Week 9: February 26, 2012 -- March 3, 2012

New record for active rigs in North Dakota: 207, Saturday morning, March 3, 2012

New record for active rigs in North Dakota: 206, Friday evening, March 2, 2012

Man-camp ban in Williams County now indefinite length of time (ban until further notice)

GM "temporarily" halts production of the Volt

Hearing dockets for March, 2012: Hess requesting permits for 468 new wells

$10/hr --> $100,000/year as a diesel mechanic in the Bakken

Fourteen-screen movie theater coming to Williston; Menard's shopping center

Two daily non-stops Minneapolis-Williston to begin shortly

Romney names Harold Hamm his energy advisor

Largest one-time contract for road repair in McKenzie County history

New Record: Friday Evening, March 2, 2012 -- 206 Active Rigs Drilling in North Dakota

A reader alerted me to this and I just confirmed. The NDIC website is reporting 206 active rigs drilling in North Dakota, which sets a new record. The previous record of 205 was set on February 1, 2012.

I am very, very impressed. It's even more impressive when one realizes an increased number of rigs are being moved just across the North Dakota border into eastern Montana. Those being moved to Montana do not represent a large number, but it does affect the North Dakota total.

Alkali Creek Oil Field -- Random Conversation About Some Recent Oasis Wells in the Bakken, North Dakota, USA -- March 2, 2012

News

March 16, 2015: random look at a busy location in Alkali Creek oil field, sections 20/21/22-155-94. 

March 7, 2014: CLR cancels thirteen (13) Linbeck permits. It appears that many of these permits have been replaced by Jersey Federal permits. 

Permits

2016 
as of April 20, 2016 -- none


2015 (the list is complete)
32397, loc, CLR,
32396, loc, CLR,
32395, loc, CLR,
32325, SI/NC, Hess,
32324, SI/NC, Hess,
32323, SI/NC, Hess,
32322, 1,638, Hess, EN-Freda-154-94-2635H-10, t9/16; cum --
32321, 1,026, Hess, EN-Freda-154-94-2635H-9, t9/16; cum 4K after 1 day;
32320, 583, Hess, EN-Freda-154-94-2635H-8, t9/16; cum 4K after 5 days;
32031, 1,275, Hess, EN-Pederson-LW-154-94-0408H-7, 4 sections, t2/16; cum 19K over first 13 days;
32030, 917, Hess, EN-Pederson-LW-154-94-0408H-6, 4 sections, t2/16; cum 20K over first 19 days;
32029, A, Hess, EN-Pederson-LW-154-94-0408H-5, 4 sections, no test date, 33K over first 25 days;
31718, conf, Hess,
31717, conf, Hess,
31422, conf, Hess, EN-Leo E-154-94-2432H-8, 
31421, conf, Hess,  
31417, conf, Hess,  
31416, conf, Hess,  
31415, conf, Hess,  
31414, conf, Hess,  
31413, conf, Hess,  
31412, conf, Hess,  
31283, conf, Hess, EN-VP And R-154-94-2536H-8
31282, conf, Hess,  
31281, conf, Hess,  
31280, conf, Hess,  
30963, loc, Oasis,Sprately 5494 34-13 11B,
30962, loc, Oasis,  
30961, loc, Oasis,  
30960, loc, Oasis,  
30959, loc, Oasis,  
30650, loc, CLR, Sorenson 3-16H,
30649, loc, CLR,
30648, loc, CLR,
30647, loc, CLR,
30646, loc, CLR,
30645, loc, CLR,   

2014 (list is complete)
30262, conf, Hess, EN-Madisyn-LE-154-94-0705H-4,
30261, conf, Hess,
30260, conf, Hess,
30259, conf, Hess, 
30152, 1,051, Hess, EN-Weyrauch-LW-154-93-1918H-1, 4 sections, t7/15; cum 99K 2/16;
29671, 754, CLR, Thronson Federal 6-21H1, t8/15; cum 131K 2/16;
29670, 1,195, CLR, Thronson Federal 7-21H, t8/15; cum 104K 2/16;
29669, 962, CLR, Sorenson 6-16H1, t8/15; cum 69K 2/16;
29668, 1,122, CLR, Thronson Federal 8-21H1, t8/15; cum 114K 2/16;
29667, 1,109, CLR, Thronson Federal 9-21H, t8/15; cum 117K 2/16;
29544, 871, Hess, EN-Madisyn-154-94-0706H-4, t4/15; cum 60K 10/15;
29537, 681, Hess, EN-Sorenson B-155-94-3526H-6, t1/16; cum 52K 8/16;
29536, 862, Hess, EN-Sorenson B-155-94-3526H-5, t1/16; cum 61K 8/16;
29535, 702, Hess, EN-Sorenson B-155-94-3526H-4, t1/16; cum 51K 8/16;
29534, 455, Hess, EN-Sorenson B-155-94-3526H-3, t1/16; cum 35K 8/16;
29188, 1,199, Hess, EN-Nelson-155-94-2833H-6, t2/15; cum121K 8/16;
29187, 746, Hess, EN-Nelson-155-94-2833H-7, t4/15; cum 13K 4/15;
29186, 817, Hess, EN-Nelson-155-94-2833H-8, t2/15; cum 34K 4/15;
29185, 650, Hess, EN-Nelson-155-94-2833H-9, t2/15; cum 35K 4/15;
28956, conf , Hess,
28955, conf, Hess,
28954, conf, Hess,
28953, conf, Hess,
28952, conf, Hess,
28951, conf, Hess,
28916, 1,230, Hess, EN-VP And R-154-94-2536H-4, t3/15; cum 121K 10/15;
28915, 1,194, Hess, EN-VP And R-154-94-2536H-3, t3/15; cum 42K 4/15;
28914, 1,647, Hess, EN-VP And R-154-94-2536H-2, t3/15; cum 49K 4/15;
28913, 1,711, Hess, EN-VP And R-154-94-2536H-1, t3/15; cum 80K 4/15;
28857, 1,035, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 41-22 2B, t10/15; cum 16K 10/15;
28856, 2,574, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 41-22 11T2, t10/15; cum 25K 10/15;
28855, 2,190, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 41-22 8T, t10/15; cum 9K 10/15;
28854, 1,575, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 41-22 14T3, t10/15; cum 5K 10/15;
28333, updated here , 954, CLR, Jersey 29-6XH, t5/15; cum 81K 10/15;
28328, 1,368, Hess, EN-Freda-154-94-2635H-7, t1/15; cum 139K 10/15;
28327, 1,442, Hess, EN-Freda-154-94-2635H-6, t1/15; cum 118K 10/15;
28326, 1,587, Hess, EN-Freda-154-94-2635H-5, t1/15; cum 150K 10/15;
28325, 1,273, Hess, EN-Freda-154-94-2635H-4, t2/15; cum 119K 10/15;
28324, 1,414, Hess, EN-Freda-154-94-2635H-7, t2/15; cum 155K 10/15;
28251, 683, Hess, EN-Johnson A-155-94-2932H-5, t11/14; cum 71K 10/15;
28250, SI/NC-->TATD, Hess,
28245, 792, Hess, EN-Madisyn-154-94-0706H-2, t3/15; cum 65K 10/15;
28244, 823, Hess, EN-Madisyn-154-94-0706H-3, t4/15; cum 55K 10/15;
28080, 2,067, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 42-22 3B, t10/15; cum 4K 10/15;
28079, 689/IA, Oasis, Helling Trsut Federal 5494 42-22 12T2, t12/15; cum 4K over 8 days and then IA;
28078, 849, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 42-22 9T, t11/15; cum --
28077, SI/NC, Oasis,
28070, 1,458, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 42-22 7B, t2/15; cum 288K 8/16;
28069, 1,848, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 42-22 6B, t2/15; cum 280K 8/16;
28068, 1,519, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 42-22 5B, t11/15; cum 107K 8/16;
28064, 1,476, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 43-22 4B, t11/15; cum 12K 10/15; 9 days
28063, SI/NC, Oasis,
28062, 1,029, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 43-22 10T, t2/15; cum 117K 10/15;  
28061, 961, Oasis, Helling Trust Federal 5494 43-22 16T3, t2/15; cum 112K 10/15; 
28002, updated here, CLR, Jersey 4-6H3, Alkali Creek,
28001, updated here, CLR, Jersey 5-6, Alkali Creek,
28000, updated here, CLR, Jersey 6-6H2, Alkali Creek,
27999, updated here, CLR, Jersey 7-6H1, Alkali Creek,
27998, updated here, CLR, Jersey 8-6H3, Alkali Creek,
27997, updated here, CLR, Jersey 1-6H, Alkali Creek,
27996, updated here, CLR, Jersey 2-6H2, Alkali Creek,
27995, updated here, CLR, Jersey 3-6H1, Alkali Creek, 
27907, 570, CLR, Vachal 10-27H3,Alkali Creek, s3/14; t12/14; cum 82K 10/15;
27906, 1,284, CLR, Vachal 11-27H3, Alkali Creek, s3/14; t12/14; cum 149K 10/15;
27898, updated here, CLR, Jersey 15-6H1, Alkali Creek,
27897, updated here, CLR, Jersey 14-6H2, Alkali Creek,
27896, updated here, CLR, Jersey 13-6H, Alkali Creek,
27895, updated here, CLR, Jersey 12-6H3, Alkali Creek,
27894, updated here, CLR, Jersey 11-6H1, Alkali Creek,
27893, updated here, CLR, Jersey 10-6H2, Alkali Creek,
27892, updated here, CLR, Jersey 9-6H, Alkali Creek,
27884, updated here, CLR, Jersey Federal 22-6H2, Alkali Creek,
27883, updated here, CLR, Jersey Federal 21-6H, Alkali Creek,
27882, updated here, CLR, Jersey Federal 20-6H3, Alkali Creek,
27881, updated here, CLR, Jersey Federal 19-6H1, Alkali Creek, 
27880, updated here, CLR, Jersey 18-6H2, Alkali Creek,
27879, updated here, CLR, Jersey 17-6H, Alkali Creek,
27878, updated here , CLR, Jersey 16-6H3, Alkali Creek,
27832, updated here, CLR, Jersey 29-6H, Alkali Creek,
27831, updated here , CLR, Jersey 28-6H3, Alkali Creek,
27830, updated here, CLR, Jersey 27-6H1, Alkali Creek,
27829, updated here, CLR, Jersey 26-6H2, Alkali Creek,
27828, updated here, CLR, Jersey 25-6H, Alkali Creek,
27827, updated here, CLR, Jersey 24-6H3, Alkali Creek,
27826, updated here, CLR, Jersey 23-6H1, Alkali Creek,
27683, 762, Hess, EN-Pederson-LW-154-94-0408H-4, Alkali Creek, t1/15; cum 72K 10/15;
27682, 1,183, Hess, EN-Pederson-LW-154-94-0408H-3, Alkali Creek, 4 sections, t1/15; cum 104K 10/15;
27681, 892, Hess, EN-Pederson-LW-154-94-0408H-2, Alkali Creek, 4 sections, t1/15; cum 85K 10/15;
27680, 1,110, Hess, EN-Pederson-LW-154-94-0408H-1, Alkali Creek, 4 sections, t12/14; cum 107K 10/15;
27674, 1,393, Hess, EN-Leo E-154-94-2423H-4, Alkali Creek, t6/15; cum 87K 10/15;
27673, 1,040, Hess, EN-Leo E-154-94-2423H-5, Alkali Creek, t6/15; cum 68K 10/15;
27672, 1,176, Hess, EN-Leo E-154-94-2423H-6, Alkali Creek, t6/15; cum 87K 10/15;
27671, 1,062, Hess, EN-Leo E-154-94-2423H-7, Alkali Creek, 5/15; cum 71K 10/15;
27574, 1,154, Hess, EN-Jeffrey A-155-94-2723H-9, Alkali Creek, 4 secs, t11/14; cum 100K 10/15; 
27573, 837, Hess, EN-Jeffrey A-155-94-2723H-8, Alkali Creek, 4 sections, t12/14 cum 83K 10/15;
27572, 1,265, Hess, EN-Jeffrey A-155-94-2723H-7, Alkali Creek, 4 sections, t12/14; cum 101K 10/15;
27571, 944, Hess, EN-Jeffrey A-155-94-2723H-6, Alkali Creek, 4 secs; t11/14; cum68K 10/15;

2013 (complete)

27341, 816, CLR, Vachal 9-27H2, s3/14; t12/14; cum 65K 4/15;
27340, 907, CLR, Vachal 6-27H1, s2/14; t12/14; cum 77K 4/15;
27339, 1,519, CLR, Vachal 7-27H, t12/14; cum 70K 4/15;
27338, 863, CLR, Vachal 8-27H, t12/14; cum 67K 4/15;
26842, 1,108, Hess, EN-Leo-154-94-2324H-3, t5/14; cum 181K 2/16; only 14 days in 2/16;

26841, 1,080, Hess, EN-Leo-154-94-2324H-2, t6/14; cum 190K 2/16; 26 days in 2/16;

26561, PNC, CLR, Linbeck 14-6H1,

26560, PNC, CLR, Linbeck Federal 13-6H, 

26559, PNC, CLR, Linbeck Federal 12-6H1,

26558, PNC, CLR, Linbeck Federal 11-6H,

26557, PNC, CLR, Linbeck 10-6H1, 

26556, PNC, CLR, Linbeck 9-6H, 

26555, PNC, CLR, Linbeck 8-6H1, 

26554, PNC, CLR, Linbeck 7-6H, 

26553, PNC CLR, Linbeck 6-6H1,

26552, PNC, CLR, Linbeck 5-6H,

26551, PNC, CLR, Linbeck 4-6H1, 

26550, PNC, CLR, Linbeck 3-6H,

26549, PNC, CLR, Linbeck 2-6H1,

26548, PNC, CLR, Linbeck 1-6H,

26507, PNC, Oasis, Dawson 5494 12-1 3T3,

26506, PNC, Oasis, Dawson 5494 11-1 2T2,

26501, PNC, CLR, Vachal 7-27H1, 

26500, PNC, CLR, Vachal 6-27H 

26445, 1,260, CLR, Vachal 4-27H, t6/14; cum 162K 2/16;

26444, 1,703, CLR, Vachal 5-27H1, t4/14; cum 151K 2/16;

26440, 1,368, CLR, Vachal 3-27H1, t5/14; cum 186K 2/16;

26273, 1,639, CLR, Rehak Federal 6-25H1, t12/14; cum 96K 4/15; updated at link;

26272, 1,307, CLR, Rehak Federal 7-25H, t12/14; cum 87K 4/15; updated at link;

25966, 955, CLR, Rehak Federal 5-25H1, t5/14; cum 32K 6/14; updated at link;

25965, 1,112, CLR, Rehak Federal 4-25H, t5/14; cum 29k 5/14; updated at link;

25924, 55, Hess, EN-Jeffrey A 155-94-2734H-5, t5/14; cum 100K 2/16;

25923, 803, Hess, EN-Jeffrey A 155-94-2734H-4, t5/14; cum 93K 2/16;

25464, 1,288, Hess, EN-Freda 154-94-2635H-2, t12/13; cum 57K 1/14;

25463, 1,542, Hess, EN-Freda 154-94-2635H-1, t12/13; cum 78K 1/14;

25462, 1,155, Hess, EN-Leo 154-94-2324H-1, t11/13; cum 118K 10/15;

25428, 733, Hess, EN-Nelson 155-94-3328H-5, t2/14; cum 36K 5/14;

25427, 822, Hess, EN-Nelson 155-94-3328H-4, t2/14; cum 44K 5/14;

25426, 996, Hess, EN-Nelson 155-94-3328H-3, t1/14; cum 55K 5/14;

25425, 879, Hess, EN-Nelson 155-94-3328H-2, t1/14; cum 120K 10/15;

25315, 1,041, CRL, Rehak 3-25H1, t11/13; cum 21K 1/14;

25031, 901, Hess, EN-Sorenson A 154-94-0211H-3, t10/13; cum 47K 1/14;

25030, 1,048, Hess, EN-Sorenson A 154-94-0211H-4, t10/13; cum 49K 1/14;

25029, 974, Hess, EN-Sorenson A 154-94-0211H-5, t11/13; cum 28K 11/13;

25028, 1,061, Hess, EN-Sorenson A 154-94-0211H-6, t11/13; cum 23K 11/13;

24712, 1,572 XTO, Kulcyzk 43X-17A, t6/13; cum 74K 1/14;

24711, 1,322, XTO, Kulczyk 42X-17B, t6/13; cum 146K 10/15;

2012

24638, 1,592, XTO, Emma 31X-30D, t6/13; cum 143K 10/15;

24637, 1,524, XTO, Emma 31X-30C, t6/13; cum 33K 8/13;

23448, 792, Hess, EN-Pederson 154-94-0409H-2, t1/13; cum 69K 8/13;

23447, 829, Hess, EN-Pederson 154-94-0409H-3, t12/12; cum 70K 8/13;

23446, 1,164, Hess, EN-Pederson 154-94-0409H-4, t7/13; cum 44K 8/13;

23445, 1,127, Hess, EN-Pederson 154-94-0409H-5, t8/13; cum 160K 10/15;

23444, PNC, Hess,

22687, PNC, Hess,

22686, 771, Hess, EN-Jeffrey-155-94-2734H-1, t1/13; cum 58K 8/13;

22685, 598, Hess, EN-Jeffrey-155-94-2215H-2, t2/13; cum 51K 8/13;

22684, 684, Hess, EN-Jeffrey A-155-94-2734H-2, t2/13; cum 63K 8/13;

22683, 615, Hess, EN-Jeffrey-155-94-2215H-3, t2/13; cum 105K 4/15;

22682, 912 , Hess, EN-Jeffrey A-155-94-2734H-3, t6/14; cum 95K 4/15;

22620, 946, CLR, Thronson 2-28AH, t2/13; cum 156K 4/15;

22619, 781, CLR, Sorenson 2-21AH, t2/13; cum 189K 4/15;

22618, 907, CLR, Thronson 1-28AH, t2/13; cum 146K 4/15;

22617, 448, CLR, Sorenson 1-21AH, t2/13; cum 132K 4/15;

22550, 1,053, Hess, EN-Labar 154-94-0310H-2, t8/13; cum 182K 4/15; 

22551, 1,041, Hess, EN-Labar 154-94-0310H-3, t9/12; cum 229K 8/16;       

Updates

December 25, 2015: wells were updated; wells drilled in 2015 are producing as much in six to nine months that earlier wells produced in three years.

July 31, 2014: while updating IPs and cumulative production, I noted that CLR wells are quite good in the Alkali Creek oil field.

Alkali Oil Field

Alkali Creek is going to turn out to be a very, very good field, and Oasis will play a major role in developing it. [Update, March 9, 2014: it looks like Hess is the major operator in this large field.]

Alkali Creek is north of the river, east of Williston, one township west of Whiting's Sanish oil field. It is right smack in the bull's eye of the Bakken, at 12:00 o'clock.  It is just east of the Nesson anticline and a huge string of wells that have been drilled starting back in 1951. It is very irregularly shaped, suggesting that it is a very old field. It has about 54 sections and could grow by three or four more but that's about it, hemmed in on all sides by other oil fields. It is between the Robinson Lake oil field to the east, and the Hofflund field to the west.

So far (March, 2012) results from Alkali Creek wells have been poor to middling, but I think the quality of the wells will improve over time, albeit perhaps not as good as other fields. I think it's too early to tell. It is interesting to note the disparity in the quality of these wells. Oasis seems to be hitting very good wells (see list below); CLR has its typical wells; and the one Hess well I found was not good at all.

Maybe it will be the Three Forks or the deeper benches of the Three Forks that will surprise us in this field. 

Original Post

Just a random look at the wells Oasis has reported so far the first quarter of 2012. This is quite an impressive group of wells. For some of them I've included the spud date; test date; and cumulative production to date.

Note #19946: the Spratley well was completed in July, 2011, and by the end of January, 2012 (six months) the well had produced 126,417 bbls of oil.

For newbies, a well is well on its way to being paid for when it hits the 100K bbl milestone, and it will continue to produce for 30 years. Once hooked up to a pipeline, expenses are minimal. The average Bakken well is likely to produce a cumulative 600,000 bbls over the life of the well, but the wells in the best Bakken, as these Oasis wells are, will produce, on average, in excess of one million bbls. They are now planning on a minimum of eight wells in each 1280-acre spacing unit (two sections), and maybe more, if both the middle Bakken and the deeper benches of the Three Forks formation are in play.

• 19819, 1,645, Oasis, Lydia 21-14TFH, Bell, Bakken, t9/11; cum 134K 11/13;
• 20787, 1,282, Oasis, Herbert 5602 43-9H, Bull Butte, Bakken, t9/11; cum 103K 11/13;
• 20786, 1,250, Oasis, Mildred 5602 43-9H, Bull Butte, Bakken, t9/11; cum 105K 11/13;
• 20400, 2,783, Oasis, Bering 5200 12-29H, Camp, Bakken, t8/12; cum 156K 11/13; frack data not yet available; spud June 23; total depth July 25, 2012,
• 19946, 1,474, Oasis, Spratley 5494 34-13H, Alkali Creek, Bakken, t10/11; cum 316K 11/13;
• 19846, 1,271, Oasis, Dawson 5494 13-1H, Alkali Creek, Bakken,  t10/11; cum 170K 11/13;

• 20872, 3,694, Oasis, Borden Federal 5300 24-34H, Willow Creek, Bakken, t9/11; AL; cum 215K 11/13;
• 20410, 1,187, Oasis, Ross 5603 42-10H, Bull Butte, Bakken, t9/11; cum 111K 11/13;
• 20409, 1,247, Oasis, Emerald 5603 42-10H, Bull Butte, Bakken, t9/11; cum 98K 11/13;
• 20314, 3,365, Oasis, Lewis Federal 5300 31-31H, Wildcat, Bakken,  t8/11; F; cum 164K 11/13;

• 19932, 815, Oasis, Bay Creek Federal 4701 11-5H, Mondak, Bakken, t8/11; cum 55K 11/13;
• 19639, 2,414, Oasis, Cook 5300 42-12H, Willow Creek, Bakken, t9/11; cum 202K 11/13;
• 19638, 2,563, Oasis, Davis 5300 42-12H, Crazy Man Creek, Bakken, t9/12; cum 113K 11/13;

• 17636, 1,731, Oasis, Helling Trust 11-15H, Alkali Creek, Bakken, t10/11; cum 166K 11/13;

• 20275, 2,924, Oasis, Kline Federal 5300 11-18H, Wildcat, Bakken, t7/11; cum 171K 11/13;
• 19736, 653, Oasis, Lynn 5502 11-10H, Squires, Bakken, t12/11; cum 79K 11/13;

Alkali Creek is north of the river, east of Williston, one township west of Whiting's Sanish oil field. It is right smack in the bull's eye of the Bakken, at 12:00 o'clock.

Crazy Man Creek is also north of the river, but closer to Williston. It, too, is in the bull's eye of the Bakken at about 11:00 o'clock. 

A description of Bull Butte oil field is here. 

A description of Camp oil field is here. At the time I first wrote about the Camp field, this is what I wrote:

There seems to be increasing interest in Camp oil field.

This is why, I bet:

• 18437, Oasis, 2,887, Angell 5200 31-28H, tested 5/23/10; cumulative 108,000 bbls (wow) -- barely a year old; still producing about 5,000 bbls/month (5,000 x $75 --> $375,000/month); the horizontal runs almost directly west to east (somewhat unusual in its orientation); t5/10; cum 184K 11/13;

Camp oil field is southeast of Williston, on the south side of the river, east of Indian Hill and Indian Hills oil field. It is about five miles east of US 85.

Camp is turning out to be an exceptionally good field.

Setting The Record Straight For Archival Purposes -- Active Rigs

Elsewhere it was reported that the 205 active rigs today set a new record.

That is incorrect. The NDIC reported 205 active rigs in North Dakota on February 1, 2012.

Seven (7) New Permits -- Oasis With Four Nice Wells -- The Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA

Daily activity report, March 2, 2012 --

Operators: Hess, G3 Operating, OXY USA, SM Energy, North Plains, Liberty Resources, CLR

Fields: Timber Creek, Dimond, Croff, Midway, East Fork, and Ranch Creek

B3 Operating has a permit for a wildcat in Williams County.

Twelve wells released from "tight hole" status, including,

• 19819, 1,645, Whiting, Lydia 21-14TFH, Stark
• 129846, 1,271, Oasis, Dawson 5494 13-1H, Mountrail
• 19946, 1,474, Oasis, Spratley 5494 34-13H, Mountrail
• 20437, 134 (no typo), Whiting, White 43-33TFH, Mountrail
• 20474, 12, Baytex, Lystad 23-162-99 1QD, Divide
• 20786, 1,250, Oasis, Mildred 5602 43-9H, Williams
• 20787, 1,282, Oasis, Herbert 5602 43-9H, Williams
• 21225, 995, EOG, Liberty 24-2531H, Mountrail

Oasis seems to be hitting on all cylinders; another report with several nice Oasis wells based on IPs. For more on Oasis' recent wells, see this random conversation.

Laundromats In The Oil Patch

This is an incredible story, CarpeDiem.

Soap and Suds Laundry Mat at 122 W. Bowen Ave. has opened its doors to the rig workers though. Owner Louis Baltrusch thinks he is the only self-service laundromat to allow oil field clothes in Bismarck. “Why shouldn't I work with them?” Baltrusch said.

When I was last in Williston, the heart of the Bakken, two things regarding laundromats. First, there was a new laundromat going up on the north side of town, and the builders were living in their pickup "RV." By the time I left, the laundromat targeting roughnecks was completed; I think they got it completed in about two months.

Meanwhile, an existing laundromat was one of the busiest places I saw in Williston after dark. The parking lot was filled with pickup trucks and roughnecks, laughing, joking, sharing stories, meeting friends, while waiting for their laundry. It was quite remarkable.

My hunch is that the oil patch is still in great need of laundromats. 

Oil: US Imports, Production, North Dakota Production

North American oil production will increase from current 6 million bbls/day to 8 million bbls/day in five years:

• Utica: 0 --> 500K
• Bakken: 500K --> 900K
• Eagle Ford: 0 --> 1.2 million
• Permian increase: at 1.3 million (source did not say what it was now)
• Mississippi Lime: 0 --> 600K
• Wattenberg: --> 300K

According to the US DOE:

Crude oil imports fell to 8.9 million barrels a day in 2011, the lowest level in more than a decade. Since 2005, foreign imports have dropped from 60 percent of U.S. consumption to 45 percent last year.

Meanwhile, according to BloombergBusinessweek (same link):

While the U.S. is becoming less reliant on foreign crude, the world is becoming more reliant on gasoline and diesel fuel refined in the U.S. This week, we learned that in 2011, the U.S. became a net exporter of gasoline, diesel and other fuels for the first time since 1949. Such refined products were the top U.S. export in 2011, beating out such staples of U.S. manufacturing as Detroit’s autos and Boeing’s (BA) airplanes.

The US has two advantages:

U.S. refiners have two key competitive advantages over foreign rivals: cheaper natural gas and access to a cheap, abundant supply of oil. Natural gas is a key raw material for refineries, which use it predominantly as a source of fuel to operate. Since last summer, the price has fallen 50 percent in the U.S., while hydraulic fracturing methods have significantly increased the supply of natural gas in the U.S.

Price of WTI:

Meanwhile, U.S. refineries in the Midwest and Gulf Coast process crude that’s pegged to the price of West Texas Intermediate, which has stayed low, thanks to all the oil gushing out of North America. Since 2009, North Dakota has more than doubled its monthly oil production to 16 million barrels as of December 2011, surpassing the output of Ecuador late last year. That supply has kept WTI-priced oils cheap, while the cost of Brent-priced oils has skyrocketed.

Kewl.

Breaking News: GM "Temporarily" Halts Production of the Volt

Updates

March 3, 2012: Finally reported at LA Times -- hidden fairly deep in the on-line edition. Not yet reported at CNN.com. Not at Chevy Volt's official web page. Not yet at USAToday.com. Wow.

Later: Yup, not a hoax. The Hill.com. The Washington Examiner.com: GM blames media.

"GM blamed the lack of sales in January on “exaggerated” media reports and the federal government's investigation into Volt batteries catching fire, which officially began in November and ended Jan. 21," the Ann Arbor (Mich.) News reported.

I thought the reports were pretty accurate, based on what I know. What I don't understand is this: if the government can mandate everyone to buy health insurance, why can't the government mandate everyone's first car be an EV or hybrid? Work the law this way: one cannot buy auto insurance if one car on the policy is not an EV or hybrid. And, then, of course, mandate that everyone must have insurance (which I believe is the case in most states if not all).

 

Original Post

Link here.

Checking to make sure this is not a hoax.

Another link here; I don't find it in mainstream media yet.

Fox Nation link here. 

If this is not a hoax, this is the press release:

General Motors has told 1,300 employees at its Detroit Hamtramck that they will be temporarily laid off for five weeks as the company halts production of the Chevrolet Volt and its European counterpart, the Opel Ampera.

“Even with sales up in February over January, we are still seeking to align our production with demand,” said GM spokesman Chris Lee.

Lee said employees were told Thursday that production would put on hold from March 19 to April 23.

39 Pages of Hearing Dockets for March, 2012 -- NDIC -- and Active Rigs at Record (205)

Initial observations:

• 7 wells on 1280-acre units is now the norm
• BEXP is now putting 8 wells on a 1280-acre unit
• Look at all the 2560-acre spacing units
• Look at 14 wells on one 2560-acre unit 
• Look at 7 wells on 800-acre units
• Look at a 2560-acre unit; 16 wells 
• Look at request for 102 new wells in one case
• Look at request for 96 new wells in one case
• Hess requesting permits for 468 new wells -- someone else can check my math; this was done quickly; errors possible 
• It looks like Oasis is requesting permits for 108 new wells
• A lot of cases relate to pooling, which means drilling is soon to come

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

17187, Chesapeake, temporary spacing, Zent A 1H, Stark
17188, XTO, temporary spacing, Leslie 42X-13, McKenzie
17189, CLR, temporary spacing
17190, CLR, amend Beaver Creek-Bakken, create a 640-acre unit, 1 well, Golden Valley
17191, CLR, amend Antelope-Sanish, create a 1280-acre unit, 1 well, McKenzie
17192, CLR, amend Squires-Bakken, create a 2560-acre unit, multiple wells; Williams
17193, CLR, amend Banks-Bakken, create 2 2560-acre units; multiple wells; McKenzie
17194, CLR, amend Lone Tree Lake-Bakken, create a 2560-acre unit; multiple wells; Williams
17195, CLR, amend Brooklyn-Bakken, create 2 2560-acre units; multiple wells; Williams
17196, CLR, amend Baker-Bakken, create a 2560-acre unit, multiple wells; Williams
15224, cont'd, CLR, revoke a Hess permit, McKenzie
17197, EOG, proper spacing for Clarks Creek-Bakken
17198, EOG, amend Spotted Horn, create a 2560-acre unit, 8 wells; McKenzie
17199, Fram Operating, proper spacing for South Greene-Madison, Renville
17200, GMX Resources, extend Ranch Creek, Beicegel Creek, or Charlie Bob-Bakken; create 2 1280-acre units; one well each, McKenzie
17201, ERF, amend Eagle Nest-Bakken, create overlapping 1280-acre units; one wells each, McKenzie
17202, Triangle, extend Todd or Williston-Bakken, create a 2560-acre spacing unit; 14 wells on that unit; Williams
17203, WPX, amend Mandaree-Bakken, create a 1280-acre unit; 7 wells; Dunn;
17204, WPX, extend Heart Butte-Bakken, create a 1280-acre unit; 7 wells; Dunn
17205, Samson Resources, extend Ambrose and/or West Ambrose, create 8 800-acre units; seven wells on each 800-acre unit; 56 wells; Divide;
17206, Samson Resources, extend Candak-Bakken, create 4 800-acre units; 7 wells on each, 28 wells; Divide;
17207, Samson Resources, extend Fillmore and/or Paulson-Bakken, create 9 800-acre units; 7 wells on each; 63 wells; Divide
17208, Samson Resources, extend Forthun-Bakken, create 8 800-acre units, 7 wells on each; 56 wells; Divide;
17209, Fidelity, create 2-1280-acre units, one well each, Stark
17210, Slawson, amend Sand Creek-Bakken, create a 1280-acre unit, 7 wells; McKenzie
17211, Encore, amend Horse Creek-Red River "B" -- create 2 640-acre units; one well each; Bowman;
15737, cont'd, Legacy Oil, temporary spacing, Bottineau
16425, cont'd, Zavanna, temporary spacing, McKenzie
15747, cont'd, Credo, revoke a Helis permit, McKenzie
17212, Liberty Resources, revoke a Zenergy permit, McKenzie
17017, cont'd, Debra Ganske, legalese, Williams
17213, GADECO, establish a 1280-acre unit or extend Truax field, one well; Williams
17214 - 17219, CLR, pooling
17220, CLR, risk penalty legalese, Divide
17221 17226, Corinthian, pooling
16863, cont'd, Corinthian, production from Sylvia 1-27, Bottineau
17227 - 17240, Zenergy, pooling
17241 - 17245, WPX, pooling
17246, WPX, 7 wells on each of 2 1280-acre units; 2 wells on each of 2 320-acre units; McKenzie;
17247, WPX, 4 wells on a 640-acre unit; Heart Butte, Dunn;
17248, WPX, 7 wells on each of 4 1280-acre units; Reunion Bay-Bakken; 28 wells; Mountrail, Dunn
17249, GMXR, pooling
17250, Baytex, risk penalty legalese, Divide
17251, BEXP, pooling, McKenzie
17252, BEXP, 8 density wells on each 1280-acre unit; Banks-Bakken, Williams, McKenzie
17253, BEXP, 8 wells on each of 6 1280-acre units; Ragged Butte-Bakken, 48 wells; McKenzie
17254, BEXP, 8 wells on each of 2 1280-acre units; Avoca-Bakken, Williams;
17255 - 17256, Samson Resources, pooling
17257, Samson Resources, risk penalty legalese
16840, cont'd, Samson Resources, flaring, Divide
16841, cont'd, Samson Resources, flaring, Divide
17258 - 17277, Slawson, pooling
17278, Slawson, 7 wells on each of 2 1280-acre units; Boxcar Butte-Bakken, McKenzie
17279, Slawson, 7 wells on a 1280-acre unit; Clear Water-Bakken, Mountrail
17280, Slawon, 7 wells on a 1280-acre unit; Van Hook-Bakken, Mountrail
16785, cont'd, Slawson, 7 wells on a 1280-acre unit; Big Bend-Bakken, Mountrail
17281, Silver Oak Energy risk penalty legalese
17282, Silver Oak Energy SWD
17283, Newfield, pooling
17284, Newfield, 7 wells on each of 3 1280-acre units; Siverston-Bakken, McKenzie
17285, Newfield, 7 wells on each of 2 1280-acre units; Pembroke-Bakken, McKenzie
15861, cont'd, Newfield, 7 wells on each of 5 1280-acre units; Epping-Bakken, Williams
17036, cont'd, Newfield, risk penalty legalese,
17286 - 17350, EOG, pooling
17351 - 17353, Triangle, pooling
17354, Zavanna, SWD
17355, RC Disposal, SWD
17356, G3 Operating, SWD
17357, Fidelity, flaring, Dutch Henry Butte-Bakken, Stark

Thursday, March 29, 2012

17358, Murex, temporary spacing, Reistad 1-1R, Divide,
17359, SM, temporary spacing, Tomlinson 3-1HS, Divide,
17360, Hess, temporary spacing, Peterson 149-99-1102H-1, McKenzie, and/or BW-Kraetsch-149-99-1423H-1, McKenzie
17361, Hess, amend, 6 wells on 4 1280-acre units, 24 wells; Truax-Bakken, Williams
16885, cont'd, Hess, 12 wells on a 2560-acre unit, Banks-Bakken, Williams, McKenzie
17362, Hess, 6 wells on a 1280-acre unit, Timber Creek-Bakken or South Tobacco Garden-Bakken
17363, Hess, create 2 640-acre units, 3 wells on each, Little Knife-Bakken, Dunn
14935, cont'd, Hess, revoke a CLR permit
16891, cont'd, Hess, flaring, Oliver-Bakken, Williams
16892, cont'd, Hess, flaring, Oliver-Bakken, Williams
16893, cont'd, Hess, flaring, Ray-Bakken, Williams
16894, cont'd, Hess, flaring, Ray-Bakken, Williams
16895, cont'd, Hess, Wheelock-Bakken, Williams
16896, cont'd, Hess, Dollar Joe-Bakken, Williams
17364, Oasis, create 2 1280-acre units, 1 well each, Burke
17365, Petro-Hunt, extend Keene-Bakken/Three Forks; 7 wells on one 1280-acre unit, McKenzie
17366, BR, 7 wells on each of 3 1280-acre units, Sand Creek-Bakken, McKenzie
17367, BR, establish 3 overlapping 2560-acre units; one or more wells on each, McKenzie
17368, BR, 7 wells on 2 1280-acre units; 1 or more wells on an overlapping 2560-acre unit; and, establish a 1280-acre unit for 7 wells; Westberg Field, McKenzie
17369, BR, 7 wells on a 1280-acre unit; Hawkeye-Bakken, McKenzie
17370, BR, 7 wells on a 1280-acre unit, Fancy Buttes-Bakken, McKenzie
16913, cont'd, Whiting, create a 1280-acre unit, 4 wells; Roosevelt-Bakken, Billings
17371, MRO, create 2 1280-acre units, 1 well each into the TF; Slope;
16634, cont'd, Windsor Energy, establish 5 1920-acre unit, Van Hook-Bakken, Mountrail
16125, cont'd, XTO, revoke a CLR permit, McKenzie
15676, cont'd, XTO, revoke a CLR permit, McKenzie
17372, CLR, revoke a Liberty Resources permit, Williams
17373, Zavanna, spacing unit, McKenzie
17374, QEP, create a 2560-acre unit; 16 wells; Heart Butte-Bakken; 
17375 - 17386, Hess, pooling
17387, Hess, 6 wells on a 1280-acre unit, 6 wells; Sandrocks-Bakken, McKenzie
17388, Hess, 6 wells on 17 1280-acre units; Ray-Bakken; 102 wells; Williams
17389, Hess, 6 wells on on 1 960-acre unit, 6 wells; Long Creek-Bakken, Williams
17390, Hess, 6 wells on each of 2 1600-acre units, 12 wells; Banks-Bakken, McKenzie, Williams
17391, Hess, 6 wells on a 1280-acre unit, 6 wells; Crazy Man-Bakken, McKenzie, Williams
17392, Hess, 6 wells on each of 7 1280-acre units, 42 wells; Wheelock-Bakken, Williams
17393, Hess, 6 wells on a 1280-acre unit, 6 wells; Big Butte-Bakken, Mountrail
17394, Hess, 6 wells on each of 2 1280-acre units, 12 wells; Dollar Joe-Bakken, Williams
17395, Hess, 4 wells on each of 12 1280-acre unit; 48 wells; Ellsworth-Bakken, McKenzie
17396, Hess, 6 wells on a 1280-acre unit, 6 wells; Siverston-Bakken, McKenzie
17397, Hess, 6 wells on 16 1280-acre units, 96 wells, Blue Buttes-Bakken, McKenzie;
17398, Hess, 6 wells on 9 1280-acre units, 54 wells; Hawkeye-Bakken, McKenzie;
17399, Hess, 6 wells on 2 1280-acre units; 12 wells; Westberg-Bakken; McKenzie;
17400, Hess, 2 1280-acre unit; another 6 1280-acre units; 6 wells each; 48 wells; Antelope-Sanish, McKenzie
17401, Hess, 6 wells on a 1280-acre unit, 6 wells;  Elm Tree-Bakken, McKenzie;
17402, Oasis, 6 wells on 8 1280-acre units, 48 wells; Alger-Bakken, Mountrail;
17403, Oasis, 6 wells on 3 1280-acre units; 18 wells; Alkali-Creek-Bakken, Mountrail;
17404, Oasis, 6 wells on 2 1280-acre units; 12 wells; Robinson Lake-Bakken, Mountrail;
17405, Oasis, 6 wells on a 1280-acre unit; 6 wells; Sanish-Bakken, Mountrail;
17406, Oasis, 6 wells on 4 1280-acre units; 24 wells; Camp-Bakken, McKenzie;
17407 - 17408, Petro-Hunt, pooling
17409, Petro-Hunt, 5 wells on a 1280-acre unit, North Tioga-Bakken, Burke;
17410, Petro-Hunt, 7 wells on a 1280-acre unit, Four Bears-Bakken, McKenzie;
17411, BR, 7 wells on a 1120-acre unit, Charlson-Bakken, McKenzie;
17412, BR, 7 wells on a 1120-acre unit, Blue Buttes-Bakken, McKenzie;
17413, BR, pooling
17414, MRO, 4 wells on 4 1280-acre units; Deep Water Creek Bay-Bakken, McLean;
17415, OXY USA, to commingle wells with diverse ownership; Dunn
17416, Petro Harvester, convert well to SWD, Bottineau;
17417, Oasis, SWD, Cottonwood, Burke
17418, Oasis, SWD, Cow Creek, Williams
17419, Oasis, SWD, Last Chance, Williams
17420, Landtech, SWD
17421, Whiting, pooling
17422 - 17428, KOG, pooling
17429, Saltwater Disposal, SWD
17430, New Millenium Resources, conversion of the Ann Polanchek 1-35 for injection into the Zenith-Tyler "A", Stark

North Dakota Production Outpacing Takeaway Capacity -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Link here to the Bismarck Tribune.

North Dakota oil production is outpacing the ability to efficiently move the product to market, causing drillers to take deep price cuts at a time when national gasoline prices are on the rise, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

And the point would be?

This is "news" coming from the same agency that loaned huge amounts of money to now-failing solar start-ups.  Perhaps it would have been nice for DOE to have supported the Keystone XL pipeline and the president to have approved the Keystone XL pipeline. So, I have no idea what the point of the story is, and why DOE would be interested. The folks in North Dakota have been doing all they can to move things along, but with the federal government it's one step forward, two steps back.

I link the story only because it gives some insight regarding the crude-by-rail story, but as for "news" from the Department of Energy,  I don't get their point. Are they trumpeting Obama's decision to kill the Keystone XL as a good decision or a bad decision, or are they just pointing out the obvious?

On another note, there is a recurring theme with regard to the Bakken: the Bakken continues to surprise, and continues to surprise on the "up" side. Five years into this boom and the Bakken still lacks adequate takeaway capacity. Incredible. Intriguing. Interesting. I've run out of "ints."

Seventeen (17) New Wells Reported In Last 24 Hours -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Link here to "new wells reporting."

Conference Announcement: Bakken Tight Oil Congress -- Denver! May 30 - 31, 2012 -- Completions

Bakken Tight Oil Congress
The type of play determines best completion method

Link here.

Conference emphasis:  the Bakken is made up of different play types. Analyzing the type of play being targeted determines the appropriate completion method.

Early booking discount: $400. See website (above link) for details. 

Huge savings if you book early: on top of the "Early Booking Discount" of $400, you will get an additional 15% off if you e-mail the sponsor (see next paragraph). 

For the additional 15% discount: e-mail info@american-business-conferences.com before next Friday and complete the registration process by close of business Friday with registration code MDW15.

Bakken companies represented include Continental Resources, Hess, Cirque, Liberty Resources, PetroBakken, others.

Note: Reservations are still being taken for the "Reserve Estimations Tight Oil & Shale Gas Canada" conference at the end of this month (March). Link here.