Nineteen (19) New Permits; Talk of End of Bakken Boom A Bit Premature: 187 Active Rigs

Bakken Operations

Active rigs: 187 (has gradually increased from an intra-boom low of 179)

Nineteen (19) new permits --

• Operators: CLR (12), Samson Oil & Gas (4), Murex, MRO, Petro-Hunt
• Fields: Stockyard Creek (Williams), Midway (Williams), Wolf Bay (Dunn), Banks (McKenzie), Antelope (McKenzie),

Comments: Several --

• CLR has a wildcat in Williams County; this is a "real" wildcat, about 30 miles straight north of Williston; about 7 miles WSW of Alamo, ND
• it's been a long time since we've heard/seen Samson Oil & Gas (not to be confused Samson Resources); in fact these are the first four permits ever issued to Samson Oil & Gas in North Dakota -- according to NDIC website; Samson Oil & Gas (SSN) posted an advisory on December 30, 2012, which, if I remember, I will get back to later.
• it's been awhile since we've seen new permits in Stockyard Creek; this is quite exciting
• CLR appears to be getting serious: when the going gets tough, the tough get going, and they are picking some nice fields
• it looks CLR has permits for one Eco-Pad (4 wells); and permits for a 7-well pad in Banks

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