Eleven (11) New Permits -- The Williston Basin, North Dakota, Williston

Daily activity report, April 16, 2012 --

Operators: Slawson (6), Hess (4), Continental Resources

Fields: Squaw Gap (McKenzie), Alger (Mountrail), Chimney Butte (Dunn)

Fourteen (14) wells released from "tight hole" status; nine were completed, including a very nice Newfield well.

• 20404, 1,606, Whiting, Pronghorn Federal 21-14TFH, Billings County
• 20759, 58 (no typo), Baytex, Moe 30-31-162-100H 1XP, Divide County
• 21236, 50 (no typo) Crescent Point Energy, CPEC Jurasin 32-29-163N-100W, Divide
• 21394, 2,065, Newfield, Wehrung 150-99-11-2-1H, McKenzie County
• 21463, 1,039, Slawson, Turbo 2-21-16H; Dunn County

NOG Provides Operations Update

Link to press release.

Northern Oil expects first quarter 2012 production to increase approximately 20% compared to fourth quarter 2011, resulting in an average of approximately 8,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day.  During the first two months of the quarter, the weighted average days on production was approximately 49 out of a possible 60 producing days, or approximately 82% of potential producing days.  The weighted average days on production was impacted by non-producing days caused by work-over activities primarily related to the drilling of infill wells and seasonal take away constraints.  Preliminary estimates of March's weighted average days on production appear to be consistent with the first two months of the first quarter.  Northern Oil believes the weighted average days on production will improve as seasonal take away constraints reduce and work-over delays lessen.

Oasis Provides an Operations Update -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Link here.

Oasis increased average daily production to 17,633 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 1Q12, up from 15,243 Boepd in 4Q11 for an increase of 16%. During the 1Q12, Oasis grew production by 118% compared to 1Q11. Oasis completed and brought on production 26 gross operated wells in the Williston Basin during 1Q12. Oasis continues to make progress on expanding its operated salt water disposal systems. At the end of March 2012, the Company had approximately 25% of operated water production flowing through its operated pipeline system. Oasis expects to have approximately 80% of operated water production flowing through the pipeline system by year-end 2012. Additionally, Oasis currently disposes approximately 60% of its operated water production at Company operated disposal wells.

VOG Provides Operational Update -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Yahoo!InPlay (no link):

6:00AM Voyager Oil & Gas provides operations update; ~33,000 net acres in the Williston Basin as of March 31; co currently on track to meet 2012 guidance. : Co announced ~ 33,000 net acres in the Williston Basin as of March 31, 2012 100% of acreage acquired during 1Q2012 has received AFEs. First quarter 2012 average production of about 600 barrels of oil equivalent per day, a 50% increase over fourth quarter 2011, exceeding Company projections 5.03 net wells producing from the Bakken or Three Forks as of March 31, 2012 after adding 2.04 net Bakken/Three Forks wells to production during the quarter with another 2.05 net wells being drilled or awaiting completion as of March 31, 2012. As of March 31, 2012, Voyager held 32,823 net acres of mineral right leases in the Williston Basin. During the first quarter 2012, Voyager increased its leasehold interests in the Williston Basin by 899 net mineral acres at an average cost of $2,048 per acre.

This is link to the press release. 

Week 15: April 8 -- April 14, 2012

ONEOK: billion dollar pipeline from the Bakken to Cushing proposed 

New pipeline from the Niobrara to Texas proposed

Kinder Morgan: proposed Canadian oil sands pipeline to Canadian west coast

Bakken oil being shipped to California

Glendive, MT: preparing for another oil boom

Update: CARBO's distribution center in Gladstone

Dimock, PA: 2nd set of EPA well tests -- safe; no fracking issues

North Dakota sets new production record, February, 2012

Tarpon Federal, with an IP of 4,815, off confidential list 

Mega-pads in the Bakken: QEP and WPX

X-Change/Cress Oil -- new player in the Bakken

Basin Electric: two new power plants; new transmission line; nearly $50 million in new projects

MDU proposing an 88-MW natural gas electric utility near Mandan

Update of small utility serving Minot area in the Bakken

Williston Wireline: two more hotels; 10,000 more jobs in the Bakken

Whiting's April corporate presentation

Update on Newfield in the Bakken

Filloon: Three Forks potential

Two Notes From Spearfish -- South Dakota -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

First, a reminder: the Black Hills Bakken Conference, May 2 and 3; early registration at http://www.blackhillsbakkenconference.com. South Dakota geologist Tony Petres has been added to the speaker lineup.

The second story speaks volumes about the challenge of finding housing in North Dakota. The Rapid City Journal is reporting that oil workers working in the Bakken are moving their families to Spearfish, South Dakota. If nothing else, they will be close to the aforementioned conference.

Spearfish, South Dakota, is on US 85 and 299 miles from Williston, ND. I believe I have posted an earlier article on all the traffic that is going through Spearfish on the way to the Bakken.