Friday Morning Links; Human Interest Story on Williston Mayor; The EPA's Bottom Line -- The Feds Want To Partner With North Dakota

Despite the volatility of the price of oil this past week, CVX and XOM have held up very, very nicely. In fact, it appears CVX could hit a new all-time high today; and XOM looks like it will open higher, also flirting with it's 52-week high. BRK-B did hit a new high (owns BNI). Union Pacific Railroad has trended down the past week; stories pointing to further deterioration in the economy. Dividend plays seem to be doing well. Incredibly, T hit a new 52-week high today and pays 5%. I would not be a bit surprised if CVX pays a special dividend. Thank goodness the Justice Department would not allow another oil company to buy CVX -- someone could use CVX cash to help pay for the buyout. 2 billion shares x $3.00 --> $6 billion; CVX has $20 billion in cash. Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Don't make any investment decisions based on what you read at this site. See "welcome" and disclaimer.

RBN Energy: The Permian -- primer on pipelines. This is another outstanding article by RBN Energy. The Permian is an old field but it has similar problems that the Bakken has. There is an interesting data point about crude-by-rail out of the Permian which will pertain also to the Bakken.

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File under: Have We Finally Lost All Our Marbles?

ACLS stops father-daughter dances in Rhode Island. Sad. (I shouldn't have to point out this has nothing to do with the Bakken.)

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Back to the Bakken -- To Infinity and Beyond

DNR Corporate Presentation

The DNR corporate presentation. Briefly mentions the XOM deal. (Thank you, Don.)

Reuters Profile of Harold Hamm as Mitt Romney's Energy Czar 

Link here. First paragraph: about the "controversial" Keystone XL. Nothing controversial about the high price of gasoline.

Said: The Pace of Development is Stunning

Unsaid: And We Need To Slow It Down; It Will Kill Renewables

From the Dickinson Press/InsideClimate News:

Jim Martin, regional administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said during the event’s regulatory panel that he’s been meeting with North Dakota officials about the challenges in the Bakken and how they can work together. 

“The bottom line is we want to work with you in identifying these issues and partnering to solve them,” Martin said. 

EPA representatives have made visits to North Dakota this year to gain a better understanding of the Bakken, Martin said. “The rapidity of development is stunning,” Martin said.

To repeat, in case you missed it the first time: "The bottom line is we want to work with you in identifying these issues and partnering to solve them." Through regulation. When Washington says "bottom line" they mean it. They won't give up. It's the bottom line.

Williston: Bust to Boom in 18 Years

Human interest story on the mayor of Williston and how he has seen the city go from bust to boom.

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Note to the Granddaughters

This is where your great-great grandfather homesteaded; where your great grandfather grew up; and where your grandfather summered: Newell, South Dakota. My grandfather raised sheep just outside of Newell, South Dakota. [If the link is broken, it was a story in the Rapid City Journal about the plunging price for sheep with a great photo of the sheep corrals outside Newell.]