Week 27: June 28, 2020 -- July 4, 2020

Top story of the week:

• the Bakken shuts down --  
• almost every "monster" well in the ND Bakken was taken off line in May, 2020;
• NDARC drops below ten rigs;
• surge in corona virus in the US;

The week's best graphic:

• Shale needs new metrics; 
• They closed your business;

Most under-reported story:

• Seattle chops CHOP;

Smallest story with the biggest headline:

Biggest non-surprise:

• Chesapeake files for bankruptcy;

Top international non-energy story:

Top international energy story:

• New US crude oil waterborne benchmarks;

Top national non-energy story:

• Microsoft to permanently close all retail stores;
• Epstein's amanuensis collared in New Hampshire;

Top national energy story:

• WTI finishes the week at $40;
• API: largest crude oil draw so far this year;

Top ND non-energy story:

• South Unit visitor center re-opens.

Top ND energy story:

• Meridian refinery near Dickinson gets "okay" from ND Supreme Court;
• NDARC drops below ten rigs;

Geoff Simon's top ND stories:

• Mercer County considers wind moratorium;
• Montana finalizes first set of TENORM disposal rules;
• Harold Hamm buying up shares of CLR (this is a bigger story than folks realize)
• Energy Transfer doubles down on ND pipeline expansion; problems in Illinois;
• Plans moving ahead for Bill Sanderson Gas Plant west of Williston: link here;  
• Watford City's Mineral Tracker merging with First International Bank & Trust;
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park reopens South Unit Visitor Center;
• ATV accident claims life of former county commissioner Roger Chinn
• COP plans to begin restoring company's curtailed oil production
• Marcellus gas moving by truck as environmentalists continue to oppose new pipelines;

Operators:

• XTO with permits for a 15-well HBU Marmon pad; 
• CLR reports two more Brooklyn wells;
• CLR reports 50K production in one month in a Brooklyn well;
• New Minnkota Power permit in North Dakota; near their first well;
• A BR well producing at 125K over 30 days;
• Large XTO spacing units in Heart Butte;

Operations:

• The Bakken never ceases to amaze me;
• All eyes on Amber Renee and Sophia Drake;
• A lousy first generation Encore well shows 15-fold jump in production; 
• Oasis Joplin wells: monster wells;
• Huge well outside the core Bakken;
• Another Whiting Fladeland well goes over 500K;

Advantaged oil:

• Example of nice halo effect in the Bakken;
• An MRO Pelton well;

Commentary:

• Shale needs new metrics;
• Bakken 4.0: drilling the Bakken
• Which iPad do I recommend for a mobile device at home?
• The Bakken never ceases to amaze me; 
• Aramco's dividend math doesn't add up;