Eight (8) New Permits -- The Williston Basin

Bakken Operations

Active rigs: 187 (steady)

Eight (8) new permits --

• Operators:  QEP (4), Baytex (2), Fidelity, and Hess
• Fields: Grail (McKenzie), Stanley (Mountrail), Timber Creek (McKenzie), Whiteaker (Divide)
• Comments: The QEP permits in the Grail are very exciting; this is part of the QEP/Helis deal; see sidebar at the right.

Wells coming off confidential list were reported earlier; see sidebar at the right.

Assuming Monday is a normal business day, there is only one more day in 2012 for issuing new permits. At close of business today, the NDIC had issued 2,520 permits for calendar year 2012 for oil and gas permits (this does not include permits for salt water disposal wells). It appears, assuming Monday is a normal business day, we will end 2012 with 2,545 permits issued for the calendar year.