The CLR Jersey Well Pads: 29 Wells In One Section In Alkali Creek

Locator: 10010JERSEY.

 

Updates

February 11, 2024: maps and production updated.

July 30, 2022: see updated map at this post. Production has been updated.

March 23 2021: production numbers updated.

March 24, 2020: CLR announces changes in well names (targets changed in some cases); see daily report dated March 24, 2020. Would the name suggest that the field has been unitized? 

November 6, 2019: compare current graphic with graphic at original post --

July 23, 2019: production updated; some well files updated; names and targets have been changed for some wells; graphic updated; see this post;

July 13, 2018: update here.  See this post, also, for some great graphics.

August 9, 2014: there is now a rig on site at one of the Jersey wells, #27828. It appears there will be three to five pads in this section, all in the northeast quadrant: two smaller pads (5-well, 3-well) and then perhaps one mega pad or three linear, parallel pads (I think one large mega-pad). This three linear lines of wells will have 7, 7, and 7 wells running southwest-to-northeast. The only spacing in this area is 2560-acre spacing: section 1, 6, 7, and 12 in T153N-R93W.  There are 30 Jersey/Jersey Federal permits in my database, but one of the wells is dry (#27832).

The Jersey/Jersey Federal pads are not listed as a CLR increased density pilot project.
 

Original Post

This was posted back on March 13, 2014:

Comments: All fourteen (14) CLR permits will be on the same pad (or very nearly same pad) in SENE 6-153-93; these are Jersey and Jersey Federal permits that appear to replace the Linbeck permits that were canceled a few days ago; there were seven additional Jersey Federal permits at that time; 7 then + 14 now = 21 wells on that one pad (or closely neighboring pads) [Disclaimer: I did this quickly and have not had a chance to confirm this; this may be all wrong. I will check it later. If it is accurate, it makes me think that regardless of how the CLR Atlanta wells have turned out, CLR is pressing ahead with targeting all Bakken formations with multiple horizontals from one pad. These would be the first wells in this section, and perhaps the first wells in this drilling unit, depending on where the horizontals go; probably under the water.] 

Now CLR has added eight (8) more permits for section six: 21 + 8 = 29 wells on this pad (or closely neighboring pads).

The Jersey wells are located in the Alkali Creek oil field.

28333, 945, CLR, Jersey 29-6XH, Alkali Creek, off line 1/5; back on-line 5/15; cum 351K 9/20; cum 353K 1/21; cum 359K 6/22; cum 363K 12/23; flat at 500 bbls/month;
28002, 1,359, CLR, Jersey 4-6H2, four sections; Alkali Creek, t9/17; cum 365K 9/20; permitted as a "B3"; drilled as an "H2"; cum 376K 1/21; cum 414K 6/22; cum 434K 12/23;
28001, 1,564, CLR, Jersey 5-6H, four sections; Alkali Creek, t10/17; cum 323K 1/21; cum 343K 6/22; cum 359K 12/23;
28000, 1,108, CLR, Jersey 6-6H1/Jersey 6-6H2, four sections; Alkali Creek, t10/17; cum 245K 1/21; cum 270K 6/22; name change and target change; cum 279K 12/23;
27999, 1,212, CLR, Jersey 7-6H/Jersey 7-6H1, four sections; Alkali Creek, t10/17; cum 283K 1/21; cum 308K 6/22; name change; target change; cum 322K 12/23;
27998, 1,059, CLR, Jersey 8-6H1/Jersey 8-6H3, four sections; Alkali Creek, t12/18; cum 328K 1/21; name change and target change to Three Forks B1; cum 381K 6/22; cum 402K 12/23;

27997, 1,944, CLR, Jersey 1-6H, four sections; Alkali Creek, t9/17; cum 476K 1/21; cum 536K 6/22; cum 573K 12/23;
27996, 1,384, CLR, Jersey 2-6H2, four sections; Alkali Creek, t9/17; cum 301K 1/21; cum 330K 6/22; cum 347K 12/23;
27995, 1,344, CLR, Jersey 3-6H1, four sections; Alkali Creek, t9/17; cum 350K 1/21; cum 393K 6/22; cum 418K 12/23;
27898, conf-->PNC-->A, CLR, Jersey FIU 15-6H, Alkali Creek,  t9/23; cum 17K one month;
27897, conf-->PNC-->A, CLR, Jersey FIU 13-6H2, Alkali Creek, t9/23; cum 25K 12/23;
27896, conf-->PNC-->A, CLR, Jersey FIU 13-6H, Alkali Creek, t9/23; cum 51K 12/23;
27895, conf-->PNC-->A, CLR, Jersey FIU 12-6H1/Jersey 12-6H3, Alkali Creek, name change and target change; t9/23; cum 84K 12/23;
27894, conf-->PNC-->A, , conf-->PNC-->A, CLR, Jersey FIU 11-6H, Alkali Creek, t9/23; cum 90K 12/23;
27893, conf-->PNC-->A, CLR, Jersey FIU 10-6H2, Alkali Creek, t9/23; cum 84K 12/23;
27892, conf-->PNC-->A, CLR, Jersey 9-6H, Alkali Creek, t9/23; cum 86K 12/23;
27884, PNC, CLR, Jersey Federal 22-6H2, Alkali Creek,
27883, conf-->PNC-->A, CLR, Jersey Federal 21-6H, Alkali Creek, t9/23; cum 50K 12/23;
27882, conf-->PNC-->A, CLR, Jersey Federal 20-6H2/Jersey Federal 20-6H3, Alkali Creek, name change and target change; t--; cum 73K 12/23;
*27881, 3,105, CLR, Jersey 19-6H1, four sections; Alkali Creek, Three Forks 1, 74 stages; 13.3 million lbs, t6/18; cum 365K 1/21; cum 435K 6/22; cum 463K 12/23;
27880, conf-->PNC-->A, CLR, Jersey Federal 18-6H/Jersey Federal 20-6H2, Alkali Creek, name change and target change; t9/23; cum 80K 12/23;
27879, PNC/loc-->conf, CLR, Jersey FIU 17-6H, Alkali Creek, t9/23; cum 76K 12/23;
27878, PNC/loc-->conf, CLR, Jersety FIU 16-6H1, Alkali Creek, t9/23; cum 74K 12/23;
27832, dry, CLR, Jersey 29-6H, Alkali Creek,
27831, 918, CLR, Jersey 28-6H3, four sections; Alkali Creek, off-line 1/15; back on-line 5/15, t5/15; cum 165K 9/19; jump in production 12/18; see note here; cum 208K 1/21; cum 235K 6/22; cum 249K 12/23;

27830, 903, CLR, Jersey 27-6H1, four sections; Alkali Creek, off-line 1/15; back on-line 5/15; t6/15; cum 296K 9/20; jump in production in 12/18; cum 309K 1/21; cum 342K 6/22; cum 368K 12/23;
27829, 791, CLR, Jersey 26-6H2, four sections, Alkali Creek, off-line 1/15; back on-line 5/15; t5/15; cum 283K 1/21; cum 308K 6/22;
27828, 1,221, CLR, Jersey 25-6H, four sections; Alkali Creek, t5/15; cum 311K 1/21; cum 329K 6/22; cum 321K 12/23;
27827, 927, CLR, Jersey 24-6H3, four sections; Alkali Creek, t5/15; off-line 1/15; back on-line 5/15; cum 253K 1/21; cum 271K 6/22; cum 284K 12/23;
27826, 963, CLR, Jersey 23-6H1, four sections; Alkali Creek, t5/15; off-line 1/15; back on-line 5/15; cum 436K 1/21; cum 471K 6/22; cum 490K 12;23;


The Jersey wells sited in section 6-153-93, Alkali Creek:

 Zooming in (error: I believe there are only 8 wells in that one location rather than 9 wells):

We Have An Answer To One Of The Current Polls; Twenty-Four (24) New Permits -- The Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA; CLR Adds Eight (8) More Permits To The Jersey Pad (29 Wells?); Marijuana Production In North Dakota?

Finally, we can close out one of the current polls in which we asked how CLR will report the 12 Atlanta wells coming off the confidential list. Below, we see one of the Atlanta wells being reported. Thus, to date, three of the 12 Atlanta wells have been reported, one at a time, without a major press release. What were the results of the poll? Respondents that that:

• the results would be released one at a time, no special press release: 24%
• small groups at a time, no special press release: 30%
• small groups at a time, with a special press release: 9%
• all at once, with a special press release: 37%

Obviously, results from several wells could be released at one time, yet, but apparently without any special press release.
 

**********************************************

EIA's note for March 21, 2014, focuses on flaring of natural gas in North Dakota. I don't know if that's a dynamic link or how long it will remain accessible. There is a heck of a lot of good information in the note despite the global warming references. All I can say is as North Dakota's natural gas flaring has increased, global warming has flattened out, if not decreased. One almost wonders if flaring might be helping the situation in a way scientists cannot explain. LOL. I didn't spend a lot of time on the linked article but I don't think the EIA noted that most of the flaring in North Dakota occurs on federal/BLM land; if the Feds took care of their flaring, the whole state would be better off.

It looks like oil was up about $1.02 to settle at $1.21 today. 

Demand for electricity continues to increase in the Bakken; more being added. The Dickinson Press is reporting:

The North Dakota Public Service Commission gave Basin Electric Power Cooperative the thumbs-up Wednesday to expand its Lonesome Creek Station near Watford City, while also cautioning that it’s not a long-term solution for meeting the western region’s growing energy needs.

Basin Electric plans to add two 45-megawatt, natural gas-fired combustion turbines at the station’s existing 160-acre site about 14 miles west of Watford City in McKenzie County.

Active rigs:

	3/26/2014	03/26/2013	03/26/2012	03/26/2011	03/26/2010
Active Rigs	198	186	206	170	104

Twenty-four (24) new permits --

Operators: CLR (8), Oasis (5), Statoil (3), Petro-Hunt (2), QEP (2), Slawson (2), Samson, Armstrong,
Fields: Alkali Creek (Mountrail), Briar Creek (McKenzie), North Tioga (Burke), Grail (McKenzie), Cottonwood (Burke), Ambrose (Divide), Patterson Lake (Stark), Big Bend (Mountrail)
Comments: the eight (CLR) wells are all Jersey wells in section 6; Armstrong has had some big Lodgepole wells in Stark County;

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

Three (3) producing wells completed (an answer to one of the current polls):

• 23368, 441, CLR, Atlanta Federal 5-6H, Baker, 4 secs; t3/14; cum --
• 25909, 2,880, BR, CCU Columbian 33-1TFH, Corral Creek, t3/14; cum --
• 27310, 1,140, Whiting, Bender 14-6, Sanish, t3/13; cum --

Wells coming off the confidential list Thursday:

• 23861, drl, Statoil, Hovde 33-4 3H, Sandrocks, no production data,
• 24559, 932, Fidelity, Purcell 3-4-33H, Sanish, t10/13; cum 38K 1/14;
• 26206, 1,077, Petro-Hunt, Sherven Trust 153-95-27B-2H, Charlson, t1/14; cum 5K 1/14;
• 26315, drl, XTO, Kanyer 11X-15E, Grinnel, no production data,

********************************
A Note to the Granddaughters

I see there was a 9-alarm fire in Boston today on Beacon Street. I know that area well. In another life, long ago, I knew a wonderful woman who lived just a block or two from this address. I would have walked by this brownstone on many occasions. Bittersweet memories.

**************************

End-of-Day Headlines
Could ND Become A Major Marijuana Producer?

Crises everywhere one looks; makes North Dakota look downright pleasant

• Ebola crisis in west Africa
• Russia continues to taunt; Obama speaks of more light red lines
• Obama's disapproval numbers hit new high
• marijuana sucking up a lot of water in drought-stricken California

On that last note, what does North Dakota have a lot of? Water and sunshine. Marijuana plants love greenhouses. All that flaring natural gas could be used to heat greenhouses. Wouldn't it be a hoot if North Dakota became the #1 producer of marijuana -- selling it to California? Some days one has to think outside the box. McClatchyDC is reporting:

In drought-hit California, marijuana growers are feeling the heat, accused of using too much water for their thirsty plants and of polluting streams and rivers with their pesticides and fertilizers.

State officials say a pot plant sucks up an average of 6 gallons of water per day, worsening a shortage caused by one of the biggest droughts on record. They say the situation is particularly acute along California’s North Coast, where the growing pressure to irrigate pot threatens salmon and other fish.

It's not worth it, but one could poll: which will happen sooner -- North Dakota voters approve marijuana production for export only; or, Mr Obama approves the Keystone XL 2.0 North pipeline?

****************************

The ObamaCare Delays

It's nice to see that someone finally tabulated the ObamaCare delays. Politico is reporting:

Did anyone really doubt that the final Obamacare enrollment deadline would slip, too?

It’s not like the Obama administration is setting a new precedent with its latest move — giving customers more time to enroll after next Monday’s deadline if they’re already in line.

In reality, the administration is just continuing a long pattern of delays. They’re all designed to show flexibility and help the law work better, but they also fuel a public perception that Obamacare deadlines never really mean anything.

You know, these ObamaCare delays are national milestones, much as his "red lines in the sand" are international milestones. Worthless. 

Energy News -- For Investors Only

I don't have access to CNBC for the WTI price crawler, but two sources suggest the price of oil surged $1.12 today, solidly over $100/bbl. This is at 2:21 p.m. central time.

US now producing more than 10% of the world's oil; about half of that coming from "tight oil."

Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Do not make any investment decisions based on anything you read here or think you may have left here. 

HAL, SLB, and HP all traded at new highs today. 

This caught me by surprise; I'm not sure if the SeekingAlpha contributor noted the reason for the incredible "change" in natural gas production in the United States. If this is due to a conscious and collective decision by the natural gas industry, this is quite remarkable:

According to EIA data, in 2013, total US natural gas production increased by one percent. It was the smallest increase since the shale gas fracking revolution began. If it wasn't for one particular shale gas field, which also happens to be by far the largest one, total US production would have entered a decline. Marketed daily production in the United States is just over 70 Bcf/d, and the Marcellus shale field added about 4 Bcf/d in new production year-on-year, which means that all other sources of natural gas contributed to a decline of 3Bcf/d.

In light of this, recent EIA data on tight oil & gas drilling productivity in regard to the Marcellus should be concerning when it comes to future prospects of continued healthy gains in US natural gas production going forward. For the month of March, it predicted an increase in the legacy decline rate of 45 million cubic feet per day. Then the March report, which predicts April's overall performance, predicted that there will be another large leap in the legacy production decline, this time of almost 100 million cubic feet per day.

We cannot know for sure what the legacy decline rate will do for the rest of the months of 2014 and beyond, but one thing we now know for sure is that Marcellus production increase for this year will be far less than it was last year. Given that last year Marcellus production increase only barely managed to make up for declines in production elsewhere in America, I think it would be fair to assume that EIA's forecast of a 2.4% increase in US domestic natural gas production is overly optimistic for 2014. The only thing which will in fact keep total production from experiencing a slight decline is a flattening out of the production decline rate in other shale gas fields such as Haynesville, where drilling activity is showing some signs of picking up slightly.

While the EIA predicts that there will be a 2.57 Bcf/d increase in production by 2015, I think there is reason to doubt that assessment.

In addition to taking us down the road to New England, one wonders if this might be a good news story for coal? 

**********************************

Howard Weil: After re-calibrating our model with data from the 10-K, we are lowering our FY14 EPS estimate from $11.82 to $10.98. As a result, we are also lowering our price target on CVX from $135/share to $125/share. CVX is trading around $118 today.

**********************************

Enbridge is of interest to three writers in last 24 hours: Motley Fool, Zach's, and, Seeking Alpha.

Seeking Alpha:

Enbridge's main competitive advantage is its wide network of pipelines. Once a pipeline is in place in a certain geography, it's pretty hard to compete with. It works the same way as with a railroad. If one is already in place, very often there is not enough demand to carry the development of a second one. This enables the first one to charge great rates.

If a competitor would want to build a copy of the initial pipeline it's faced with difficulties. It is hard to get the regulatory approval required. Meanwhile the original pipeline can upgrade its capacity at lower cost than the development cost of a new line. Finally, a new pipeline is not so different from the already installed one. A new development is unlikely to be able to transport at much lower costs or greater speed.

Basically, a pipeline can operate as a monopoly in a specific geography, though its returns are somewhat limited by regulators and substitutions.

Valuing this company just by its P/E is dangerous. It trades at 90 times ttm earnings and at a price/cash flow of 12.3 (3yr average) or 5 times book. This is not exactly reassuring that the company can be acquired at a fair price.

However, with ttm operating margins are at the lowest point they have been in 10 years at 4.1%. Usually operating margins are hovering somewhere around 10%.

Motley Fool:

Here’s the thing: this pipeline network is almost impossible to replicate. Any new projects would need the the buyout of every landowner along the proposed path. Additional pipelines would also be subject to a long, expensive government approval process. So, even if you had $10 billion to spend, chances are you still couldn’t compete with the company.

This creates a nearly impenetrable barrier to competition. And this has allowed Enbridge to earn excess returns for shareholders year after year.

Zach's (advertisement for a research product):

Our focus would also be on leading energy transportation and distribution company Enbridge Inc. (ENB-Free Report). The company recently received approval from Canada's pipeline regulator, National Energy Board (:NEB), for flow reversal and expansion of its Line 9B between Westover, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec. Combined with the previously approved project to reverse Line 9A across Sarnia, Ontario and Westover, this project will enable the delivery of North American crude oil to Ontario and Quebec based refineries. The reversal and expansion are expected to be in service by the fourth quarter of 2014.

Non-Bakken News Of Interest To Me; For Investors Only

The best news to come out of the Crimean situation: President Obama has taken "global warming" off the table as the #1 security issue for America. The #1 security issue is not Russia. It is not China. It is not the Tea Party. It is not Snowden. It is not Michelle. The #1 security issue is not even "extreme weather." The #1 security issue for Mr Obama is a nuclear bomb going off in NYC. Does he know something the rest of us do not know? Perhaps that's not the best news to come out of the Crimean situation. Perhaps it's the scariest news. At least for New Yorkers. I don't have a dog in that fight. Though it would screw up the stock market for a few days. Jimmy Fallon may want to take the Tonight Show back to Los Angeles.

By the way, speaking of the Crimean situation, former SecDef, and one of the brightest men to have held that position, let the secret out on the Crimean in an op-ed in today's WSJ. It was this paragraph that completely undermined his argument (or supported his argument, depending on one's interpretation):

Ukraine is central to Mr. Putin's vision of a pro-Russian bloc, partly because of its size and importantly because of Kiev's role as the birthplace of the Russian Empire more than a thousand years ago. He will not be satisfied or rest until a pro-Russian government is restored in Kiev.  

If I read that correctly, it was Kiev, not Moscow, that was the center, the birthplace, of the Russian Empire (it's hard to read it any other way). This would be similar to Philadelphia being the birthplace of the US Empire, and the capitol/capital moving to Washington, DC, later, out of political necessities. Now, imagine DC's response if the Dutch (or the English) were to reclaim Philadelphia. It puts Mr Putin's sensibilities into perspective. For a thousand years, Kiev was part of the Russian/Soviet Empire. The United States celebrated its 200th birthday anniversary in 1976. I won't live to see the country's 300th birthday unless there's a huge breakthrough in cryogenics. As Mr Gates opines, Mr Putin has the long view. Right now, Mr Putin also holds the high ground. Mr Putin may even hold the moral high ground. The EU and the US, frankly, sound a bit self-righteous.

Speaking of self-righteous, we haven't heard much out of SecState John Kerry, lately.

US seniors turning to Republican Party -- Gallup.

Coldest October-to-March in 102 in the United States -- RealScience.

Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Do not make any investment decisions based on anything you read here or think you may have read here. 

Yahoo!Finance has the January, 2015, oil futures -- $93. The April, 2014, futures are up 66 cents to $99.85. Thank goodness for the blog.

Morgan to invest ~$1 bln to expand vast CO2 network: Co announced it will build and operate a new, 213-mile, 16-inch diameter pipeline to transport carbon dioxide (CO2) from the co's St. Johns source field in Apache County, Ariz., to the Kinder Morgan-operated Cortez Pipeline in Torrance County, N.M. The new Lobos Pipeline will have an initial capacity of 300 million standard cubic feet per day and will support current and future enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects owned by Kinder Morgan and other operators in the Permian Basin of West Texas and eastern New Mexico.

Wow, AAPL has really surged in the past few weeks. Trending toward $500 not too long ago, AAPL is now close to touching $550. I have never invested in AAPL, never have, never will.

Most of the Bakken operators are down today, some a little, some a little more. Oasis continues to struggle. 

North Dakota Leads Nation In Personal Income Growth. Again. Per Capita, North Dakota Ranks Second, Right Behind Connecticut

The Dickinson Press is reporting.

The state’s personal income increased 7.6 percent last year to $41.3 billion, compared with a national average increase of 2.6 percent, which was down from 4.2 percent in 2012, according to bureau estimates.

Utah ranked second in the nation with 4 percent growth in personal income. West Virginia saw the smallest growth at 1.5 percent.

Minnesota ranked 17th with 2.8 percent growth in personal income, while Montana ranked 21st with 2.7 percent growth and South Dakota ranked 45th with 1.8 percent growth.

North Dakota’s average per-capita personal income climbed 4 percent to $57,084 last year, which was second highest among states behind Connecticut’s $60,847 and nearly double the state’s per-capita personal income of $29,815 in 2004. The national average last year was $44,543.

I think The Dickinson Press headline missed the big story, but being second is never a headline. The rate of growth is important, but let's says one's annual income doubled from $1,000/year to $2,000/year here in the US -- that would be a 100% rate of growth but the annual income would still be still way below the poverty line.

No, the big story is the actual per capita income. North Dakota is #2 in the nation in per capita income. That's a huge story. Wow, I could go on forever about what that means, but ....

... one thing folks forget: money circulates. And almost every time money moves from one person's hand to another person's hand there is a tax involved. When this is much more money in the economy, there is much more money moving from one person's hand to another person's hand, and state coffers will see that for calendar year 2013, but it will definitely be seen in 2014 with income tax receipts. North Dakota farmers, even if they don't own mineral rights, in the western half of the state are making so much money off the oil and gas industry they can afford to farm once again.

***************************

A Note to the Granddaughters

Grammy is in California for a couple of weeks. I'm adapting to a new schedule, new interests, new sensibilities.

First on the list: the new Beatle CD's. I've purchased three in the past ten days -- Revolver, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Band, and Abbey Road. In real terms, they are less expensive than when they first came out five decades ago.

Second, I'm reading the personal section of The Wall Street Journal on a more regular basis. May and I recently saw Tim's Vermeer. It turns out there is another art documentary now being released that should be just as good. From The WSJ:

'Finding Vivian Maier, " co-directed by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel, is a documentary about art in the guise of a detective story. Its main character is a proud, elusive photographer, a self-described "spy" who left behind lots of clues but few answers to the riddle of her sad life.

Vivian Maier (1926-2009) was briefly a news story in 2011 when it was revealed that for more than two decades, while employed as a nanny in New York and Chicago, she had on her days off taken more than 100,000 photographs, a number of them remarkable. Her candid, sometimes wrenching, portraits of strangers in urban settings, as well as her experimental self-portraits—made in the early 1950s through the 1980s, in black-and-white and color, in square format and 35mm—were astonishing in their formal confidence. Her willingness to merge her own shadow or reflection into the frame indicates she kept up with the latest work of Harry Callahan and Lee Friedlander. Don't believe me?

The film, in limited release beginning Friday, offers testimonials from contemporary masters Joel Meyerowitz and Mary Ellen Mark.

I will also be riding the bike more often than usual. The weather is starting to turn a bit nicer. I also told Arianna I would like to start jogging with her.

Now, if only I could "cold-turkey" the blogging addiction. Smile. Just joking.

Where We Stand With ObamaCare -- Absolutely Nothing About The Bakken

Media reports regarding ObamaCare in the past 24 hours continue to clarify ObamaCare. Ms Pelosi was correct: we won't know what's in it until the law is passed. Note: the most important word in that previous sentence: law. That will come up, again, later.

1. On civil disobedience.

A few months ago I noted that defiance to ObamaCare will turn out to be largest act of civil disobedience in the US since the Civil War. It appears I am really, really correct. Even Ms Sotomayor, newest member of the US Supreme Court has noted it, and appears to have sanctioned it. In fact, she appears to be recommending that course of action to corporate America: if you don't like the law, "opt out," and pay the fine. Wow, such a cavalier approach to US law. If you don't like a law, "opt out," and pay the fine. Again, ObamaCare is the "law" of the land, but at least one jurist explains her feelings about US laws: if you don't like the "law," opt out. If you don't like paying US income taxes, some might say (certainly not me) opt out: pay the fine and go to jail. If you don't like the marijuana laws, "opt out," smoke, and pay the fine. And so it goes.

2. The political arena.

ObamaCare was the best thing that ever happened for talk show hosts and bloggers. 

3. The investing arena.

ObamaCare was a godsend for corporate America. The military noted more than 20 years ago that health care was strangling the defense department. It was anticipated that more money would be spent on health care for retirees than on bombers if things didn't change. For the military things have not changed (it's a political thingy), but that was a wake-up call for corporate America. Corporate America needed a way to cost-shift health care from the CEO to the employee. They found a friend in Mr Obama. ObamaCare was the best thing that ever happened to corporate America in my investing lifetime. We'll start seeing those savings drop to the bottom line as early as next year. 

4. The "banana republic" arena. Level of cynicism with regard to US government has worsened with ObamaCare -- it simply makes the US look like a "banana republic" in the eyes of many.  Less than two weeks ago:

On a conference call with reporters Tuesday afternoon, officials at the Department of Health and Human Services insisted that March 31 is the firm deadline to sign up for Obamacare. "We have no plans to extend the open enrollment period," HHS official Julie Bataille said. "In fact, we don't actually have the statutory authority to extend the open enrollment period in 2014."

Never mind: the enrollment period, as of today -- has been extended by the President.

5. Big insurers are not "on the hook" for unlimited liability.

I was wrong on that one. It is true that ObamaCare does away with caps on annual medical expenses that can be incurred by the health care industry. It turns out that Mr Obama was a friend to Big Health in this regard also. If the expenses are too great, the federal government will assume responsibility. In other words, a bailout for Big Health insurers. See investing arena.

6. No pre-existing clause arena.

This is great news for those folks who don't want to live a healthy lifestyle. This seems to be one of the biggest weakest links in the program but chain-smoking Boehner probably got this one-liner in the bill -- don't penalize folks who want to smoke tobacco cigarettes, and down the line, marijuana will be legalized, and who knows, maybe Freudians will see legal cocaine again.

7. The end of "open seasons." It took me a long time to figure out what "open seasons" were all about.

 This was the period -- generally the last three calendar months of the year -- when insurers sent out new insurance premiums and policies. To be insured, one needed to sign up by the deadline. ObamaCare has been extended so many times, "open season" will soon go the way of the dodo bird, the rotary telephone, and the Tea Party. "Open season" doesn't make any sense. ObamaCare is the law of the law and once enrolled, it will simply be a matter of continuous enrollment once the act gets traction.

8. American work week.

Until ObamaCare came along, France was one of the few countries with a federally-defined/imposed workweek. I think the official work week for the French is 38 hours, though I'm sure there loopholes and waivers. With ObamaCare, the US federally-defined/imposed work week is now 30 hours. The implication of this official definition has been discussed for quite some time. One aspect that has not been discussed but has started to percolate: it's just a matter of time before employees are given overtime for any work provided over 30 hours. 

9. Three aspects of ObamaCare: a) corporate mandate (delayed except for the best parts); b) individual mandate (delayed except for the best parts); c) taxes on medical devices (lobbyists will manage). [March 27, 2014: "the individual mandate goes poof" -- WSJ]

10. If Congressional Republicans are upset about ObamaCare .... they control the House. The "silence of the House" speaks volumes. My hunch is deep down inside those inside the Beltway know ObamaCare saved corporate America. ObamaCare has resulted in no real change in the number of folks who have health insurance, except perhaps for the number of those on Medicare.

New Poll: Should Temporary Extension Of Emergency Jobless Benefits Be Extended?

I assume long-term readers have gotten tired of seeing the two current polls that seem to have been there forever. I can't remove them until we see how they play out, but they have been moved farther down the sidebar so they won't irritate regular readers any more.

A new poll has been added. Hopefully, this one will not stay up very long.

The background to the story can be found at this Wall Street Journal link:

House Republican leaders showed little inclination Tuesday to consider an extension of jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed that is expected to pass the Senate as soon as this week, despite pressure from some GOP lawmakers.

"I don't see how it's workable," House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) said Tuesday of the Senate agreement reached this month to restore emergency jobless benefits for long-term unemployed through late May. He said it would fail to boost job creation and would be difficult for states to implement.

While many rank-and-file Republicans have expressed little appetite for restoring the benefits, a faction of GOP lawmakers, largely from states with high unemployment rates, have pressed House leaders on the issue.

"For the folks I represent, this is an important issue. I would hope that we take some action," said Rep. Joe Heck, a Republican from Nevada, whose state jobless rate of 8.7% was the second-highest in the nation in January, behind Rhode Island's.

The national unemployment rate was 6.7% in February, according to the Labor Department. Mr. Heck was one of seven GOP lawmakers to sign a letter in December urging Mr. Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) to consider a temporary extension of emergency jobless benefits, first passed in June 2008 and renewed repeatedly until they lapsed in late December.

The "temporary" extension was first passed almost five years before it was finally terminated. 

So, the poll. Very simple. Yes, no. Should the temporary extension of emergency jobless benefits first passed over five years ago be extended. Of course, if it is extended, the long-term unemployed would also get a lump sum for the six months in benefits that they've missed.

Drillin' And Frackin' -- Look At The Number Of Actively Drilling Rigs In North Dakota -- Spring Thaw Will Slow Things Down A Bit -- But It Will Be A Huge Summer

Small dusting of snow -- up to an inch or so -- forecast for much of the Bakken; up to four inches over the Three Forks. Smile. The Spearfish area will be mostly spared. As will the Tyler - and that's your oil/weather forecast for the day. 

Active rigs:

	3/26/2014	03/26/2013	03/26/2012	03/26/2011	03/26/2010
Active Rigs	198	186	206	170	104

RBN Energy: US LPG exports.

At our School of Energy International LPG session earlier this month, Kelly Van Hull presented RBN’s outlook for global liquified petroleum gases (LPG)  production – showing the US poised to become the world’s top exporter of LPGs within the next year or two - displacing Qatar. While most U.S. LPG exports go to Latin America today, a growing portion will move to Europe and Asia in the future. The limited fleet of very large gas carriers (VLGCs) used to ship LPG is growing rapidly with a record new build order book of 72 ships – 45 percent of today’s fleet of 161 vessels. Spot freight rates assessed daily by London’s Baltic Exchange are also at record levels of $82/MT this week. Today we take a closer look at international LPG ship chartering.

She Used To Love Me A Lot, Johnny Cash

The Wall Street Journal

Top story, front page: EU Central Bank worried about "dangerously low inflation"; considering dramatic steps.

US new-home sales fall 3.3%; the latest sign of severe weather and rising mortgage rates undermining the housing recovery.

Houston ship channel partially re-opens; 100 ships in queue. That's a funny-looking word, isn't it?

Supreme Court debates ObamaCare's contraceptive mandate. This is so interesting, it will get a stand-alone post of its own. Later.

Obama extends health-insurance deadline. Again. This will be included int he ObamcaCare stand-alone post. Later.

This is a critical, critical issue for many reasons. In fact, it is so important that I will make it a poll. Done.

The EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers are proposing new rules limiting discharges into smaller streams, waterways, and wetlands.

Obama moves to reassure allies. LOL. His words are about as empty ...

Venezuela continues to implode...

Fewer Americans go to the movies ... but this is really, really cool .... theater owners are considering a radical idea -- cut ticket prices. I advocated that a long, long time ago. It's counter-intuitive, but ....

And the question of the day, as a headline, I cannot make this up: Did Regulator Drop Ball in GM Recall? LOL.

Shell Gas will focus on large ventures where it has more control as it continues trimming holdings and unprofitable investments as part of a cost-cutting program.

Hmmm. Interesting. I did not expect this. Walgreen to close some stores as profit slips. Blame it on a slowdown in generic drug introductions and a milder flu season. One flu season and they end up closing stores. That seems a bit harsh. Generic drug slowdown? Goes counter to what I thought ObamaCare would encourage. I'm glad this is not an investment site.

The Los Angeles Times

Two fossil stories (no, this is not about Barack and Michelle). First, bizarre rib bones show woolly mammoths were vulnerable to extinction (now they tell us -- Far Side cartoon); and turtle bone found in 1800s had been missing its other half -- until now.

The mammoth story:

Unusual rib bones that grow out of the neck are giving scientists new clues about what caused the woolly mammoth to become extinct roughly 10,000 years ago.
The so-called cervical ribs – extra rib bones that protrude from the vertebrae at the base of the neck – were about 10 times more common in mammoths living in the Late Pleistocene than they are in elephants alive today, according to a study by Dutch researchers published Tuesday in the journal PeerJ.

The cervical ribs themselves aren’t necessarily dangerous, but they tend to appear in animals that failed to develop normally during the early stages of pregnancy, and other problems associated with abnormal development can be fatal. In humans, for instance, about 90% of babies born with a cervical rib die before they are old enough to reproduce, according to a 2006 study in the journal Evolution.

The authors of the new study became interested in cervical ribs in mammoths after mammoth fossils were dug up in the Netherlands during a public works project to extend Rotterdam Harbor into the North Sea. Three of the bones were from the lower portion of the neck, just above the part of the spine that connects with rib bones. But two of the three specimens showed signs of having been connected with ribs. (You can see the mark on the bones in the photo gallery above.)

That chance discovery made the researchers wonder just how common cervical ribs were.“We knew these were just about the last mammoths living there, so we suspected something was happening,” study leader Jelle Reumer, a paleontologist at Utrecht University and director of the Natural History Museum Rotterdam, said in a statement.

The Dickinson Press

A Nabors Industries rig caught fire yesterday, near Watford City, at a Whiting Petroleum site.

North Dakota abortion law puts the state among the strictest.

North Dakota's lone representative introduced federal bill to curtail flaring. If passed, the Presidnet is likely to delay implementation of the law just as he has delayed implementation of ObamaCare. LOL. Just joking.

Activists want Enbridge Sandpiper pipeline removed from "pristine lakes country." Since that is the entire stte of Minnesota...