Week 24: June 7, 2020 -- June 13, 2020

The week's best graphic:

• #BLM; 

Most fascinating bit of trivia all year:

• Is it possible, TCM host stumbled upon origin of Minnie Pearl's stage name?

Most under-reported story:

• US crude oil in storage surges to all-time high; here; here; and, here;
• Gasoline demand in US begins to flatten;
• PG&E moving out of San Francisco: too pricey;
• Saudi raises oil prices most in 20 years;
• NASCAR backs protesters, looters;
• Despite shutting down the entire global economy, atmospheric CO2 rises year-over-year;

Smallest story with biggest headline:

• NOG announces core bolt-on acquisition; and, here;

Top story of the week:

• The emergence of autonomous zones in the US; even better than sanctuary cities;
• Trump having a huge week: Venezuela, Iran scrambling; and, here;
• US natural gas exports to Mexico hit new record high;
• Apple, INC [AAPL]: first US company to ever hit market cap of $1.5 trillion; MSFT, second;
• Warren Buffett having a very, very good week; and, here;
• Dow: up 1,000 points; then falls 1,800 points;

Top international non-energy story:


Top international energy story:

• US natural gas exports to Mexico hit new record high [yes, posted twice]
• Iraq fights for survival; 
• Huge drop in Saudi oil exports in May;

Top national non-energy story:

• Seattle domestic terrorists request more guns; and, here;

Top national energy story:

• Gasoline demand begins to flatten;

Top North Dakota non-energy story:

• Drones: BVLOS;

Top North Dakota energy story:

• Legacy Fund deposits plummet -- but seriously, do we really need all that money?
• Legacy Fund deposits, May, 2020;
• In big scheme of things, ND oil production doing just fine;
• NDIC daily activity report: error-prone; and, here;
• First time blog did not post daily activity report;
• Slow week in the Bakken;
• Update on Bakken permitting;

Geoff Simon's top ND stories:

• April oil production down 15%; biggest drop in 50 years of record-keeping
• Almost $10 million awarded for airport grants; includes Watford City, Dickinson;
• Four Bears Bridge construction beginning;
• State Avenue railroad bridge construction in Dickinson set to begin;
• Illinois regulators reject bid to delay decision on DAPL
• Long X Bridge south of Watford City to be open by November, 2020
• Dickinson airport boardings gradually increase; runway construction on schedule
• In New England, wind farms are like "sitting landfills," no one wants them

Operators:

• Enerplus: nix on the Three Forks, back to the middle Bakken on the "Lithophile Element" pad;
• NOG announces core bolt-on acquisition; and, here; 
• Crescent Point Energy's Blue Ridge wells;

Operations:

• Slawson's Torpedo Federal wells are off line;
• Rimrock to frack some Skunk Creek wells?
• MRO reports four incredible DUCs; 
• Another huge CLR Carson Peak well; and, here;

Advantaged oil:

500K oil:

• In less than a year? 
• Three EOG Wayzetta wells each at 800K cumulative;

Commentary:

• Bakken EURs keep increasing:
• Bakken vs Saudi: XOM's decision;
• Saudi Arabia in deep doo-doo; price of oil falls;
• Doomsday Chronicles: back up and running;
• This cut is amazing;
• What condition is my condition in?
• Why Saudi will lose the next price war;
• "Water flooding" in the Bakken;
• Wind farm shenanigans;