring, Williams
15329: Missouri River Royalty Corp, Ellsworth-Bakken, flaring, McKenzie
15330: CLR, Oliver-Bakken, flaring, Williams
15331: Hunt, Wolf Bay-Bakken, flaring, Dunn
14869, cont'd: Hunt, commingling in Parshall-Bakken, Mountrail
14870, cont'd: Hunt, commingling in Parshall-Bakken, Mountrail
14871, cont'd: Hunt, commingling in Ross-Bakken, Mountrail
14872, cont'd: Hunt, commingling in Ross-Bakken, Mountrail
14873, cont'd: Hunt, commingling in Werner-Bakken, Dunn
14695, cont'd: Baytex, Whiteaker-Bakken, flaring, Divide
14696, cont'd: Baytex, Ambrose-Bakken, flaring, Divide
14697, cont'd: Baytex, Ambrose-Bakken, flaring, Divide
14698, cont'd: Baytex, Whiteaker-Bakken, flaring, Divide

Two Unexpected Gushers in Pennsylvania Illustrate Huge Potential of US Natural Gas FIelds

Link here.

Two unexpected gushers in northeastern Pennsylvania are helping to illustrate the enormous potential of the Marcellus Shale natural gas field.

Each of the Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. wells in Susquehanna County is capable of producing 30 million cubic feet per day -- believed to be a record for the Marcellus and enough gas to supply nearly 1,000 homes for a year. The landowners attached to the wells, who leased the well access, numbering fewer than 25, are splitting hundreds of thousands of dollars in monthly royalties.

"There was definitely excitement among the team that planned out these wells and executed their completion," said Cabot spokesman George Stark.

Drilling companies knew the Marcellus held a lot of gas. They just had to figure out a way to get it out, and they say they're getting better at it all the time.

Something tells me Pennsylvania is going to let EPA shut 'em down without a fight.

If the US Doesn't Want Canadian OIl / Keystone XL, China Is Ready To Step In

Link here.

Alberta is one of the few places where oil companies can invest, as the majority of the world's oil reserves are controlled by national governments. Only 22 percent of the total world reserves are accessible to private sector investment, 52 percent of which is in Alberta's oil sands, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

Canada's only major oil export market is the U.S. But with the product of oil sands and pipeline delivery to the U.S. under perennial clouds of environmental objections, and with Asian demand growing, this country wants to diversify its market, and China is eager to oblige.

Sinopec, a Chinese state-controlled oil company, has a stake in a $5.5 billion plan drawn up by the Alberta-based Enbridge company to build the Northern Gateway Pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific coast province of British Columbia. Alberta Finance Minister Lloyd Snelgrove met this month with Sinopec and CNOOC, China's other big oil company, and China's largest banks.

See updates for the Keystone XL here. (I don't have "a dog in this fight." I have no money tied up in TransCanada shares; I prefer Enbridge.)

Hampton Inn and Suites Website for New Williston Site

Link here. This link will obviously break once the Hampton Inn and Suites is up.

A big "thank you" to "anonymous" to alerting me to the site.

Click here for all the motel/hotel activity going on in Williston, summer, 2011.

NY Times: Natural Gas -- Another "Enron" Scam? Nope. It Looks LIke NY Times/MSNBC Blew It

Update

July 8, 2018: update here. 

August 21, 2017: at 75 mn t/y, US LNG exports will soon rival Qatar's at 77 mn t/y. The competition will get intense. 

October 6, 2016: the Utica and the Marcellus continue to defy skeptics. 

October 29, 2011: Rigzone -- Musings on the NYT story on natural gas.  This story refuses to die.

October 29, 2011: US to export LNG.

September 15, 2011: Rosy outlook for natural gas.

July 31, 2011: The New York Times trying to walk back the shoddy reporting they did on this story. 

July 29, 2011: the New York Times folks need to read the 2Q11 CHK conference call transcript.

June 27, 2011: Here is the "source" for the article that started this whole thing. 

The numbers on major shale companies financial statements do not add up, said Deborah Rogers, advisory council member for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

"I have to say that after all the work I've done I think there is some sleight of hand in the balance sheets," said Rodgers in a CNBC interview.

Rogers, a former stock broker for Merrill Lynch, started questioning shale companies' financial statements after listening to a speech in 2009 by Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Chesapeake Energy, one of the largest shale gas companies.

June 26, 2011: I think I was scammed! See "original post" below. Here's the real story, with dateline of June 26, 2011 (today):

Two unexpected gushers in northeastern Pennsylvania are helping to illustrate the enormous potential of the Marcellus Shale natural gas field.

Each of the Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. wells in Susquehanna County is capable of producing 30 million cubic feet per day -- believed to be a record for the Marcellus and enough gas to supply nearly 1,000 homes for a year. The landowners attached to the wells, who leased the well access, numbering fewer than 25, are splitting hundreds of thousands of dollars in monthly royalties.

"There was definitely excitement among the team that planned out these wells and executed their completion," said Cabot spokesman George Stark.

Drilling companies knew the Marcellus held a lot of gas. They just had to figure out a way to get it out, and they say they're getting better at it all the time.

June 26, 2011: At the link below, look at the dates of the e-mails referenced (2009). In addition, the article is undated. It appears that the NY Times / MSNBC was completely off target. It appears this article was written back in 2009; since then the natural gas industry has exploded (no pun intended) and doing very, very well. It's also possible the entire article was a hoax. A big thank you to "Anon 1" for noting the dates on the e-mails that were the basis of this article.

Original Post

Natural gas drilling may not be all that it is fracked up to be -- [update: at least according to an outdated article in the NY Times. The industry has proven the NY Times wrong.]

Link here. (Update, August 30, 2015: this is so interesting. The NY Times has removed this article.)

Natural gas companies have been placing enormous bets on the wells they are drilling, saying they will deliver big profits and provide a vast new source of energy for the United States. 

But the gas may not be as easy and cheap to extract from shale formations deep underground as the companies are saying, according to hundreds of industry e-mails and internal documents and an analysis of data from thousands of wells.

In the e-mails, energy executives, industry lawyers, state geologists and market analysts voice skepticism about lofty forecasts and question whether companies are intentionally, and even illegally, overstating the productivity of their wells and the size of their reserves. Many of these e-mails also suggest a view that is in stark contrast to more bullish public comments made by the industry, in much the same way that insiders have raised doubts about previous financial bubbles.

“Money is pouring in” from investors even though shale gas is “inherently unprofitable,” an analyst from PNC Wealth Management, an investment company, wrote to a contractor in a February e-mail. “Reminds you of dot-coms.” 

This story is definitely an "out-lier," a story that does not mesh with the vast number of articles suggesting the opposite.

Then I looked at the source of the article: the New York Times and MSNBC.

There are two facts that cannot be overlooked: a) the industry is finding more and more natural gas everywhere they look around the world; and, b) there is such a glut of natural gas in the US right now, the country is getting ready to export it overseas.

But maybe the Times and MSNBC are correct, and that's why the coal industry continues to thrive.

A big thank you to "Gary" for sending me the link.

WSJ: $4.00 Gasoline (and Talk of $5.00 Gasoline) Ended The Fantasy That Green Energy, Cap and Trade, Would Jump Start the Economy

Link here.

It wasn't long ago that the Obama Administration was trying to drive up the price of fossil fuels to reduce carbon emissions, promote "green jobs" and save the planet from global warming. Gasoline at $3.50 or $4 a gallon has ended that. And yesterday the White House went so far as to join a global effort to release 60 million barrels from oil stockpiles ...

A review of many stories over the past two years reminds us how the present administration was quite successful in decreasing the pace of domestic oil production.

Despite the decision to release oil from the US strategic petroleum reserve, the bureaucracy is such that slow-rolling the domestic oil industry will continue.