Three (3) New Permits -- The Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA

Note: Blue Buttes oil field has been updated; look at the total production to date for some of these wells, particularly the ones for which permits were issued in 2012.

A few things before we get to the daily activity report. First, from the MDU message board regarding natural gas and the much-talked about, seldom-experienced polar vortex:

The natural gas draw would have been a lot more if the system could move enough gas for all users. Even here in Minnesota 600 companies shifted to alternate fuels so that there would be enough pressure in the pipelines for residential heating. In New England it has been worse with many companies shifting and a lot of the electricity generation shifting (even to fuel oil). Next week may be a bigger draw than the 157 of today (reflects this week's usage when polar vortex was most widespread) but it is clear the draws would be even higher if nat gas could be supplied to customers that want to use it. 

But be forewarned, some are warning against making fun of the polar vortex in public. A reader sent this link from The New Yorker. This may be enough to get me to renew my subscription to The New Yorker (it lapsed about 35 years ago).

Just in: a 5.1 earthquake rattles Cuba, south Florida. To the best of my knowledge, no fracking is being done in Florida.  As for fracking in Havana? I have no idea.

Now, back to the Bakken.

Active rigs in North Dakota: 193

Three (3) new permits --

• Operators: XTO (2), Whiting
• Fields: Lindahl (Williams), Park (Stark)
• Comments:

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

Operator transfer: about 30 wells transferred from Petro Hunt, LLC, to Whiting. The wells/permits were all in McKenzie County, north-central/north-west (Ragged Butte, Pronghorn, Foreman Butte area) extending over to western McKenzie County along/near Montana state line.

Wells coming off confidential list Friday:

• 24459, 1,448, Whiting, Olson 41-18H, Pleasant Hill, t7/13; cum 50K 11/13;
• 24589, 1,941, Whiting, Olson 41-18-2H, Pleasant Hill, t7/13; cum 45K 11/13;
• 25160, drl, CLR, Columbus Federal 3-16H, Baker, no production data,
• 25306, drl, QEP, Paul 1-26-35BH, Grail, no production data,
• 25397, 782, Oasis, Al 5493 41-23B, Robinson Lake, t11/13; cum 11K 11/13;
• 25398, 2.143, Oasis, Sylvia 5493 44-23T, Robinson Lake, t11/13; cum 6K 11/13;
• 25574, drl, Hess, EN-Riersgard 156-93-1718H-4, Alger,
• 25635, 82, Samson Resources, Comet 2635-1H,  Ambrose, t12/13; cum --
• 25683, drl, BR, Rising Sun 31-1TFH-6NH,  Clear Creek, no production data,
• 25750, 54, Legacy, Legacy Et Al Shillander 5-18H, Red Rock, a Spearfish well; t9/13; cum 9K 11/13;
• 25951, drl, BR, Capitol 44-7MBH ULW, Westberg, no production data,