The little tug that accompanies Russia's Northern Fleet with the aircraft carrier is now anchored off the east coast of Crete (it may or may not be anchored, but it is not moving). Last "ping" was three minutes ago.
Turkey detains 11 pro-Kurdish lawmakers, including both party co-chairs, interior ministry says - Reuters, AP (updated).
And, speaking of the "Mideast On The Brink," here's another one. Egypt "tiptoes" toward a "breaking point." It looks like al-Sisi is in for the fight of his life ... and in the Mideast, unless your name is Assad, that's usually not a fight you are going to win.
The good news: another US hurricane season is rapidly coming to an end.
From a sundry report dated/received February 22, 2016:
17222, 1,769, EOG, Austin 18-21H, Parshall, t9/08; cum 887K 9/16; a short lateral
ISSUE: EOG resources is currently executing a downspacing and infill drilling program. During this process the new infill wells are being hydraulically fractured offset to existing/producing wells.
The existing wells in close proximity to the new infill wells are shut in during the drilling and completion process.
Pressure pulses have been noted in the existing shut-in wells during this process. Due to the pressure pulses, sand from the completions in the original wells can become dislodged and enter the wellbore. When sand enters the existing wellbore it can damage pumping equipment and/or plug the wellbore. When this occurs wellbore intervention is required to replace the damaged equipment and may also require the wellbore to be cleaned out, both operations are costly and slow the process of returning offset wells to production.
PROPOSAL: As a mitigation measure, EOG is requesting approval to fill the existing wellbore with produced water from nearby producing wells. The fluid would increase the hydrostatic pressure in the existing well and assist in counter-acting the pressure pulses and sand influxes impacting the well from the drilling and completion process of the infill wells.
The fluid will be pumped at a very low surface pressure with a fluid pump. Pumping pressures are planned below 500 psi. At or before reaching 500 psi, pumping would cease, keeping the pressure below fracture pressure.
Produced water will be transported by truck or pipeline for the process.
Production profile for this well (#17222) for past year or so:
Pool
Date
Days
BBLS Oil
Runs
BBLS Water
MCF Prod
MCF Sold
Vent/Flare
BAKKEN
9-2016
30
5423
5422
1448
2247
1605
458
BAKKEN
8-2016
31
5165
5225
2028
1971
1425
356
BAKKEN
7-2016
31
5012
4947
2778
2022
1281
551
BAKKEN
6-2016
14
1764
1685
1849
860
626
152
BAKKEN
5-2016
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
BAKKEN
4-2016
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
BAKKEN
3-2016
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
BAKKEN
2-2016
0
0
37
0
0
0
0
BAKKEN
1-2016
20
1690
1713
104
2263
2047
95
BAKKEN
12-2015
31
2704
2706
92
3337
2370
777
BAKKEN
11-2015
30
2357
2348
69
2741
513
2050
BAKKEN
10-2015
31
2129
2136
66
2548
1167
1197
#31825 -- API 33-061-03799 -- no frack data yet at FracFocus.
************************
20699, 344, Hunt, Karbowski 2-22H 2, Parshall, short lateral, t9/11; cum 178K 9/16;
Production profile for #20699; no explanation for bump-up in production in late 2016:
In the graphic below, #17120, a short lateral was drilled back in 2008. In 2016, it was taken off-line for a few months while neighboring wells were being fracked. Below the graphic are the production profiles for #17120 (the older well) and the neighboring well recently fracked. Also, note the amount of proppant used to frack the new well:
17120,2,051, EOG, Austin 10-34H, Parshall, t8/08; cum 910K 9/16, production data for past year:
Pool
Date
Days
BBLS Oil
Runs
BBLS Water
MCF Prod
MCF Sold
Vent/Flare
BAKKEN
12-2016
31
5142
5371
788
1962
1756
16
BAKKEN
11-2016
30
5319
5281
1115
2038
1827
27
BAKKEN
10-2016
31
4982
4807
1616
1985
919
876
BAKKEN
9-2016
30
4353
4339
2083
1802
1602
21
BAKKEN
8-2016
31
3798
3879
3629
1582
1357
37
BAKKEN
7-2016
18
2647
2545
3917
1022
912
0
BAKKEN
6-2016
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
BAKKEN
5-2016
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
BAKKEN
4-2016
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
BAKKEN
3-2016
24
1724
1799
179
1611
1461
3
BAKKEN
2-2016
29
2277
2204
63
2134
1931
25
BAKKEN
1-2016
31
2513
2515
87
2202
2015
0
BAKKEN
12-2015
31
2649
2649
78
1964
1502
272
BAKKEN
11-2015
30
2553
2553
85
1579
1066
333
BAKKEN
10-2015
31
2788
2835
148
1774
1418
169
31666, 887, EOG, Austin 433-3402H, Parshall, 43 stages, 17 million lbs, t7/16; cum 51K 9/16; full production profile:
An area where Enduro will be using water injection for enhanced oil recovery. From today's daily activity report, this well has been permitted for water injection, enhanced oil recovery, see graphic below:
3440, loc/30, Enduro Operating, NSCU K-709, Newburg oil field, Spearfish/Charles pool, t10/63, cum 327K 2/08;
Comments regarding the renewed permit:
it appears that #3440, was an old Spearfish/Charles well drilled
back in 1963, and abandoned back in 2008; and is now going to be
converted to a water injection well (an enhanced recovery well); the
application was initially submitted in February, 2014;
This well is located in Newburg oil field, Spearfish/Charles pool, many of which are simple vertical wells. Many of them produced a fair amount of oil over the course of their life times.
Some are still active. For example, the index well in the graphic below, has produced more than one million bbls of oil is still active, and will celebrate its 60th anniversary next November, 2017:
1645, 30, Enduro Operating, Newburg-Spearfish-Charles Unit Q-715, Spearfish/Charles pool, t11/57; cum 1.14 million bbls 9/16; still producing about 250 bbls/month
I forgot to place an arrow designating the location of this field on the overview map of North Dakota, but if you look closely you can see a red "dot" near the Canadian border, in Bottineau County.
I'm mentioned this well in a number of locations on the blog.
24337, 2,519, EOG, Hawkeye 3-2413H,
Antelope, middle Bakken, 28 stages; 9.7 million lbs sand; 133K in less
than four months; t5/13; 2 sections; TD = 20,626 feet; cum 650K 9/16;
30298, SI/NC, Hess, EN-Weyrauch C-154-93-2932H-6, Robinson Lake, no production data,
31735, 2,143, Newfield, Lost Bridge Federal 148-96-9-4-10H, Lost Bridge, API: 33-025-02984; t9/16; cum 8K over 6 days, that's more than 1,000 bopd; a Three Forks well; 50.5% drilled in 15' target zone; 17.3% drilled in TF C facies; 14% drilled in TF A facies; 5.9% drilled in TF B facies; frack data not yet available, and no info over at FracFocus, either:
it appears that #3440, was an old Spearfish/Charles well drilled back in 1963, and abandoned back in 2008; and is now going to be converted to a water injection well (an enhanced recovery well); the application was initially submitted in February, 2014;
3440, loc/30, Enduro Operating, NSCU K-709, Newburg oil field, Spearfish/Charles pool, t10/63, cum 327K 2/08;
I said it sometime ago, and I will say it again: it's time for DAPL promoters and North Dakota to part ways. It was real. It was fun. But it was not real fun. Make it a trifecta: the Keystone, the Sandpiper, and the DAPL.
Let's Just Kiss and Say Goodbye, The Manhattans
******************************
Job Watch
The spin continues: Business Insider highlights that the number of people filing for unemployment beneefits is at a 16-year low, but finally get to the point:
Initial jobless claims, which counts people applying for
unemployment insurance for the first time, rose by 7,000 to
265,000 last week.
Economists had forecast that the tally fell to 256,000 from
258,000 in the prior week.
So, not only did the number of claims rise substantially but analysts had actually forecast the number would drop.
And at DOL, the four-week moving average increased by 4,750 (one of the larger increases in recent memory) to 257,750.
Yes, here it is, Bloomberg's headline: jobless claims rise to highest in almost three months. The lede includes that word I love: "unexpectedly." Really? Did gasoline demand foretell the trend?
*********************************
The Market
Mid-afternoon trading: Dow 30 absolutely flat; WTI down almost another dollar, now about $44.50.
Facebook dropped more than 8%: CEO Zuckerberg says he anticipates a "meaningful" slowdown in revenue growth rates, and that his plans call for "aggressive" investments next year. For Zuckerberg/Facebook, it seems it's all about advertising dollars. Jeff Bezos continues to look like one of the few that remains a true visionary.
*******************************************
Brave New World
We have really entered a new world. One of our favorite, and we have many -- grocery stores in the local area is Tom Thumb -- I think it's a Safeway store -- now has home delivery.
I just got an e-mail note that I can order my groceries on-line, and Tom Thumb will deliver (in one-hour delivery windows).
To see how I might like this, they are offering a $10 discount and free delivery on the first purchase.
Truly amazing. Folks can order on-line while at work, and then schedule a delivery for the first hour they return home from work that evening. Truly amazing. Yes, I know everyone in San Francisco and NYC and Chicago have been doing this for ages, but I grew up in North Dakota and never would have imagined this would happen in my lifetime.
************************************
I Hear Hillary's Into Soul Food Now
I'd Love You To Want Me, The Way That I Want You, The Way It Should Be
This was on the juke-box when she walked into the restaurant:
Gotta love them Norwegians: nearly 15,000 Norwegians apply to hunt 47 wolves in controversial culling that will slash population by 70% - VRT -- from "Breaking News." #WolvesLivesMatter; and, the movie, "No Country For Old Wolves."
Poll: I've always wondered if Trump might actually go over 50%. When I saw the USC-Los Angeles Times poll yesterday, I thought it might be possible. I haven't followed the Rasmussen poll very closely so I don't know if this has happened before, but Rasmussen is reporting that Trump is polling 50%+ among those who say they have definitely decided. In the "overall" poll, Trump leads Hillary, 45% - 42%. But look at this:
Eighty-eight percent (88%) of voters say they are now certain how they
will vote. Among these voters, Trump has a 10-point lead over Clinton –
53% to 43%. Johnson gets two percent (2%) and Stein one percent (1%).
This is the first time any candidate has crossed the 50% mark. Among
those who still could change their minds, it’s Clinton 36%, Trump 36%,
Johnson 22% and Stein six percent.
Russia's Northern Fleet: it appears the fleet is loitering just east of Crete. Its position has not changed much in the past 24 hours -- again, just off-shore from Crete suggesting there may be some re-supply activity.
ObamaCare: as if it's not bad enough, another insurer has said it will leave ObamaCare if results don't improve. Anthem says it may exit ObamaCare.
Health insurer Anthem Inc., which has so far stuck with the Obamacare
markets as rivals pulled back, said it may retreat in 2018 if its
financial results under the program don’t improve next year.
Anthem’s
comments up the stakes for the Obama administration as the enrollment
season for 2017 Affordable Care Act plans begins, with consumers already
facing fewer choices and higher premiums in many markets.
Earlier this year, in Forbes: Anthem Gains Obamacare Customers And Sees Profits, Expansion Ahead.
Anthem’s first quarter earnings were better than expected as the company welcomed 1 million new customers across its businesses since the end of last year, including 184,000 who signed up for coverage on public exchanges under the Affordable Care Act.
In contrast to UnitedHealth Group, which is scaling back to a handful of public exchanges to sell individual policies, Anthem ANTM sees the so-called Obamacare business as a growth opportunity. Anthem, which sells policies under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand in 14 states, expects to remain in those markets next year with the potential for expansion should its merger with Cigna be approved. [Earlier this year, BC/BS pulled out of Arizona, ground zero for ObamaCare.]
“I think a sustainable model can be built,” Anthem chairman Joe Swedish said of public exchanges in an hour-long conference call this morning with analysts. “This remains a dynamic marketplace. Over time, we do believe we are well positioned for sustained growth.”
So what happened between April, 2016, and November, 2016?
Natural gas utilities and power generators in southern New England will
have access to additional gas supplies this winter as Spectra Energy
brings its 342-MMcf/d Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) project into
service. But Kinder Morgan’s planned 72-MMcf/d Connecticut Expansion has
been set back a year (to November 2017) due to permitting delays and,
more important, a multi-state effort to enable electric distribution
utilities (EDUs) to contract for gas pipeline capacity for generators
appears to have died, and with it prospects for at least one major
project.
Is New England destined to remain gas-supply constrained for
years to come? Today we consider recent developments regarding gas
supply in the northeastern corner of the U.S., and what they may mean
for Marcellus/Utica producers.
Saudi Aramco: McDermott adds a new office, 300 additional workers, increasing its engineering capacity in Saudi Arabia. Data points:
In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) -- established by Saudi Aramco to support increased levels of localization inside the kingdom
McDermott added three new projects for Saudi Aramco, 2Q16
