Week 41: October 7, 2018 -- October 13, 2018

Internationally, the biggest non-energy story of the week was the murder of an American-Saudi journalist.

In the US, the biggest story of the week was the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the newest US Supreme Court justice. The carnival has ended.

Also, in the US, gasoline demand is plummeting. And that was before Hurricane Michael.

Canadian top story of the week: WCS at 10-year low; $45/bbl discount to WTI

Favorite social media video of the week: the druids clawing at the castle door.

Geoff Simon's top North Dakota energy stories:

• North Dakota oil and gas producers set another record, August, 2018, data
• crude oil: > 40 million bbls
• natural gas: > 75 billion cubic feet of gas, or 12.5 million boe
• total boe: >50 million boe
• more than 2/3rds of the August increase was produced on the Ft Berthold Reservation, where gas pipeline permitting has not kept pace with production (would that be federal permitting?); gas capture capacity will likely cause problems in the future, especially when gas capture target increases to 88% -- Helms
• Operation Prairie Dog legislation leased from committee
• modernizing funding for infrastructure
• study continues to support 4-lane expansion of US Highway 85 from Watford City to I-94
• mineral owners consider forming an association
• Oasis celebrates completion of Wild Basin II gas processing plant
• PSC officially dismisses siting complaint against Davis Refinery
• new school options in Williston focus on overcrowding at elementary level
• NextEra plans large wind farm in Emmons, Logan counties
• North Dakota tribes want sales tax exemption for casinos
• global oil demand reaches record levels and is expected to keep increasing

Operations

• New production records set in North Dakota
• Mike Filloon update here

Bakken economy

• Biorefinery under construction in Grand Forks, ND

Miscellaneous

• Williston revokes liquor license for Hearbreakers; suspends license for another;