| 3/9/2017 | 03/09/2016 | 03/09/2015 | 03/09/2014 | 03/09/2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Rigs | 44 | 33 | 114 | 191 | 187 |
ProductionThis is what popped out at me from the data:
Producing wells
- January, 2017: 980,294 bopd
- December, 2016: 942,322
- Delta: 37,972 bopd
- Delta: 4.0% increase month-over-month
- 95% production comes from the Bakken and the Three Forks
- 5% production comes from legacy conventional pools
Rig count
- January, 2017: 13,333 (all-time high was November, 2016, at 13,520)
- December, 2016: 13,337
Completed wells not producing
- up five from February to today (March 8, 2017)
- February, 2017: 39
- January, 2017: 38
- December, 2016: 40
- DUCs, estimated: 802, down 5 from the end of December to the end of January
- inactive well count, estimated: 1,678, up 105 from the end of December to the end of January
Harold Hamm, the billionaire shale oilman, said the U.S. industry could "kill" the oil market if it embarks into another spending binge, a rare warning in a business focused on fast growth to compete with OPEC.ObamaCare: if folks remember, ObamaCare was a three-legged stool -- a) the corporate mandate; b) the individual mandate; and, c) the medical device tax. Overnight, Congress repealed the medical device tax; it was bipartisan -- even Elizabeth Warren was against this tax. Obviously she's a tool of the medical device sector in Boston. EW never saw tax she didn't like -- except ... So, the tax on medical devices leg killed; the individual mandate killed (by executive order the IRS will not penalize filers for not enrolling in a health care plan; the corporate mandate being worked.
Webster began his journalism career at NBC affiliate KTVH-TV in Helena, Montana, where he worked as a news director. Before that, he had spent 6 years in London, working for the Bank of Montreal and Lloyds Bank.
The Syrian army broke a three-year Islamic State siege in the eastern city of Deir Ezzour on Tuesday, handing the extremist group a significant setback in one of its most important remaining strongholds.
The regime’s advance adds to the pressure on Islamic State fighters in surrounding Deir Ezzour province, which many of the group’s leaders fled to as it came under attack and lost territory across Syria and Iraq over the past year.
The Syrian military has been moving toward the city of Deir Ezzour for weeks. The U.S. and Russia, Syria’s main ally, agreed recently on a plan to avoid clashes between the regime and the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State, which is currently battling the extremists in the neighboring province of Raqqa to the north.September 3, 2017: US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have taken about 60% of the city of Raqqa. One reader is waiting to see if Paul Ryan will criticize President Trump for this.
Iraqi forces have driven Islamic State from the symbolic town of Tal Afar, the Iraqi military said Sunday, clearing one of the extremist group’s few remaining strongholds in the country.
Operations continued against the militants in a handful of surrounding villages, a military statement said. Army officials said Saturday night that they were nearly in full control of Tal Afar’s historic center, moving toward the northern neighborhoods still held by Islamic State.
The surprisingly swift conclusion comes just one week into the battle for Tal Afar, which once served as a way station between the group’s de facto capitals Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria.
As U.S.-backed Iraqi forces penetrated Tal Afar, it became clear that Islamic State fighters either had abandoned the city ahead of the battle to seek refuge elsewhere, or had lay down their weapons to blend in with the local population.
Raqqa has been a crucial part of the terror group’s self-declared caliphate. Until a few months ago, public squares were lined with decomposing bodies of those who had run afoul of Islamic State’s religious rules or bureaucracy.
Fighters for the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which is leading the assault to oust Islamic State from Raqqa, say on some days they have helped dozens of civilians reach safety. Other days, no one makes it out. Militants execute smugglers helping civilians flee and those accused of collaborating with the U.S.-led coalition.
The Pentagon has estimated there are fewer than 2,500 Islamic State militants left in the city, down from about 4,500.August 20, 2017: Just a month ago, I wrote:
Off the radar scope, the current allied military push on the ISIS capital of Raqqa (Raqqah). Iraqi news service reported a week or so ago that the allies had re-taken Mosul, the most important city held by ISIS at the time.Tonight, The Los Angeles Times is reporting:
Fresh off their victory in Mosul, Iraqi forces Sunday launched their campaign to reclaim the city of Tall Afar, Islamic State’s last major bastion in the northern part of the country.Its loss would deny the group a major resupply — or escape — route to the border with Syria, 60 miles to the west. The jihadis have long been able to cross the border with impunity.
Caliphate (ISIS may or may not hold these cities); all to the northeast of Damascus, or north of BaghdadSome data points to keep in mind:
- Aleppo: Syria
- Raqqa: Syria (currently held by ISIS) (on the Euphrates River); capital cityof ISIS -- self-declared; about 80 miles due east (slightly southeast) of Aleppo)
- Manbij: on road to Raqqa in Syria; "allies" re-take Manbij, August, 2016
- Mosul: back and for between ISIS and Kurds; on the Tigris
- Tikrit: midway between Mosul and Baghdad; on the Tigris
- Ramadi: on the Euphrates, west of Baghdad, west of Falujah
- Fallujah: on the Euphrates, between Ramadi and Baghdad
"US Marine artillery moving into Syria means we will crush them. Fast in, fast out. Crush them; move in, fast move out fast. Marines don't stick around; no nation building. In support role; artillery can sit back 10 kilometers; not on front lines; support role; ISIS will be crushed in Raqqa." -- Republican Congressman former US Marine (or Army?) artillery officer.BBC: report from two hours ago (posted at 8:36 a.m. Central Time, March 9, 2017).
US Marines reportedly arrived in the past few days to establish an outpost from which they will be able to fire artillery at IS positions some 32km (20 miles) away. US special forces are already on the ground, advising the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance. The alliance is expected to launch an assault on Raqqa in the coming weeks. Over the weekend, a separate force of elite US army Rangers was also deployed near a town north-west of Raqqa in heavily armoured vehicles, in an attempt to end clashes between SDF fighters and a Turkish-backed rebel force.The Washington Post: huge.
The force is part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which left San Diego on Navy ships in October. The Marines on the ground include part of an artillery battery that can fire powerful 155-millimeter shells from M-777 Howitzers, two officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the deployment.
The expeditionary unit’s ground force, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, will man the guns and deliver fire support for U.S.-backed local forces who are preparing an assault on the city. Additional infantrymen from the unit will provide security, while resupplies will be handled by part of the expeditionary force’s combat logistics element. For this deployment, the Marines were flown from Djibouti to Kuwait and then into Syria, said another defense official with direct knowledge of the operation.
By the way, what a great opportunity for a two-fer. Everyone is well aware that Trump not happy with Chinese movement into the South China Sea. Moving B-52's as a show-of-force against China might not be a smart move, but moving B-52's as show of force against North Korea makes a great cover story. Something tells me that China won't like North Korea's stupidity drawing US B-52's into the region.This may explain the "switch" announced this past week. After 12 years, Barksdale B-52 bombers ceding Mideast mission to Minot. The question is why after 12 years was decision made to switch Mideast from Barksdale to Minot.Possibly you are correct that Minot bombers going to Asia, but also with switch it's possible the Barksdale bombers are moving to Asia and Minot moving to Mideast.Regardless of specifics, it certainly suggests Trump has unleashed his military.After 8 years of "no-drama Obama" we're finally seeing some movement. Trump is absolutely overwhelming Congress and the media. No one can keep up.
Marathon Oil Corporation announced today it has signed an agreement to sell its Canadian subsidiary, which includes the Company's 20 percent non-operated interest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP), to Shell and Canadian Natural Resources Limited for $2.5 billion in cash, excluding closing adjustments.
Marathon Oil also announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire approximately 70,000 net surface acres in the Permian basin from BC Operating, Inc. and other entities for $1.1 billion in cash, excluding closing adjustments. The acquisition includes 51,500 acres in the Northern Delaware basin of New Mexico, and current production of approximately 5,000 net barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed).This is interesting because I thought I just read that Shell was selling some of its western Canadian oil sands. Yes, I did -- earlier this morning: Shell sells sands -- $7.25 billion -- Reuters.
Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to sell most of its Canadian oil sands assets for $7.25 billion to Canadian Natural, the company said on Thursday.
The deal also includes a joint acquisition by Shell and Canadian Natural of Marathon Oil Canada Corporation, a subsidiary of Marathon Oil, for $1.25 billion each to be paid in cash, Shell said.
Shell will sell its existing and undeveloped Canadian oil sands interests and reduce its share in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP) to 10 percent, but it will remain as operator of the AOSP Scotford upgrader and the Quest carbon capture and storage project.
Dennis Gartman (CNBC contributor) who said oil would never see $55 again, turned bullish this week, suggesting one could see another $6 - $8 on the upside vs only $2 to $3 on the downside.Well, so much for that.
| 3/9/2017 | 03/09/2016 | 03/09/2015 | 03/09/2014 | 03/09/2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Rigs | 45 | 33 | 114 | 191 | 187 |