Week 51: December 18, 2016 -- December 24, 2016

Without question, the big story internationally this past week had to do with how fast petrostates are burning through sovereign-wealth funds. This will have a bigger geo-political story than mainstream media is currently reporting.

Other international and national stories of note:

• Platts suggests India will be the growth engine for 2017
• China LNG imports hit record. 
• Forbes provided a nice "2016 Oil and Gas Review"

This, without question, was the big story in the Bakken this past week: the data shows a worker shortage is looming in the Bakken. 

Operations
Active rigs hit recent high of 42 for a day or two
Lime Rock's success with OXY USA wells
Oasis with case on the docket for 90 wells
Production change month-over-month by operator
Hess reports two high-stage, moderate volume fracks
Filloon Bakken update
Update on Whiting's Rolla Federal Wells

Pipelines
Blackstone Group in talks to buy a stake in Energy Transfer Partners, the company building DAPL
Update on the 2013 North Dakota Tesoro pipeline spill

Bakken 101
Overlapping drilling units in the Bakken; operators on top of each other

Bakken Economy
Alva J. Field crosses $5 million milestone
Bismarck public schools face growing pains

Miscellaneous
Huge livestock auction scheduled for Bowman, ND, in early January