Jim Cramer's (CNBC) Top Oil and Gas Companies for Investors

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Updates

October 11, 2013:

• Jim Cramer believes the best way to play the U.S. energy renaissance is to examine deposits in the various shale plays and then determine which companies stand to benefit.
• In the Utica shale, Cramer is a fan of Gulfport Energy (GPOR), while he likes Cabot Oil & Gas (COG) as a bet on the Marcellus shale.
• On the Bakken, Cramer is bullish Continental Resources (CLR); on the Eagle Ford, he likes EOG; on the Niobrara near Denver, the pick is Noble Energy (NBL); on the Permian Basin, it's Cimarex (XEC) plus EOG; on the Sprayberry (part of the Permian), the choice is Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD).

October 1, 2013: Jim turns his attention to the Niobrara and his oil and gas picks there, including: Anadarko, Noble, PDC, Bonanza Creek, Bill Barrett, Whiting, and Carrizo

March 21, 2013: last night, Jim Cramer had long positive interview with Sanchez CEO; here was MDW post on subject;

Original Post

Cramer's favorite oil and gas stocks.

Will be posted at "Top Ten" list at sidebar at the right.

Knowing Jim Cramer, this list will be changed faster than a baby's dirty diaper.

1. Schlumberger
2. Baker Hughes
3. Enbridge
4. Marathon Oil
5. Weatherford International
6. Continental Resources (reports an outstanding 2Q11, and the share price plummets 14% today)
7. Energy Transfer Partners
8. Ensco International
9. Buckeye Partners
10. Core Labs
11. MarkWest Energy Partners
12. Copano Energy
13. Cheniere Energy

I expect the list to change periodically.

Except for Marathon Oil and Continental Resources, the companies are all oil service companies or pipelines.

The top three are my long term favorites. I got out of MRO years ago because of refining exposure; since then MRO has spun off (or separated) its downstream (refinery) from upstream (E&P).

With increasing talk of new taxes on oil and gas companies, I have opined that it may be wiser to invest in oil service companies and pipelines rather than in oil and gas exploration and production companies. Apparently Jim Cramer thinks the same thing.

I don't follow several of the others.

Two Stories On Fracking -- Good News and Bad News -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

First, the bad news: EPA Taking First Step Toward Fracking Regulations

The good news: Fracking May Increase Faster Than Expectations Due To CAPEX By Majors

It will be interesting to see if states with dire budgetary problems and potential oil and gas windfall profits, take EPA action in stride without fighting new rules. Watch New York state, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, to see if these states take any negative EPA action lying down.

My hunch is that ... ah, just skip it. We all have our own thoughts.

Another Incredible Bit of Spinning By the Mainstream Media on Jobs -- Not a Bakken Story

Mainstream media spin: Wall Street isn't buying it: not only has the market been down 8 out of the lat 9 sessions, today's drop of 500 points was the most in a very, very long time, and there is nothing to suggest that it won't drop farther. It's not worth the time to link the stories, but there are numerous articles today suggesting that neither the administration nor the Federal Reserve has any more arrows in its quiver, or tools in its toolkit to try to improve the unemployment numbers. Nada. Zilch. None.

Headline: Unemployment Applications Tick Down to 400K.

The actual numbers:

Weekly applications for unemployment benefits edged down 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 400,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the lowest level in four months. The previous week's figure was revised upward from 398,000 to 401,000.

This is how the mainstream media interprets that exceptional piece of news, that unemployment benefits edged down from 401,000 to 400,000:

...a sign the job market may be improving slowly.

And just in case the reader missed that point the first time, the writer says it again:

The four-week average, a less volatile figure, dropped for the fifth straight week to 407,750. That suggests there is a downward trend in layoffs.

It will be interesting to see how they interpret the numbers that come out next week.

I doubt a drop from 401,000 to 400,000 is either reproducible or statistically significant. And obviously, the weekly applications number is a "rounded" number to begin with.

Bakken Pipeline Project Scaled Back Due to Uncertainty of Keystone XL

Link here.

The BakkenLink Pipeline LLC was intended to carry up to 100,000 barrels of oil from oil truck unloading stations and a pipeline gathering system in three North Dakota counties to Baker, in southeastern Montana.

The length of the proposed line is being reduced from 250 miles to about 144 miles, and the project’s cost is now estimated at $126.5 million, roughly half the cost of the original plan, Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer said.

North Dakota’s Public Service Commission said Wednesday that BakkenLink now intends to build its pipeline to a rail loading station that is being developed near Fryburg, about 30 miles west of Dickinson in southwestern North Dakota.

Not even worth the time to comment. Except to say that it will be listed as a nominee for one of the Top Ten stories of the year. This is huge.

Okay: one comment. Folks will see this differently, and I'm probably in the minority on this, but it's my impression the governor of Montana does not support the Keystone XL. If he is said to support it, then either his support is very lukewarm, or he is following the polls on this one, or perhaps listening to the farmers who, according to the media, don't want the Keystone XL running through their property. But unless I see something strongly supportive from the governor, my impression is that he is, at best, mildly lukewarm in supporting this project. I think Hillary Clinton supports it but it tiptoeing carefully through this political minefield. 

Minimal Posting Due To Traveling

Great video to listen to while watching the market plummet 400 points.

And great links below when you finish the video. Comments to follow when I find time.

Mainstream media spin: Wall Street isn't buying it. Market continues free fall.

Meanwhile, US Borrowing Exceeds 100% of GDP. Media can't spin that.

KOG: A Stock Approaching Greatness? -- Motley Fool

Bakken Pipeline Scaled Back Due To Delay / Possible Cancellation of Keystone XL.

Fracking May Increase Faster Than Expectations Due To CAPEX By Majors

Investors: Take advantage of price of oil. Demand to continue; supply doubtful.

EPA Taking First Step Toward Fracking Regulations

Cramer's favorite oil and gas stocks: many in the Bakken.

GM profit nearly doubles. No mention of the Volt. I wonder why?

Whiting provides additional information on its Lewis and Clark prospect.

So much for the canard that North Dakota gets unfair portion of federal largesse.

CLR reports outstanding quarter; stock price plunges 14 percent.