Active Rigs in North Dakota Back to Intra-Boom Low: 181; Only Three (3) New Permits

Bakken Operations

See first comment: to make it easier to access the links, here they are:

• Footage: http://ow.ly/i/1aQ6l
• "The Float": http://ow.ly/i/1bG3Z

Active rigs: 181 (decreasing, ties intra-boom low)

For newbies, after reaching a high of 218 active rigs in the current boom, the number of active rigs in North Dakota gradually decreased to 190 and then to 184 before the number hit a low of 181.

For the past several weeks it has fluctuated between 181 and 185, generally staying around 183 - 184. Since I do not follow activity in Montana, I can't say how much of the recent decline is due to rigs moving over the state line. There is anecdotal evidence that drilling in the Bakken along the North Dakota border is increasing in Montana. 

Three (3) new permits

• Operators: Mountain View, Marathon, Triangle
• Fields: Wolf Bay (Dunn), Rawson (McKenzie)
• Comments: Mountain View has a permit for a wildcat in Divide County.

Wells released from confidential status were reported earlier; see sidebar at the right.