Week 6: February 2, 2020 -- February 8, 2020

Best graphic of the week:

• In the Permian;

Best video clip of the week:

• Nancy Pelosi tearing an official copy of the president's state of the union address in half;

Top international non-energy story:

• Coronavirus: 2019-nCoV;

Top international energy story:

• Global oil, natural gas discoveries hit four-year high in 2019; 
• US crude oil exports hit all-tine record;
• UAE natural gas discovery could be largest since 2005;

Top national non-energy story, politics:

• "Totally acquitted" forever;
• Emoluments lawsuit slammed by federal court, 3 - 0 
• "Victory lap" speech; cleaning house; taking names
• Iowa voting app commits suicide on national television; tied to Hillary;
• Rush Limbaugh: advanced stage 4 lung cancer;

Top national non-energy story, US economy:

• Record low unemployment; huge jobs report; and, here; and, here;
• Record stock market indices;
• Record US satisfaction;
• US GDP: staggering;

Top national energy story:

• US proved reserves increase another 12% in 2018; 
• US natural gas production growth: staggering;
• New Mexico goes over 1 million bopd;
• US record crude oil production;

Top North Dakota non-energy story:

Top North Dakota energy story:

Geoff Simon's top North Dakota stories:

• "No" snow on the prairie; risk of spring flooding diminishes;
• Coal Creek Station in financial trouble (understatement) -- owned and operated by Green River Energy, Maple Grove, MN;
• EIA lowers long-term oil price outlook; will impact ND production;
• Shorter school weeks proving successful in Alexander public schools
• Williston to build hockey complex using old hangar;
• "Prairie Dog" infrastructure money may be available earlier than expected;
• PUC approves $100 million solar project on Pine Ridge Reservation;
• US crude oil and natural gas production increased in 2018, with 10% fewer wells (memo: Red Queen);
• Wind's production tax credit receives 12th extension -- 12th extension -- competitive? Not!
• UN officials infuriated as Donald Trump stands up against global warming;

Wells of interest (see this note):

• Henry Bad Gun goes over 500K bbls cumulative crude oil;  
• MRO's Jerome USA well: almost 500K in first year; 
• Four Enerplus wells each go over 500K;
• A Slawson Wolverine Federal well soon to go over 500K; 
• Petro-Hunt active in the Charlson; wells exceeding 500K;
• A BR Merton well reports almost 270K in eight months;
• Random update of a great BR Kermit well;

Operators:

• New E&P company in the Bakken;
• Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead;
• Hess reports several nice BB-Olson wells;

Operations:

Fracking:

• Mega-fracks: 83-stage; 16-million-lb frack; 
• Water; 

Pipelines:

• Enbridge Line 3 update;

Bakken 101:

• Infill / development wells;

Commentary:

• So much work yet to be done in the Bakken; 
• The Red Queen fell off her treadmill in 2018;
• The US as "swing producer"; see this note;