Far Southwest Corner of North Dakota -- Multiple Red River Zones

This first well below was reported in the May 14, 2012, daily activity report, which led me to look at a few other Red River wells in the area:

• 10327, conf-re-entry, Encore, Olsen 1-30, Horse Creek, Bowman (note: no "H" designation). This well first started producing in January, 1984, and targeted the Red River (see Cedar Hills for an example of Red River wells); it produced a total of 212K bbls of oil; it last produced oil in 1996; Horse Creek oil field is in the far southwest corner of North Dakota, just a few miles southeast of Cedar Hills. Encore has another re-entry well in the same area:
• 8774, conf-re-entry, Encore, Mud Buttes Federal 2-12, Horse Creek (note, no "H" designation). This well first started producing in November, 1982, and targeted the Red River; in 1995, Red River B was added (producing from two formations). It continues to produce from these two formations; with a total production to date: 311K bbls; the new payzone is producing about 1,000 bbls/month; 3/12
• 5200, Red River IP: 384; Red River B IP: 80; Carl Olson 1-13; Horse Creek; Red River entered in 1972 and still producing; Red River B entered in November, 2002; cumulative: Red River: 584K; Red River B: 61K; total about 640K; production for 40 years; 3/12
• 10470, Red River IP: 117; Red River B IP: N/D; Miller 1-13; Horse Creek; Red River entered in 1984 and still producing; Red River B entered in 1995; cumulative: Red River: 344K; Red River B: 14K; total about 3580K; production for 28 years; 3/12
• 10121, 65, Olson 1-19, Horse Creek, Red River, entered Red River in 1983; cumulative 303K as of 3/12; and still producing,
  

Another Story on Fracking Sand

Link here.

VOCA, Texas - This tiny corner of Texas Hill Country doesn't have oil or gas riches, but it does hold vast deposits of a granular commodity highly-coveted by energy companies: sand.

As the use of the drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing has skyrocketed in the U.S. amid the shale boom, demand for so-called "frac sand" has also increased dramatically. Demand for sand is so acute that some large oil and gas producers, such as EOG Resources Inc. and Pioneer Natural Resources Co., have taken the unusual step of buying their own sand plants in order to secure long-term supplies and try to put a lid on high prices.

Energy companies have managed to unleash a bounty of oil and natural gas by creating fissures in shale rock with high-pressure streams of water, allowing hydrocarbons trapped within to escape to the surface. The rounded silica sand extracted from the mines here--about 120 miles northwest of Austin--and other sites around the country, is used as a "proppant"--a material that holds these cracks open.

These stories continue to amaze me. I think it is amazing how so many areas of the country are affected by the Bakken:

• the technology developed in the Bakken is being taken everywhere
• fracking sand from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas
• ceramics from Texas, China, possibly North Dakota
• modular housing from out-of-state
• railroads taking crude oil to usual points, but now to East Coast refineries
• truck manufacturing in Portland, Oregon
• specialty steel from ???
• workers from Idaho, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado
• spaceholder for more (no typo)

March, 2012, Statistics Posted -- North Dakota, USA

March preliminary oil production for March, 2012: 17,840,177 / 31 days -->  575,490 bopd

This compares with February's adjusted production: 16,198,174 / 29 days -->  558,558 bopd

(If I did the math correctly -- Director's Cut, yet to be posted, will confirm.)

In February, 2012: 6,739 producing wells
In March, 2012:     6,921 producing wells

Daily Activity Report Just Posted --- Whiting Three Forks Well in Bell Field: 120K in 4 Months

I just posted today's summary of the daily activity report. It is absolutely outstanding: renewed permits, plugged or producing wells, and incredible IPs.

Pay particular attention to the Oasis wells.

But look at this Whiting well in Bell field, a TFS well:

• 20893, AB/2,805, Whiting, Mastel 41-18TFH, Bell,  t11/11; cum 388K 9/16; 30 stages; 2 million lbs; 

Just days ago I posted this (I've updated the Mastel well data): note these incredible wells in this area. Off line since 10/18. Remains off line 3/20;

Five (5) New Permits -- Incredible Report With Outstanding Wells -- The Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA

Daily activity report, May 14, 2012 --

Operators: BEXP (3), Oasis, OXY
Fields: St Demetrius (Billings), Cottonwood (Mountrail), Banks (McKenzie)

Nine permits renewed.

Twelve wells reported as plugged or producing. 

Re-entry permit:

• 10327, conf, Encore, Olsen 1-30, Horse Creek, Bowman (note: no "H" designation). This well first started producing in January, 1984, and targeted the Red River (see Cedar Hills for an example of Red River wells); it produced a total of 212K bbls of oil; it last produced oil in 1996; Horse Creek oil field is in the far southwest corner of North Dakota, just a few miles southeast of Cedar Hills. Encore has another re-entry well in the same area:
• 8774, conf, Encore, Mud Buttes Federal 2-12, Horse Creek (note, no "H" designation). This well first started producing in November, 1982, and targeted the Red River; in 1995, Red River B was added (producing from two formations). It continues to produce from these two formations; with a total production to date: 311K bbls; the new payzone is producing about 1,000 bbls/month.

Seven (7) producing wells now completed:

• 18063, 1,034, Zavanna, Ocelot 1-15H,
• 19476, 480, Enerplus, Buffalo Run 5-24H,
• 20548, 356, CLR, Candee 2-9H,
• 21087, 1,005, Sinclair, Highland 2-9 (note: no "H" designation)
• 21244, 320, Denbury, Olson 34-19NWH,
• 21499, 2,327, BEXP, Dominek 13-24 1H,

Seventeen  (17) wells came off "tight hole" status:

• 20380, DRL, Oasis, Antelope Creek Federal 5003 44-17H, wildcat,
• 20407, 1,395, Oasis, Chalmers 5300 31-19H, Baker, t12/11; cum 51K 3/12;
• 20863, 1,167, Oasis, Foley Federal 5301 43-12H, Baker, t12/11; cum 54K 3/12;
• 20864, 2,521, Oasis, Bray 5301 43-12H, Baker, t1/12; cum 45K 3/12;
• 20893, 2,805, Whiting, Mastel 41-18TFH, Bell, t11/11; cum 117K 3/12;
• 20968, DRL, Oasis, Schmidt 5602 42-10H, wildcat;
• 21019, 1,339, Oasis, Melville 5601 12-18H, Tyrone; t12/11; cum 35K 3/12;
• 21101, 1,505, SM Energy, Syverson 16-34H, Camp; 2/12; cum 39K 3/12;
• 21110, 1,327, Oasis, Herson 5693 43-12H, Alger; t12/11; cum 45K 3/12;
• 21139, 0, Chesapeake, Zent 30-138-95 A 1H, wildcat; t12/11; cum 923 bbls (no typo)
• 21165, DRL, MRO, Orvie 24-20H, Strandahl,
• 21268, 382, Oasis, Hillstead 5603 13-29H, t12/11; cum 22 3/12;
• 21299, 1,242, BR, Cecilia Stroh 34-7MBH, Fayette; t3/12; cum 4K 3/12;
• 21475, DRL, BEXP, Figaro 29-32 2H, Camp,
• 21506, 934, Denbury, Roen 24-23NH, Elk; t2/12; cum 20K 3/12;
• 21590, 1,921, MRO, Ostlund 11-14TFH, Reunion Bay; t3/12; cum 32K 3/12;
• 21714, 1,626, Petro-Hunt, Sorenson 152-96-24C-13-4H, Union Center; t4/12; cum 2K 3/12;

Memo To Self: Two Chesapeake Wells Come Off the Confidential List This Week -- According to Readers

Comes off confidential list on Tuesday, May 15, 2012: 21143, conf, Chesapeake, Schoch 21-137-97 A 1H, wildcat, 21-137-97, a southernmost well?

Comes off confidential list on Thursday, May 17, 2012: 21135, conf, Chesapeake, Decker 26-138-97 A 1H, wildcat, 26-138-97,

Nice Bismarck Tribune Story on Growing Schools in the Oil Patch

Link here.

Tommi Fossum will be among a small tide of children who are reversing a long-time trend in Rhame. A town and school that have been shrinking for two decades or more are slowly rebounding.

There were just 22 students in the [Rhame] elementary school during the 2006 reorganization with Bowman, when junior high and high school students were absorbed there into a county-wide school. Today, there are 35 students.

Dimock, Pennsylvania, Water Safe To Drink -- EPA -- Yes, a Fracking Story

If you missed the story, like I did, it's not your fault: the EPA released the news six (6) minutes after 6:00 p.m. last Friday, after the news cycle for the week was over. Incredible.

Link here.

Something tells me the first-gay president won't mention it when he visits Pennsylvania.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said drinking water is safe to consume in a small Pennsylvania town that has attracted national attention after residents complained about hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for natural gas.

The EPA has tested water at 61 homes in Dimock, Pennsylvania, where residents have complained since 2009 of cloudy, foul-smelling water after Cabot Oil & Gas Corp drilled for gas nearby.

"This set of sampling did not show levels of contaminants that would give EPA reason to take further action," Roy Seneca, a spokesman for the regional EPA office, said about the final set of data released Friday. The agency released data for only 59 of the homes as they could not contact residents at two of them.

Chesapeake's Zent Comes Off Confidential List Today

Well file pending: Top sundry form, February 18, 2012: "Well is currently producing 3 bbls per day." Three Forks at 9,725. Drilled through Nisku to Duperow. 34 stages; 3.6 million pounds proppant. 24 sliding sleeves stage (sic) and 10 plug and perf stages. 3,594,821 lbs of 30/50 white sand and 20/40 ceramic. I think the highest number I saw for total gas during drilling was 120 units. From geologist's report: "by 15,514 feet MD, we again dropped down to our ideal target TVD and the samples showed overall even green pinpoint fluorescence, with instant bleeding yellow green cuts with fast white streamers. Gamma was reading 26 api. And gas was minimal at 4 - 5 units of total gas."  Transcribed in haste; not checked for errors. Typos likely. Omissions. More to follow, if indicated. NDIC data below taken down at 12:40 p.m. EST, May 14, 2012: NDIC File No: 21139     API No: 33-089-00646-00-00     CTB No: 121139 Well Type: OG     Well Status: A     Status Date: 11/27/2011     Wellbore type: Horizontal Location: NENE 30-138-95     Footages: 300 FNL 1250 FEL     Latitude: 46.745038     Longitude: -102.711084 Current Operator: CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, INC. Current Well Name: ZENT 30-138-95 A 1H Elevation(s): 2622 KB   2597 GR   2597 GL     Total Depth: 19630     Field: WILDCAT Spud Date(s):  8/28/2011 Casing String(s): 9.625" 2306'   7" 10022'   Completion Data    Pool: BAKKEN/THREE FORKS     Perfs: 10022-19630     Comp: 11/27/2011     Status: AL     Date: 1/5/2012 Cumulative Production Data    Pool: BAKKEN/THREE FORKS     Cum Oil: 923     Cum MCF Gas: 202     Cum Water: 25025 Production Test Data    IP Test Date: 12/6/2011     Pool: BAKKEN/THREE FORKS     IP Oil: 0     IP MCF: 0     IP Water: 698

Monthly Production Data Pool Date Days BBLS Oil Runs BBLS Water MCF Prod MCF Sold Vent/Flare BAKKEN/THREE FORKS 3-2012 29 555 451 8310 104 0 104 BAKKEN/THREE FORKS 2-2012 23 357 228 7023 93 0 0 BAKKEN/THREE FORKS 1-2012 10 11 0 3213 5 0 5 BAKKEN/THREE FORKS 12-2011 20 0 0 6479 0 0 0

This post needed something uptempo. It has nothing to do with the Bakken or this post.

Silver Threads and Golden Needles, Linda Ronstadt

Great Article From England on the Bakken Boom

Link here, thanks to a reader.

Also, there are sixteen (16) photos in the photo gallery at the (London) Guardian. 

Williston is now the fastest growing micro-city in America. Some projections suggest that the town, which a few years ago had a population of 10,000, could soon be home to 100,000.

Koeser can't quite envisage that. He has been mayor for 18 years, and can't see Williston growing beyond 50,000. But he acknowledges the area is in for tremendous change.

I can't see a Williston population of 100,000 either but if the new number, 900 billion bbls of original oil in place, is accurate, this changes everything. The previous "number" was in the neighborhood of 300 billion. At eight percent primary recovery rate (some companies are shooting for twelve percent), this translates to 72 billion bbls. The most "optimistic" estimate of primary recovery is currently 24 billion bbls. The USGS estimates around 4 billion bbls of recoverable oil.

KOG Reports Two Nice Wells From Its Polar Prospect

Link here.

KOG reports results of two wells in Truax oil field, north of the river, just a bit northwest of the bull's eye of the Bakken. I could be wrong, but I believe these wells / acres were acquired from North Plains in 2011:

• 22338, 2,454, KOG, Thomas 154-98-15-33-28-1H3, 28 stages,
• 21822, 3,000, KOG, Thomass 154-98-15-33-28-2H, 34 stages, 

In addition, In the Koala Project area in McKenzie County, fracture stimulation procedures were recently completed on two additional wells in the Koala project area. These wells, the Koala 15-31-30-2H and the Koala 15-31-30-3H, were completed in the Middle Bakken Formation and will be flow tested and placed on production in the coming days.

KOG To Offer $100 Million In Senior Notes

Link here.

...a private offering of an additional $100 million in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2019 in a private placement to eligible investors. The notes will bear interest at 8.125% per annum.  The notes are being offered as additional notes under an existing indenture pursuant to which Kodiak previously issued $650 million aggregate principal amount of 8.125% senior notes due 2019....Kodiak intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to repay all of the outstanding debt under Kodiak's first lien credit agreement, to fund capital expenditures for drilling, development and infrastructure, principally in the Bakken play located in North Dakota ... 

Random Notes For Monday, May 14, 2013

1.  Fracking sand -- huge story.

2. The EU will stumble along for awhile, but the end game is obvious. Last year the Greeks were unable to pay for imported natural gas; apparently there is already talk of massive blackouts in Greece this summer.

3. The Mideast: a few data points --

• The US sees Al-Qaeda footprints (fingerprints?) in Syria
• US appears ready to give in to Iran's goal to continue nuclear enrichment program if done slowly
• Benjamin Netanyahu has his coalition
• Egypt is about ready to implode -- if it hasn't already -- I guess it depends on one's definition of implosion
• And, Saudi has stockpiled 80 million bbls of oil without getting into details to explain why, except to say "world conditions"

4. On CNBC today they are talking about a run on the banks in Greece. This is hugely old news. Googld "Greece run on banks" and you will see that there has been a "silent" run on banks since last autumn, with the first peak perhaps in December. The next rumor / bit of news to watch for: printing presses in Greece (or wherever they might be) printing "new" drachmas. The CNBC expert on Greece says a full run-on banks has not occurred; she became defensive when it was noted that all the big money has been moved. The expert is looking for video of hundreds of thousands rushing to banks to pull out there $1000 in savings. The big money has already left the country. Look at the 5-year chart for National Bank of Greece (a "thank you" to Don for alerting me to this).

5. A CNBC talking head speaks with confidence that "we" won't test $90 oil any time soon.

6. Last ditch effort to save Greece. The rising political star and possibly next leader of Greece says he will not attend the government's last meeting to try to keep Greece in the EU. Where is George Soros when you really need him? 

Legacy Earnings and Announcement of Legacy-Bowood Strategic Alignment

"Anon 1" sent the following for those of you following Legacy. The first link discusses a realignment of Legacy and Bowood. The second link is Legacy's 1Q12 earnings report with a nice discussion of the Spearfish in North Dakota.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/973455/bowood-energy-inc-and-legacy-oil-gas-inc-announce-strategic-transaction-to-create-alberta-bakken-focused-producer
Also:

http://www.legacyoilandgas.com/investors/documents/NewsRelease-May14_2012GMK.pdf

Another reader send in another link, the press release of April discussing the Spearfish specifically:
http://www.legacyoilandgas.com/documents/NewsRelease-April2_2012.pdf

The first link:

CALGARY, May 14, 2012 /CNW/ - Bowood Energy Inc. and Legacy Oil + Gas Inc. are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement providing for: (i) the sale of Legacy's southern Alberta assets, excluding assets in the greater Turner Valley area, to Bowood ; (ii) the appointment of a new management team and certain new directors of Bowood; (iii) a non-brokered private placement of units of Bowood, and (iv) a rights offering to the Bowood shareholders.

Asset Purchase

The Asset Purchase will consist of the sale of 68,581 net acres of Legacy's undeveloped land in southern Alberta, excluding assets in the greater Turner Valley area, to Bowood for 200,000,000 common shares of Bowood.  The Asset Purchase includes the Bowood/Legacy joint venture land, including the Big Valley oil wells drilled at Kipp and Spring Coulee.  The current Legacy farmin agreement with Bowood will be terminated upon closing of the transaction.  Following the completion of the Asset Purchase, the Private Placement and the Rights Offering, Legacy will own approximately 37% of the outstanding Bowood Shares. 

New Management

The current officers of Bowood will resign and the New Management will be appointed immediately following the completion of the Asset Purchase.  The New Management will consist of Trent Yanko as President and Chief Executive Officer and Matt Janisch as Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, each of whom will retain their current positions with Legacy. Mark Franko will be appointed Corporate Secretary. 

The board of directors of Bowood will be reconstituted following completion of the Asset Purchase to be comprised of Trent Yanko as Chairman, James Pasieka, Chris Bloomer, Jim Welykochy and Neil Roszell.  Chris Bloomer and Jim Welykochy are currently directors of Bowood.

 Also, regarding earnings, another report: 

Legacy will acquire a sizeable stake in Bowood Energy Inc. and take over management of the junior company as a result of a land-transfer deal between the two companies.

Calgary-based Legacy will receive about 200 million common shares of Bowood, in exchange for 68,581 acres of undeveloped land — excluding Legacy's assets in the Turner Valley area.
The stock was worth about $24 million when the deal was announced before markets opened Monday.

Legacy will own about 37 per cent of Bowood's common stock, assuming the deal closes as planned. Bowood's current officers will resign and be replaced by a team from Legacy.

A farm-in agreement with Bowood will be terminated when the deal closes.

Trent Yanko will become Bowood's president and chief executive officer. He will also retain those positions at Legacy and become chairman of Bowood's board of directors.

Legacy chief financial officer Matt Janisch adds the same title at Bowood and will be appointed its corporate secretary.

Bowood shares gained half a cent to 12.5 cents on the TSX Venture Exchange shortly after the open Monday. Legacy's dropped 21 cents to $7.45 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Legacy also announced Monday that its first-quarter revenue was up 37 per cent from a year ago, rising to just under $95 million. Its net income was $1.3 million or one cent per share for the three months ended March 31.

The profit compared with a loss of $2.8 million or two cents a share in the first quarter of 2011, when Legacy's revenue was $69.3 million.

Random Update of the Red River Wells in Cedar Hills -- The Williston Basin, North Dakota

I don't know if anyone will care about this, but I spent some time collecting the data, and I hate to just delete it, so I will post it for what it's worth. Probably not much. 

A long, long time ago, I posted a short note about the Cedar Hills field in southwestern North Dakota.

So, the other day, I went through all the wells in the Cedar Hills field, see below. There were scores of permits that were canceled by predominantly two other companies. I was told that these companies had the permits, but when Continental Resources and Burlington Resources moved in, those permits were canceled.

I am fascinated by the Cedar Hills field for obvious reasons (see link above): not only is their good production, these are inexpensive wells compared to the Bakken wells, but the field is huge, and the Red River formation extends into Montana and South Dakota. I was surprised by the relative paucity of dry wells. I compiled this list a few days ago, and I don't know recall if I completed it, but I believe I did. There may be a few missing.

The list below: permit number, IP, test date (shortly after spud date), and cumulative production.

Cedar Hills wells, Red River B formation; Continental Resources unless otherwise indicated; numbers not chronologic;

• 13981, DRY, t7/97; 
• 13957, DRY, t6/97;
• 13872, 3, t12/95; cum 73 bbls 3/12;
•  13912, BR, 540, t4/96; cum 933K 3/12;
• 13956, 533, t9/96; cum 408K 3/12;
• 13970, 653, t10/96; cum 636K 3/12;
• 13942, 251, t4/96; cum 256K 3/12;
• 13792, 201, t6/95; cum 290K 3/12;
• 13779, 223, t6/95; cum 275K 3/12;
• 13979, 320, t11/96; cum 138K 3/12;
• 13930, 483, t9/96; cum 286K 3/12;
• 13976, BR, 480; t8/96; cum 213K 3/12;  
• 13977, BR, 324, t8/97; cum 188K 3/12;
• 13985, BR, 312, t9/96; cum 393K 3/12;
• 14067, 539, t8/97; cum 648K 3/12;
• 14127, 32, t6/97; 1,126 bbls;
• 14068, 391, t11/96; cum 371K 3/12;
• 14069, 400, t4/97; cum 250K 3/12;
• 14767, 316, t12/97; cum 432K 3/12;
• 14177, 207, t12/97; cum 156K 3/12;
• 14099, 565, t9/97; cum 594K 3/12;
• 14100, 266; t1/98; cum 119K 3/12;
• 14251, BR, 143, t11/97; cum 41K 3/12;
• 14184, BR, 468, t5/97; cum 305K 3/12;
• 14155, 464, t4/97; cum 798K 3/12;
• 14157, 376, t11/97; cum 460K 3/12;
• 14154, 379, t10/97; cum 317K 3/12;
• 14240, 47, t3/98; cum 77K 3/12;
• 14244, 285, t12/97; cum 300K 3/12;
• 14250, BR, 52, t12/97; cum 11K 3/12;
• 14102, BR, 395, t9/96; cum 178K 3/12;
• 14097, 491, t7/97; cum 306K 3/12;
• 14098, 575, t9/97; cum 851K 3/12;
• 14066, 497, t7/97; cum 609K 3/12;
• 14261, BR, 593, t8/96; cum 435K 3/12;
• 15139, 201, t7/01; cum 29K 3/12;
• 15140, 162, t8/01; cum 21K 3/12;
• 15141, 194, t8/01; cum 34K 3/12;
• 15142, 140, t7/01; cum 37K 3/12;
• 15221, 174, t12/01; cum 52K 3/12;
• 15220, 152, t3/02; cum 47K 3/12;
• 15224, 128, t2/02; cum 36K 3/12;
• 15290, 62, t6/02; cum 25K 3/12;
• 15658, BR, 199, t2/05; cum 531K 3/12;
• 15119, BR, 135; t7/01; cum 5K 3/12;
• 15156, BR, 138; t8/01; cum 15K 3/12;
• 15161, BR, WI,
• 15105, BR, 212, t5/01; cum 32K 3/12;
• 15112, BR, 92, t6/01; cum 9K 3/12;
• 15628, BR, 163, t1/05; cum 669K 3/12;
• 15634, BR, 250, t12/04; cum 514K 3/12;
• 15607, BR, 310, t11/04; cum 755K 3/12;
• 15657, BR, 440, t1/05; cum 604K 3/12;
• 15357, 0, t11/02; no production;
• 15353, 54, t3/03; cum 2,823 bbls 3/12;
• 15324, 113, t10/02; cum 21K 3/12;
• 15327, 63, t11/02; cum 7K 3/12;
• 15328, 70; t1/03; cum 8K 3/12;
• 15386, 51, t4/03; cum 6K 3/12;
• 15387, 71, t4/03; cum 7K 3/12;
• 15391, 103, t6/03; cum 7K 3/12;
• 15299, 54, t7/02; cum 28K 3/12;
• 15303, 77, t8/01; cum 13K 3/12;
• 15304, 118, t10/02; cum 25K 3/12;
• 15608, BR, 320; t12/04; cum 354K 3/12;
• 15146, BR, 175, t11/01; cum 7K 3/12;
• 15630, BR, 353, t3/05; cum 679K 3/12;
• 15631, BR, 297, t2/05; cum 504K 3/12;
• 15131, BR, 205, t10/01; cum 10K 3/12;
• 15132, BR, 50, t9/01; cum 12K 3/12;
• 15636, BR, 85, t3/05; cum 400K 3/12;
• 15637, BR, 114, t5/05; cum 475K 3/12;
• 15275, 170; t8/02; cum 6K 3/12;
• 16289, 140; t10/06; cum 225K 3/12;
• 16528, 311, t7/07; cum 145K 3/12;
• 16529, 100, t8/07; cum 228K 3/12;
• 16240, BR, 283, t8/06; cum 535K 3/12;
• 16241, BR, 75, t9/06; cum 655K 3/12;
• 16242, BR, 405, t8/06; cum 798K 3/12;
• 16290, 93, t4/07; cum 106K 3/12;
• 16353, 424, t6/07; cum 371K 3/12;
• 16380, 324, t5/07; cum 209K 3/12;
• 16722, 129, t11/07; cum 152K 3/12;
• 16724, 232, t10/07; cum 250K 3/12;
• 16808, 128, t1/08; cum 176K 3/12;
• 16809, 441, t12/07; cum 346K 3/12;
• 16830, 503, t2/08; cum 299K 3/12;
• 16719, 251; t11/07; cum 260K 3/12;
• 16777, 189, t1/08; cum 280K 3/12;
• 16827, 355, t2/07; cum 233K 3/12;
• 16924, 185, t6/08; cum 211K 3/12;
• 16820, 382, t5/08; cum 187K 3/12;
• 16962, 252, t2/08; cum 208K 3/12;
• 17534, 333, t12/08; cum 396K 3/12;
• 17656, 186, t4/09; cum 108K 3/12;
• 17657, 302, t12/08; cum 105K 3/12;
• 17031, 203, t10/08; cum 179K 3/12;
• 17138, 297, t11/08; cum 132K 3/12;
• 17131, 339, t8/08; cum 220K 3/12;
• 17124, 327; t7/08; cum 179K 3/12;
• 17589, 507; t2/09; cum 100K 3/12;
• 17591, 409, t3/09; cum 219K 3/12;
• 17670, 435, t5/09; cum 90K 3/12;
• 17671, 305; t2/09; cum 188K 3/12;
• 17944, 177; t6/10; cum 81K 3/12;
• 17945, 249, t6/10; cum 61K 3/12; 
• 19507, 336, t11/10; cum 52K 3/12; 
• 19862, 86, t4/11; cum 22K 3/12;
• 20950, 55, Silver Oak Energy; t2/12; cum 2K 3/12;
• 22702, conf, Silver Oak Energy, LLC, 

Fracking Sand in Minnesota, Wisconsin

Link here to WSJ: 

Wisconsin and Minnesota have abundant supplies of the type of sand that oil and gas producers need. Geological conditions were right hundreds of millions of years ago to form sand hard enough to withstand the pressure thousands of feet underground, while also having round grains that leave space so the oil and gas can escape. Fracking sand can fetch around $50 a ton, depending on quality.
 
Sand mines are popping up across the region. Wisconsin officials estimate that the number of mines in the state has doubled to more than 60 since just last fall. Those doing the mining range from Houston-based oil-and-gas producer EOG Resources Inc., which opened a mine in Wisconsin to supply its own production, to tiny operators that don't even process the sand.

In the print edition, this story takes up the entire page 3. It's a huge story.

CarpeDiem.com also linked the story. 

Sand mined in the Midwest is used in places such as North Dakota and Pennsylvania to tap oil and gas reserves. The U.S. producers' demand for sand reached 28.7 million tons in 2011, up from six million tons in 2007.

North Dakota's Crude By Rail -- RBN Energy

A couple of weeks ago a reader asked for a list of crude-by-rail oil loading facilities in North Dakota.

With the help of readers I compiled a pretty good list, which I call the "readers' list."

Today RBN Energy provides a list of current CBR oil loading terminals and discusses how this oil may save the refineries on the east coast.

Here's their list:

These facilities are on top of seven existing rail terminals in North Dakota, some of which have been around for years.  These include Stampede, Donnybrook, Ross, Stanley – EOG, Minot, Dore, New town and Beulah.

But it's not all good news: there are several issues that impact those numbers. The linked story is probably one of the better stories you will see all day.

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A note to the granddaughters

For archival purposes, here are two photos of the birding club on its recent outing to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.  It was a quick visit. School let out early Wednesday afternoon. We departed about 2:00 p.m., arriving about 3:00 p.m. The highlight for Olivia is a snack at the museum cafe so we stopped there first and then on to the museum itself. We checked out the birds first and then the Asian exhibits.