Water For Fracking: Texas Has More Than Enough? -- North Dakota, Not Even An Issue -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Link here.

Everyone who has followed the Bakken knows that water for fracking is a dead issue, but for newbies: there is more than enough water in the Bakken for fracking.

Here's the story in Texas, where the drought is.

Although millions of gallons of water will be needed for hydraulic fracturing as drilling booms throughout the Eagle Ford shale, the amount of water used for fracturing will be much less than what's needed by municipalities and for irrigation and industry in the region, an expert said Monday.

"We have people coming into South Texas voicing gloom and doom," said Darrell Brownlow, a principal at Intercoastal Inland Services, a consulting firm.

The article is not convincing. The issue will be politicized.

Ohio: The New Bakken?

Link here.

Ohio isn't a new player in America's oil and gas industry, but it is increasingly becoming a key player in the Utica shale formation. Termed "the shale gale" by some economists, untapped natural gas from shale is one of the most recently talked about energy developments, with most of that focus targeting Ohio.

Utica Shale, a rock unit located a few thousand feet below the Marcellus Shale, has the potential to become an enormous natural gas resource. Cal Dooley, American Chemistry Council President, recently said at an energy summit hosted at Ohio State University, that at a minimum this form of play could supply at least 100 years of natural gas with the potential of producing up to 200 years.

After you read that article, then re-read this one. 

Something For Everyone: Shorts Have Reasons to Short; Bulls Have Reason to Be Ecstatic

If I understand this correctly, year-over-year comparisons are going to be grand slams for the majors, but quarter-to-quarter (sequentially) is going to be a bummer.

U.S. oil majors are expected to post a 56% surge in third-quarter profits compared with the same quarter a year earlier thanks to higher oil prices and improved refining margins.

But the companies' earnings may be in line with or slightly lower than they were in the second quarter, after fears of a double-dip recession sent oil prices lower than they were in the second quarter. The third quarter could mark the entrance of a period of moderation for Big Oil profits.

"Earnings will be above where they were last year, but sequentially results are going to be down," said Phil Weiss, an analyst with Argus Research.

Data Suggests That Newfield Has Been Selling Bakken Acreage -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

The information below is a "cut and paste" from my FAQ page. Note: the NFX October, 2011, presentation: ~ 140,000 net acres in the Bakken; clearly NFX had more acres than this in earlier presentations, certainly as much as 174,000 and maybe as much as 271,000 net acres. It appears that NFX has been selling Bakken acreage the past two years.


Newfield (NFX)

• October, 2011 presentation: ~ 140,000 net acres -- did NFX sell some Bakken acreage?
• Older presentations: 271,000 net acres in Williston Basin (ND and MT) 
• BEXP presentation says NFX has 174,000 net acres (significant decrease from earlier number) 
• Filloon: 174,000 net acres, July, 2011
• According to SeekingAlpha, May 3, 2011: 174,000 net acres (significant decrease)
• (Elm Coulee: Montana, southwest of Williston), 55k net acres
• Big Valley: north of Williston; Divide/Williams County border, 48k net acres
• Catwalk: east of Williston; middle of Williams County, 29k net acres
• Westberg Prospect Area: Nesson Anticline, McKenzie Cty on Mountrail border, 10k net acres
• Lost Bear: Northwest Dunn County. 7k net acres
• Aquarium/Watford: McKenzie County, near Watford City, 22k net acres
• Exploratory: 100,000 net acres (all in the Williston Basin)
• Filloon: Newfield has some of the best IPs in the Bakken

Salt Water Disposal -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Updates

Overnight, Dave wrote: G3 has a new salt water disposal well staked on Township 157 North,Range 102 West ; Section 29 - there is also an independent (not a drilling company) inquiring @ land in that area also .

Have a good day, Dave

Original Post

I have not followed the salt water disposal industry in the Bakken. It's my impression that this is pretty much a mom-and-pop operation/small companies that are not publicly traded.

I assume most SWD wells are old oil wells that are converted to SWD wells and once converted, are sold to these small companies or mom-and-pop operations.

A reader is curious if I am missing something. Are there any publicly traded companies involved in salt water disposal in the Bakken?

By the way, on a side note, my hunch is that waste disposal is going to be a huge industry going forward. There is a huge waste disposal dump being developed south of Williston (the site is in McKenzie County). Topsoil has been moved; tanks moved in, etc, but I do not know who is building it.

Anyway, I digress.

Let me know if there are publicly traded companies involved in salt water disposal. A reader (not me) is curious.

Random Notes

1. North Dakota will hit 535,000 bopd by the end of the year. By next spring, North Dakota will temporarily move to #2 among the states in oil production. Texas will move back into second place by next summer. Alaska remains a question mark.

• July's daily production: 425K
• August's daily production: 444K
• That represents a 4.47 percent increase, August over July (1.0447 x 425 = 444).
• Sept: 464K bopd
• Oct: 485K bopd
• Nov: 506K bopd
• Dec: 529K bopd

2. Earlier today it was reported that a Newfield well had an IP of 3,731 bbls. It was a short lateral, so pending feedback from experts, this, in my mind, is equivalent to an IP of 7,500 bbls for a long lateral. So, until I hear from experts saying otherwise, I will tell those who care to listen that the record IP in the Bakken is 7,500 for a long lateral. Smile. Now that's a record to shoot for. 

3. If anyone can offer an alternative to temporary permitting for lodging in the Bakken, I would love to hear it. "Just say no" is not an option.

4. The Bakken activity is moving to McKenzie County. The Newfield well with an IP of 7,500 today will seal the deal if it took any more convincing. 

5. Regarding the Truck Reliever Route (the new bypass around Williston): a) folks are looking for a solution to the wrong problem; they are asking the wrong question; folks are putting the emphasis for the new route on the wrong "thing."  The emphasis for any new route needs to be on two things: a) the "right" direction (and north/south is not the correct direction; and, b) intersection engineering. The trick is not the route; the trick is getting onto the route.  Left hand turns, stop signs, and yield signs don't cut it.

6. My photos are free to use. 

7. See my note regarding spam. Posted earlier.

8. The Bakken boom is here to stay.

Use of My Photos -- And The Issue of E-Mail Spam

Someone sent me a very nice note asking if they could use my photos. My photos are not copyrighted and anyone is free to use them. You do not have to credit them to me.

Very rarely I will post a photograph that is not mine; when I do, I will let you know.

By the way, if you have a special request for a photograph, let me know and I will do my best to get it (obviously it has to be related to what I am capable of reaching). You have no idea how much I enjoy sharing the Bakken with "friends."

On another note, someone is using the e-mail address associated with my blog to forward "spam." I never send "spam" and I never send a note to someone except as a reply. So, if you get a note from "me" and you did not expect it, it is probably "spam" and just delete it. The "spam" is nothing more than a link to another marketing website, so it's a nuisance and not a virus or a problem in any other sense as far as I know.

I will gradually be phasing out my e-mail so that folks are not bothered by this. I would apologize if it was my mistake but it's not.

And now, back to the blog.

Nine (9) New Permits -- 1/4 Wells Fracked -- Newfield With a Huge Well -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Daily activity report, October 12, 2011 --

Operators: CLR, WLL (2), XTO, KOG (3), XTO, Petro-Hunt

Fields: Sand Creek, Heart Butte, Lost Bridge, and Whiskey Joe.

KOG has permits for a 3-well pad in Heart Butte, a great field.

CLR has a wildcat in McKenzie; WLL has a wildcat in Billings; and, Petro-Hunt has a wildcat in Williams.

As noted earlier, Newfield has a great well with an IP of 3,731, #18691, Wisness Federal 152-96-4-2H, Westberg field.

There were three other wells completed, two pretty nice:

• 20267, 737, Slawson, Muskrat (Federal) 2-28-33H, Mountrail
• 20289, 702, QEP, MHA 2-07-18H-149-90, McLean. We don't see many in McLean.

WOW, WOW, WOW -- I SURE HOPE I DID NOT MISREAD THIS -- NEWFIELD REPORTS AN IP OF 3,731 -- One-Section Spacing -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Westberg oil field: 15 miles northeast of  Watford City: right in the Bakken bull's eye

Updates

July 27, 2014: Whiting with three huge wells:

• 22388, 4,956, Whiting, Skaar Federal 41-3-3H, 30 states; 3 million pounds; t6/13; cum 371K 10/15;
• 22387, 4,460, Whiting, Skaar Federal 41-3-2H, 30 stages; 3 million pounds; t6/13; cum 326K 10/15; as of 10/15 still producing nearly 6,000 bbls of oil per month
• 22386, 4,456, Whiting, Skaar Federal 41-3-1H, t6/13; cum 335K 10/15; in April, 2014, almost a year after this well was drilled, it was still producing 13,000 bbls per month; as of 10/15, producing 6,000 bbls/month;

December 16, 2015: IPs and cumulatives updated this date.

Permits

2015
31398, conf, Newfield,
31397, conf, Newfield,
31013, 1,348, Newfield, t9/15; cum 28K 10/15;
31012, 833, Newfield, t9/15; cum 22K 10/15;
31011, 1,349, Newfield, t9/15; cum 22K 10/15;
30426, conf, Hess,
30425, conf, Hess,
30424, conf, Hess,
30423, conf, Hess,
30422, conf, Hess,
30421, conf, Hess,

2014 (the list is complete)
29665, 716, Newfield, t6/15; cum 52K 10/15;
29664, 1,070, Newfield, t6/15; cum 92K 10/15;
29663, 719, Newfield, t6/15; cum 52K 10/15;
29662, 1,084, Newfield, t6/15; cum 76K 10/15;
29657, 807, Newfield, t5/15; cum 77K 10/15;
29656, 789, Newfield, t5/15; cum 51K 10/15;
29655, 804, Newfield, t51/5; cum 75K 10/15;
29654, 1,682, Newfield, t5/15; cum 75K 10/15;
28536, 1,290, Hess, HA-Sanford-LE-152-96-1819H-1, t10/15; cum 22K 10/15;
28535, 769, Hess, HA-Sanford-LE-152-96-1819H-5, t10/15; cum 18K 10/15;
28534, 1,118, Hess, HA-Sanford-LE-152-96-1819H-4, t10/15 cum 15K 10/15;
28533, 757, Hess, HA-Sanford-LE-152-96-1819H-3, t10/15; cum 19K 10/15;
28477, 823, Newfield, Rolfsrud State 152-96-29-32-12H, t11/14; cum 98K 10/15;
28476, 1,620, Newfield, Rolfsrud State 152-96-29-32-12HX, t11/14; cum 80K 10/15;
28475, 1,267, Newfield, Rolfsrud State 152-96-29-32-11H, t11/14; cum 93K 10/15;
28182, 1,203, Hess, HA-Rolfsrud 152-96-1720H-6, t3/15; cum 109K 10/15;
28181, 1,311, Hess, HA-Rolfsrud 152-96-1720H-5, t4/15; cum 121K 10/15;
28180, 1,122, Hess, HA-Rolfsrud 152-96-1720H-4, t3/15; cum 84K 10/15;
28179, 1,356, Hess, HA-Rolfsrud 152-96-1720H-3, t3/15; cum 116K 10/15;
28178, 1,217, Hess, HA-Rolfsrud 152-96-1720H-2, t3/15; cum 109K 10/15;

2013 (complete)
26534, 1,155, Newfield, Rolfsrud State 152-96-29-32-2HZ, t11/14; cum 94K 10/15;
26533, 941, Newfield, Rolfsrud State 152-96-29-32-10H, t11/14; cum 107K 10/15;
26532, 1,508, Newfield, Rolfsrud State 152-96-29-32-1H, t11/14; cum 117K 10/15;
26491, 1,088, Newfield, Wahus State 152-97-12-1-3H, t5/14; cum 102K 41/5;
26490, 1,305, Newfield, Wahus State 152-97-12-1-11H, t5/14; cum 87K 4/15;
26489, 1,808, Newfield, Wahus State 152-97-12-1-4H, t5/14; cum 117K 41/5;
26473, 959, Newfield, Rolfsrud State 152-96-21-16-2HZ, t2/14; cum 104K 4/15;
26472, 1,667, Newfield, Rolfsrud State 152-96-21-16-12H, t2/14; cum 97K 4/15; 
26471, 1,048, Newfield, Wisness State 152-96-21-16-11H, t2/14; cum 87K 4/15;
26470, 1,013, Newfield, Wisness State 152-96-21-16-1HX, t2/14; cum 95K 4/15;
26469, 752, Newfield, Wisness State 152-96-21-16-10H, t2/14; cum 76K 10/15;
26048, 1,884, BR, Capitol 24-7MBH, t4/14; cum 17K 5/14;
26047, 1,683, BR, Capitol 24-7TFH, t5/14; cum 13K 5/14;
26046, 2,485, BR,  Capitol 14-7MBH, t5/14; cum 16K 5/14;
26045, 2,084, BR, Capitol 14-7TFH, t5/14; cum 14K 5/14;
25952, 2,712, BR, Capitol 44-7TFH, 2 secs, t12/13; cum 39K 5/14; 
25951, 2,688, BR, Capitol 44-7MBH, 4 secs, t12/13; cum 41K 5/14;
25894, 1,999, Newfield, Norby State 152-96-16-2H, t9/13; cum 66K 5/14;
25543, 1,458, Newfield, Anderson State 152-96-16-3H, t9/13; cum 63K 5/14;
25542, 1,820, Newfield, Anderson State 152-96-16-4H, t9/13; cum 107K 10/15;
24749, 1,915, Newfield, Anderson Federal 152-96-9-4-11H, t8/13; cum 58K 11/13;
24748, 2.095, Newfield, Anderson Federal 152-96-9-4-3H, t8/13; cum 63K 11/13;
24747, 1,511, Newfield, Anderson Federal 152-96-9-4-10H, t8/13; cum 159K 4/15;

2012 
24454, 1,382, Newfield, Rolla State 152--97-1-12-2H, t4/13; cum 130K 4/15;
24453, 1,453, Newfield, Rolla 152-97-1-1H, t4/13; cum 45K 11/13;
24452, 999, Newfield, Rolla State 152-97-1-12-10H, t5/13; cum 51K 11/13;
24175, PNC, BR, Watchman Peak 11-2MBH,
23739, 2,895, BR, Bryce 34-8TFH, t11/13; cum 13K 11/13;
23738, 2,899, BR, Bryce 24-8MBH, t11/13; cum 4K 11/13;
23737, 2,712, BR, Bryce 24-8TFH, t12/13; cum 1K 11/13;
23736, 1,643, BR, Bryce 41-5TFH, t10/14; cum 120K 10/15;
23735, 2,974, BR, Bryce 11-5MBH, t11/13; cum 9K 11/13;
23734, 2,485, BR, Bryce 11-5TFH, t11/13; cum 7K 11/13;
23277, 2,000, Newfield, Darlene Federal 152-97-13-24-3H, t1/13; cum 75K 11/13;
23276, 921, Newfield, Darlene Federal 152-97-13-24-10H, t1/13; cum 59K 11/13;
23275, 2,102, Newfield, Darlene Federal 152-97-13-24-2H, t1/13; cm 77K 11/13;
23022, 1,645, Newfield, Rolfsrud 152-96-32-2H, t7/13; cum 78K 11/13;
22779, 939, Newfield, Clear Creek Federal 152-97-36-25-3H, t9/12; cum 86K 11/13;
22778, 1,433, Newfield, Clear Creek Federal 152-97-36-25-2H, t9/12; cum 95K 11/13;
22598, 444, CLR, Randolph 1-2H, t6/12; cum 204K 11/13;
22388, 4,956, Whiting, Skaar Federal 41-3-3H, 30 states; 3 million pounds; t6/13; cum 371K 10/15;
22387, 4,460, Whiting, Skaar Federal 41-3-2H, 30 stages; 3 million pounds; t6/13; cum 326K 10/15;
22386, 4,456, Whiting, Skaar Federal 41-3-1H, t6/13; cum 335K 10/15;

2011
20687, 1,482, BR, Capitol 34-7TFH, t10/11; cum 219K 10/15; taken off-line 4/14 probably to allow fracking in neighboring wells;
20595, 1,834, Newfield, Wahus State 152-97-13-24-1H, t9/11; cum 213K 10/15;
20579,  PNC, BR, Watchman Peak 44-1MBH,

2010
19750, 2,338, BR, Devils Backbone 21-14H, t4/11; cum 201K 4/15;
19690, 2,884, BR, Mazama 44-21H, t7/11; cum 254K 5/14, (note: Mazama is a genus of deer; brockets or brocket deer belong to this species; not naturally found in North Dakota, as far as I know;
19312, 849, Hess, HA-Sanford-152-96-1819H-1, t5/11; cum 201K 5/14,
19102, 1,885, BR, Phantom Ship 24-22H, t12/10; cum 276K 5/14,
18820, 584, Newfield, Rolfsrud State 152-96-1720H, t8/10; cum 273K 10/15;
18691, 3,731, Newfield, Wisness Federal 152-96-4-2H, t7/11; cum 339K 10/15;
18626, 2,955, Newfield, Gladys 2-9H, t5/10; cum 212K 4/15;

Original Post

I know comparing a short lateral with a long lateral is almost comparing apples and oranges, not quite, but they are different, so to say that a short lateral that reports an IP of 3,731 would be the same as a long lateral reporting an IP of 7,400 would be inaccurate, but ... something to think about ... the reason I bring it up is because some folks note that long laterals at $8 million are expensive, but that would be similar to a short lateral costing $4 million ... again, not quite, and no one was "complaining" when short laterals were going in for $4 million -- at least I didn't hear a lot of complaining, whereas at $8 - 9 million I am hearing more comments/concerns/complaints.

Four wells coming off confidential list today:

• 18691, 3,731, Newfield, Wisness Federal 152-96-4-2H, Westberg  --- 35,849 bbls in first 25 days. Okay. Westberg field, Bakken. One section spacing. Middle Bakken at 10,573 feet.  26 stages. 2.2 million pounds of proppant;  no acid. s4/11; t7/11; cumulative 61,336 bbls in 53 days (less than 2 months); total depth 16,012 feet; fracked "on time." Sand only. I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E. cum 339K 10/15;
• 19058, 2,834, BEXP, Bures 20-29 1H; Alger; s4/11; t11/11; cum 298K 10/15;
• 20398, 1,313, GADECO, Golden 25-36H, Epping; s10/12/2011; t6/12; cum 125K 10/15;
• 20490, 2,609, QEP,  MHA 1-32-29H-150-91; Heart Butte; s4/11; t11/11; cum 349K 10/15;

Westberg Oil Field

• 31 sections or so
• Northeast corner of McKenzie County -- here we go!
• 15 miles northeast of Watford City

Other wells producing in the immediate area 

• 17345, 902, Newfield, t3/09; cum 375K 10/15; Bakken, 1-section spacing
• 18626, 2,955, Newfield, t5/10; cum 215K 10/15; Bakken, 1-section spacing
• 17687, 1,077, Newfield, t3/09; cum 277K 10/15; Bakken, 1-section spacing
• 18820, 584, Hess, t8/10; F; cum 273K 10/15; Bakken, 2-section spacing
• 16985, 472, Newfield, t8/08; cum 301K 10/15; Bakken, 1-section spacing; off-line as of 6/15;
• 18177, 1,844, BR, t10/09; F; cum 255K 10/15; Bakken, 2-section spacing; off-line as of 5/15; pretty much off-line since 10/13;

The files can be hard to read and information may not always be there, so take the following with the proverbial grain of salt.

I'm not sure if I'm reading the file report correctly, but it appears that #16985, completed in 2008, was fracked with five (5) stages with 700,000 pounds of Econoprop.

18177 was fracked with five (5) stages; again, I may be misreading the file, but that's what it looks like to me.

18820 was fracked with 18 stages; 900,000 pounds proppant and 1.8 million pounds sand.

Occupy Boston -- Absolutely Nothing To Do With The Bakken

Udpate

November 25, 2011: Occupy Indianapolis recruiting the homeless -- exactly what I predicted less than a month ago. This is not rocket science.

With the number of protesters dwindling and winter fast approaching, the organizers of the ‘Occupy’ movement in Indianapolis have turned to the homeless for help, recruiting them to help maintain the ‘Occupy’ presence in the city.

President Obama considers himself linked with the "Occupy" groupees.

Original Post: October 12, 2011

Link here.

The rambling Occupy Boston encampment in downtown has forced the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservancy to call off a food fest long planned for this weekend.

Wait until they start talking about canceling the Boston Marathon for the same reason or the St Patrick's Day Parade; something tells me the marathon and the parade will win out.

Although my "second" or "third" home is Boston, I really don't have a dog in this fight, and don't really care.

But as soon as I saw the photo, I realized that it's only a matter of time before the homeless will find a new home and new supporters. I would assume that "walk-around money" will be given to some of the chronically-homeless-by-choice to replace the sons and daughters of the rich and famous who are now participating in an exercise dubbed Occupy Boston.

As long as city leaders say it's okay for folks to start living in makeshift homes downtown, the movement will expand. Before you know it, we might see man-camps in the Boston Common.

Dickinson't Could Double in Population by 2012 -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Link here.

By the end of 2012 the city is expected to nearly double.

Megan Lowry talks with city officials as they start to plan for the city future.

Last month the city has approved 36 new building permits making the total for this year 188. Last year only 136 were approved. [Compare with 727 for Williston this calendar year so far through September, 2011.]

The the first thing we need to look at is where are we at and where are we going and where we want to be and if thats not what we want how do we change the direction.

Actually, the first thing they need to do is work with professional lodging folks.

According to city officials, the two biggest concerns ar housing and traffic.

Third will be dust.

August, 2011, Monthly Production Figures Posted -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Link here.

The first column with numbers is monthly production in million of bbls.
The next column is daily production in thousands of bbls.
Next is total number of producing wells in North Dakota.
Then, bbls/well.
Finally, bbls/well/day.

Month/YR --- mil bbls---daily (K)---wells-----bbls/well----bbls/well/day

Aug 09 ------ 7.2 ------ 232 ------ 4312 ------ 1670 ------ 54


Aug 10 ------ 10.2 ------ 330 ------ 4921 ------ 2079 ------ 67

Jan 11 ------ 10.6 ------ 343 ------ 5067 ------ 2098 ------ 68

Feb 11 ------ 9.8 ------ 349 ------ 5089 ------ 1918 ------ 69

Mar 11 ------ 11.2 ------ 360 ------ 5216 ------ 2140 ------ 69

Apr 11 ------ 10.6 ------ 351 ------ 5310 ------ 1984 ------ 66

May 11 ------ 112.9 ------ 364 ------ 5340 ------ 2114 ------ 68

Jun 11 ------ 115.5 ------ 385 ------ 5319 ------ 2171 ------ 72

Jul 11 ------ 131.7 ------ 425 ------ 5521 ------ 2386 ------ 77

Aug 11 ------ 137.7 ------ 444 ------ 5702 ------ 2415 ------ 78

Some numbers have been rounded.

The "official" production average 444,142 bbls/day during the month of August, 2011.

Photo of the Month -- Williston Herald Posts Aerial Photo of Williston Activity -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA -- August 12, 2011

Last year there was a total of $100 million in building permits issued by Williston. That was a record and everyone was amazed.

This year the total should surpass $300 million. I am at loss for the right adjective that hasn't already been used.

Link here.

What the photo shows
First: the medical center -- Mayo west -- smile

• Mercy Medical Center's new Ambulatory Care Center -- according to the Herald (see note below, at end of this post)
• Hampton Inn and Suites -- next door to the hospital; hospital interest
• Trinity Health Clinic -- across the bypass from the hospital -- from Minot, ND; I wouldn't be surprised if the clinic leases out some space to non-medical businesses; it is huge -- 3-stories, I believe
• Motel 6 -- behind the clinic
• Commerical and residential development (see more below)
• New housing behind the clinic

Second: the residential areas northwest of Williston

• The Timbers Subdivision
• Granite Peak Subdivision
• Harvest Hills Subdivision
• New apartments and housing to the north of Timbers, east of Harvest Hills

Most interesting is the "commercial and residential development" labeled as #10 in the photo. This is a huge parcel of land and it seems the folks "in the know" are being a bit coy about what will go there. No sign has been erected that says what is going on there. The fact that the Herald does not further define the activity suggests a number of things (which I won't speculate on openly). The topsoil has been removed, so there is activity and development is going foward, but apparently it is zoned for commercial and here I see the Herald reporting it as commercial/residential. Sitting along the bypass, one might think it should be commercial -- everything else along the bypass is pretty much commercial (unless "grandfathered in"). Nursing homes or assisted living, however, would make sense right next to the medical complex, and if done right would work out very nicely. My hunch is that if everyone works together on this, this parcel of land could be a great win-win for everyone. If it's a tax issue for the city, ... I will keep my thoughts to myself. If it's an issue of residential along a bypass, that should not be a problem. If developed correctly, and trees separating the highway from the residents, there should be no problem. With the recent story of seniors seeing their rent go from $700 to $2000/month, senior housing might be a great fit right there.

What the photo doesn't show:

• The Schlumberger annex west of town along state highway 2&85
• The Baker Hughes SuperSite west of town, a mile or so back from the road (state highway 2 & 85)
• The very clean, modern series of buildings on the east side of Highway 85 south of 4-mile corner; those really are super; a very nice first impression of the city coming from the south
• The new buildings going up north of 4-mile corner which I have not seen but am being told they are going up
• The cryo centers west of Williston; I'm told there are three; I've seen one
• The proposed site for Sand Creek Retail Center, south of Harvest Hills and west of the hospital

Data points from the article:

• As of September 30, 727 building permits issue by the city in calendar year 2011
• Total value: $235 million
• Estimate: >$300 million by the end of the calendar year
• This shatters the previous record, set in 2010: $106 million

There is a time lag of about two years between getting projects completed and being placed on tax rolls
Not in the story: it is my understanding that the Bakken is the largest industrial park in the US -- not just the county, but the entire Bakken is being defined as one huge industrial park; it is the second largest industrial park in North America -- the Canadian oil sands are #1

************

With regard to Mercy Medical Center: I received a note today from their facilities director. It should be noted that Catholic Health Initiatives will be funding the Birthing Center. The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust will be funding the equipment for the new Cancer Center at the hospital. The Cancer Center is the hospital's next project and will be sited on the opposite side of the hospital from the birthing center.



For Investors Only -- Six (6) Energy Stocks That Could Double -- SeekingAlpha -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

I can't remember if I've linked this story before.

Six energy companies, including some very familiar to those who follow the Bakken, such as KOG --

Earnings season has begun and it's gonna be very, very interesting. I think some folks on the East Coast who do not follow the Bakken are going to be very, very surprised.

For Investors Only -- CLR Ready to Pop -- Motley Fool

A throw-away story/link but some folks are interested.

Rambling Reminiscing in the Bakken -- Williston, North Dakota, USA

A family friend asked that I post some photos of our old neighborhood.

The following series of photos focus on two houses.

One home, the second one pictured farther down, was one of the childhood homes of Phil Jackson, NBA basketball coach for the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

Notice the huge evergreen trees around the house pictured at the far top. Most of these trees were purchased from Andy Manz, I believe, fifty to sixty years ago when they would have been small enough to be held by a teenager.

At the very top photo, note the evergreen tree to the far right, immediately behind the pickup truck. My father and I went to an undisclosed location (but outside the North Unit of the Teddy Roosevelt National Park) and dug up a small tree and carried it back to the house. The tree was taken off private land, not public land, about fifty-two years ago. It is absolutely thrilling that no one over the years has yet brought any of those trees down.

In elementary school (kindergarden/first grade) I remember coloring books with trees, squirrels, and robins. These were things I had never seen in Williston at that time. I colored them, and probably even drew them, but never knew why -- we certainly didn't have such wildlife in Williston. Okay, an occasional tree, some robins, but I never recall any squirrels when I was in elementary school -- maybe through third grade. I do remember the western meadowlark -- what an incredibly beautiful and hardy bird.

Now the city is full of squirrels, and robins, and trees.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania -- The State Capital -- Chapter 11 Bankruptcy -- Recovery Plan Unacceptable

Update

November 30, 2016: whatever happened to Harrisburg? The seven-term mayor has been indicted on 500 counts of corruption. 

What was the result of that case?

“He has pled not guilty and the case is ongoing.”

“But it’s not just him. It’s the people who advised him. It’s the people who drafted the documents. He didn’t do this alone. Now, he’s facing 500 charges of corruption. He has pled not guilty to all of them. A trial date has not been set, but this is going to trial. The people who helped him — none of them have been held accountable. He didn’t do this by himself. He didn’t draft those documents alone. He didn’t write this stuff up alone. He had lawyers, accountants — they were all in on this.”

“The Attorney General of Pennsylvania has said that they are also being investigated. There is a grand jury investigating right now. They are looking into this to see what charges they can bring against the professionals who helped him. Also, the Governor of Pennsylvania has hired a law firm from Washington DC to go after the firms and the professionals civilly to try and claw back some of the money that Harrisburg lost in these loans that shouldn’t have been issued.”

October 14, 2011: Pennsylvania, the state, sues Harrisburg, the city: Hey, you can't declare bankruptcy. Pay your bills.

Original Post
Due to the browser pecularities of Microsoft IE, it is too cumbersome to put in the links right now -- if I remember, I will do it later.

I follow the budgetary problems of US cities at the sidebar on the right, way down near the bottom, called "Doomsday -- US Cities" or something like that.

I've been following Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for quite some time.

This week, I see, they finally stuck the fork in the steak.

Pennsylvania's capital city voted to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday as it faced a state takeover, according to media reports.

The City Council voted 4-3 to seek bankruptcy protection for Harrisburg, which has a debt burden five times its general-fund budget "because of an overhaul and expansion of a trash-to-energy incinerator that doesn’t generate enough revenue," Bloomberg reported.

The bankruptcy means the city will lose state aid, but that is better than the proposed recovery plans, Councilwoman Susan Brown-Wilson said, according to Bloomberg.

Wow, there's a lot packed into that very, very short story:

• Losing state aid is preferable to "we are the government and we are here to help"
• Another renewable energy -- green jobs -- debacle -- wow -- I can't make this stuff up

I assume there is much more to this story -- like who made money on the incinerator. Certainly one city project doesn't put a city into bankruptcy. Something tells me this is just the tip of a story that includes a lot of ...

Here's the Wall Street Journal story -- a much longer story.

After months of contentious debate among city and state officials, Harrisburg, Pa., filed for municipal bankruptcy protection, days before the state Senate was scheduled to vote on taking over the struggling capital city's finances.

The city, which faces $300 million in debt over a failed trash incinerator project, ...

Robert Philbin, a spokesman for Mayor Linda Thompson, who had opposed such a filing, said the mayor thinks the move is unfortunate and that it will complicate matters and add to expenses for the city. Mr. Philbin said the mayor would have preferred the council come to her with an alternative plan, and pointed to a recent poll of registered Harrisburg voters showing only 13% supported a bankruptcy filing.

And some think the Williston City Council has challenges.

Pick-Up Heaven -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Yup, one of the back lots for the car dealer -- Murphy's -- on Million Dollar Way -- pick-up heaven.

Random Photo of Activity in the Bakken -- Hotels, Again

I posted pictures of these motels/hotels/inns over the weekend, but I am posting this one again for another reason.

This photograph was taken from the parking lot of the International Inn. For folks unfamiliar with Williston, this will give them some idea how important the lodging industry is to Williston and how so many have built around the airport. It is a five-minute walk to the airport from these four hotels, and then there's a fifth to the immediate right (south), Missouri Flats Inn.

When this area is completed, it is going to be a very, very nice area. The three motels/hotels/inns in this photo are all managed by the same investment group. My hunch is executives will take a limousine shuttle to the airport next door, but folks like me will walk along a nice promenade yet to be built. It would be really cool if they put in an underground walkway frrom the MHIs to the airport -- or even a skywalk. It would be really, really impressive with a skywalk.

Boots and Coots -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

... and this is why I love to blog, and put up random notes ... I did not know this ... it will be old news to some, news to others....

Boots and Coots merged with Halliburton. The acquisition was completed one year ago, September 17, 2010.

And Boots and Coots is in the Bakken -- at least to this degree:

Random Photos of Activity in the Bakken -- Midwest Motor Express -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

For some reason, Midwest Motor Express always intrigued me when I was growing up in Williston. Maybe at heart I wanted to be a truck driver or maybe it was the high school colors, orange and black.

Regardless, it was my impression that there was only one MME truck whenever I rode my bicycle past their shop; now, like every other trucker in Williston, the company seems to have grown significantly.

I do not know yet if the new building going up to the north is MME's or yet another company on Million Dollar Way.

MME has always had one of the "cleaner" sites on Million Dollar Way. Uncluttered, austere, "clean."

Climate Skeptics

Link here.

Editor’s Note: What global warming gatekeeper James Hansen failed to mention here is that climate skeptics aren’t just winning the battle, they’ve won the battle. Ironically, if anthropgenic global warming had been an official religion it would have had more chance success, but as science, it was doomed from day one.

Very simple to Apple's success. Head-to-head with WINTEL in the early days, Apple computers should have been crushed by WINTEL, but Apple was akin to a religious cult and hung in there. And the rest is history.

Comparing Two Side-by-Side CLR Wells -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Elsewhere, they are discussing the Genevieve wells in Hamlet field drilled by Continental Resources.

I'm still learning the fine points of interpreting well files (some of which are not completed in the first place).

So, here's a first look at the two Genevieve wells. As noted, these are in Hamlet field, up north, in Divide County, not the core Bakken as generally accepted.

1. Looking at the GIS map server, they parallel each other, probably about 800 feet separation laterally, base on the map. They are both long laterals, running pretty much straight north-south.

2. From their names, and from the NDIC pool, one cannot determine exactly which formation the wells target. Both have a simple "H" designation; the NDIC says both are in the Bakken pool.

3. 20540, 377, Genevieve 2-27H, TD - 18,863 feet, targeted the middle Bakken, at 9,082 feet; 24 frac stages, and ~ 3 million pounds of proppant (about 2 million pounds sand;  < 1 million pounds ceramic -- numbers rounded); no acid reported.  S4/11; T7/11; cumulative 12K (but only 36 days of production); not yet on a pump.

4. 18598, 549, Genevieve 1-27H, TD - 18,708 feet (note the difference of 155 feet), targeted the Three Forks at 9,175 feet; pump; number of frac stages not reported on SFN 2468; ~ 2 million pounds of proppand (note the difference; about 650,000 pounds of ceramic); no acid reported; S2/20; T4/10; cumulative 64K -- about 16 months)

5. Slightly more ceramic proppant used in the middle Bakken well; lower IP in the middle Bakken compared to the TF. Three Forks about 100 feet deeper than the middle Bakken in this area. Again, some numbers rounded.

6. Note the time interval between spudding and testing: well within the six-month confidential period suggesting that CLR's five dedicated frack teams are keeping up with the drilling, at least here.

7. So, about 500 feet lateral separation and 100 feet horizontal separation; two formations in same spacing unit (1280-acre unit. Good enough wells to justify 500-foot spacing in both formations, which would mean 6 - 8 wells in this spacing unit eventually.

8. In addition to these wells, I looked at six (6) other wells in the immediate area. They were all CLR long horizontals, all had IPs in the 400 - 700 range. It appears all will hit 100,000 bbls cumulative in about 18 months. I use the 100,000 bbl milestone to track when wells should pay for themselves at the wellhead.

Random Photo of Activity in the Bakken -- New Pizzeria

Someone mentioned this new pizzeria to me the other day; I have not had the chance to visit yet, so no reviews. Sad face.

It is located on the east side of Million Dollar Way, just south of the airport (across the highway, of course).

[It appears both spellings are acceptable: pizzeria and pizzaria, but the former is preferred.]

School Funding -- National Data -- Includes North Dakota Data -- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Update

By the way, this is why North Dakota students do so well in history: "we" no longer have US-public-school-trained teachers teaching history. Rather, our students learn history through "the history teachers":

Henry VIII, thehistoryteachers

Original Post

I think it was yesterday that I posted that there were 272 new students in the Williston school district -- I was told that in a passing conversation and I have not confirmed that, and exactly what district(s) that all includes. Be that as it may, it changes a bit of my perspective on what is going on in Williston.

I have been parrotting the "general consensus" that new folks coming into the area will not bring their families (for whatever reason), and that once the work goes away (20 years from now), the single men and geographically separated husbands and fathers will return to their homes.

Whether "272" is exactly correct or not, the number comes from a reliable source. In addition, there will be new folks moving in throughout the year, although the number will be significantly less during the winter/school year.

I don't think it's a stretch to say that for most families, their number one concern is their children: their children's health, their education, and their environment (i.e., safe and stimulating).

North Dakota, in general, and Williston, specifically, have always had a great reputation with regard to the elementary, middle and high schools. I believe there was a recent story published that compared North Dakota college admission test scores and the state as a whole did very, very well. In the past, some have argued the results were skewed because the tests were taken only by those heading to college. It is my understanding that North Dakota now requires all students to take the ACT test. But I digress.

The purpose of this post is to direct folks to something called the "Center on Budget and Policy Priorities," which published the funding outlook for schools on a statewide basis. The story was published last week.

This is the headline: New School Year Brings Steep Custs in State Funding for Schools

It's a great link and one should immediately look to where North Dakota sits with regard to funding. North Dakota was #1 in funding increase for 2012 over 2008, increasing by 24 percent. Iowa was second at 17 percent. Alaska was third at 14 percent and then it trailed off fairly quickly.  At the bottom: South Carolina, down 24 percent; Arizona, down 24%; California, down 23%, and so forth.

When you get to the site, there are some interesting data points, and/or graphs not shown:

1. How much in "raw dollars" does each state spend/student?
2. What is the high school graduation rate in each state? (Or any metric comparing success to dollars spent? There are no such metrics.)
3. For eye-catching results, the center chose to show FY08-FY12 as the first graphs -- the worse years of the recession. As you scroll down, the graphs farther down finally compare this year with last year.
4. No graphs of teacher/student ratio? Is funding going to teachers or to administration?

When you look at the graphs, one understands exactly why the current administration's new half-trillion dollar stimulus bill is focused on teachers and schools. These are some of the states with the largest percentage cuts in the past year: Illinois (-12%); Wisconsin (-10%); Califoria (-9%), and then Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York.  These are hugely important states going into the 2012 election year.

Again, the report focuses on FY08-FY12.

Location of New Retail Center -- Old News -- But I Finally Understand It -- Bakken, Williston, ND

It's been difficult for me to envision exactly where the retail center will be on which Menard's will be located. Off to the west of the bypass, south of Herman Oil is where I thought it would be, but the drainage is not good as that tract of land sits low to the highway.

But now, a reader has sent in a perfect description of where this retail center will be.

As you read the description below, if you have been out to Harvest Hills development, and at the circle, going directly south you would end up at/near the BHI SuperSite complex. Just east of this road, before you get to BHI/industrial park area, will be the retail center on top of the hill, looking down over Sand Creek (if I understand the following correctly):

The retail center is pretty much southwest of Herman Oil. Or across the Sand Creek Valley from where the new Motel 6 is under construction. It is up on top of the hill. If you go in front of Mercy on 11th and head west, a gravel road takes you down the hill and prairie trail to the top. This will become a road that will take you all the way to the Lindsey Road ( where Baker Huges is building their mega complex) Sand Creek center will be basically between 2&85 to the south and 11th street to the north. 32nd street will be a new feeder street that will stretch from Harvest Hills SOUTH to 2&85...this will be just to the west of Sand Creek retail center. So if you draw the lines...Sand Creek retail will be close to the intersection of 11th and 32nd (soon to be built streets).

I don't know if this area, including Harvest Hills, the Timbers, south to BHI SuperSite, and then east to the bypass to include the new retail center (of which Menard's is just one piece) is a larger tract of land than the "Williston I grew up in," but it is a huge tract of land, easily the size, I suppose of a Ray or Tioga. Maybe a stretch. I have trouble judging these things, but it's a starting point for discussion.

Growing up, we frequented the area, but "we" always called it Sandy Creek. Apparently it is "Sand Creek."

Here's how Williston's master planner is developing the area: click here.