The Two Best Metrics As Proxies For US Economy? -- September 25, 2020

Natural gas:

Gasoline demand:

Clearing Off The Desk -- Screenshots Taken, Not Used -- September 25, 2020

Natural gas:

Duolingo:

The Twilight Zone:

I made the same point just the other: folks given the privilege of a "lifetime appointment, have a responsibility to retire gracefully." She became a parody of herself as the years dragged on.

A Huge "Thank You" To Readers -- September 25, 2020

I'm always embarrassed by the number of trivial typographical errors I make throughout the day on all my posts. Errors with regard to "content" are much fewer but they do occur. 

But with regard to typographical errors, a big "thank you" to readers for not "nickel-and-dime-ing" me with e-mail pointing out non-substantive typographical errors. I generally find most of them and correct them. To me, it's more important that I get information posted as quickly as possible and worry about typographical errors later. 

This turned out to be a busier week than I had expected. I'm not sure if I will post much more tonight but tomorrow, "Top Stories." 

Good luck to all.

Just A Software Fix -- GM's "Stop-Delivery Order" -- September 25, 2020

Just a software fix? 2020 GM Cadillacs, Corvettes, Buick Encore GX, and 2021Chevy Trailblazers -- under a "stop-delivery order." Link here.

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and a number of other General Motors products are confirmed to have an issue with brake sensor contamination in its brake-by-wire system. The Corvette Action Center initially broke the news, and also says the Corvette and others are under a "stop-delivery" order because of it. GM confirmed the issue, but it did not confirm the “stop-delivery” order to us explicitly.

Atlantic Bridge Project, Enbridge: given FERC approval, today, Friday, September 25, 2020. Link here.  Weymouth Compressor Station approved. Necessary for distribution of natural gas within New England and Canadian Maritimes. Will not be involved with natural gas exports.

***********************************
Back to the Bakken

Active rigs:

$40.25	9/25/2020	09/25/2019	09/25/2018	09/25/2017	09/25/2016
Active Rigs	11	59	66	58	33

Two new permits:

• Operator: MRO
• Field: Reunion Bay (Mountrail County)
• Comments:
• MRO has permits for two wells in Lot 3, section 5-150-93; 302' FNL and 1844/1889' FWL; (45 feet from each other); Reunion Bay;

Three permits renewed:

• EOG (2): two Clearwater permits, both in Mountrail County;
• Sinclair: a Bighorn permit in Dunn County

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad -- September 25, 2020

From Motley Fool:

• Enbridge
• Enterprise Products Partners
• Magellan Midstream Partners

Disclaimer: this is not an investment site.  Do not make any investment, financial, job, career, travel, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here.

Why Do They Make It So Difficult? September 25, 2020

If you like Apple, the headline: EU court sides with Apple.

Or even better: Apple, 1 -- EU, 0.

If you dislike Apple, the headline: Apple will be fighting the EU for the next decade over $15 billion. 

This headline provided the absolute wrong take-away from the article:

Link here.

Wow, it's hard for writers to keep it simple. This is the story: EU court sides with Apple on tax issue. 

But heaven forbid if you are trying to get to the bottom line reading this story:

BRUSSELS— Apple Inc.’s  legal battle in Europe over a $15.2 billion tax bill will continue, potentially for years, after the European Union appealed a court ruling that sided with the tech giant. 

EU officials doubled down Friday on their ruling from 2016, which alleged that Ireland had granted illegal tax breaks to Apple. This followed the company’s unexpected win in July at the bloc’s second-highest court, where judges said the European Commission—the EU’s competition enforcement arm—didn’t bring enough evidence that Ireland had granted illegal tax breaks to Apple between 2003 and 2014. 

The commission’s competition chief, Margrethe Vestager, said the court had “made a number of errors,” prompting the appeal. “Making sure that all companies, big and small, pay their fair share of tax remains a top priority for the commission,” she said.

Here's the story:

• Ireland has a tax law.

• Apple abides by the Irish tax law.

• Not even sure who the EU sued: Ireland or Apple?

• Regardless, the court sided with Apple.

• Now the EU will appeal.
  

They're Reading The Blog -- California Will Need A MUCH Bigger Grid -- September 25, 2020

From The Wall Street Journal: 

California Wants Cars to Run on Electricity. It’s Going to Need a Much Bigger Grid. The state has recently struggled with rolling blackouts due to tight power supplies. Going all electric in 15 years will dramatically increase electricity demand.

 

Not just a "bigger grid," but a "much bigger" grid. California already has regularly scheduled blackouts; imagine a ban on gasoline cars in California. 

Note the operative word: dramatically. This will cause electric rates to soar across the board including for those who are used to washing/drying clothes late at night/early morning to save on electricity costs in California. Governor Knewlittle has not thought this through.

Hunch: a lot of dealers are buying land for future automobile dealerships along the Nevada state line and the Oregon state line.

And that's just the start. 

Drive down the residential streets of San Pedro, south Los Angeles. There must be four cars parked in front of every house, most of which do not have a garage. They will need charging stations in front of every one of those houses, and that's just the start. 

Apartment complex owners are going to be required to put in a $100,000 charger for every resident. Californians will be obsessed with "where do I charge my car today/tonight?" 

A lot of brand new ICE-automobiles are going to be sold in 2034. 

****************************
The California Bullet Train

Meanwhile, how's that California bullet train working out?

Out Of Touch -- Never Got The Memo Re: WSJ Target Audience -- September 25, 2020

An on-line subscription to The Wall Street Journal: $99 / three months -- hold that thought.

Fine dining for one, $71 -- hold that thought.

The WSJ target audience: investors, high earners, millionaires (and billionaires) -- hold  thought. 

Now this, from Joanna Stern, The Wall Street Journal, "Apple Watch Series 6 and SE Review: Watch Out for the Upsell."

Her bottom line:

• if you have already got a two- or three-year-old Apple Watch, the gains with the new model aren't substantial;
• you can get the same thing as the new Apple Watch, by wearing a cheap knock-off [$250]; a FitBit [$330]; and a cheap Walgreen's pulse oximeter [$45] (all three at the same time) -- she actually said that; LOL;
• sure, the top-of-the-line Apple Watch Series 6 can do that stuff but so can models that cost far less
• the best deal going right now might be a refurbished Series 5
• you should upgrade your Apple Watch every three to five years (which of course is at odds of the first bullet)
• Apple Watch's pulse oximetry is "far too unreliable and inaccurate" -- as she compares it to a cheap Walgreen's pulse oximeter;

Price points:

• top-of-the-line, Apple Watch Series 6: $399
• refurbished Apple Watch Series 5: $329

Are you still with me? Let's repeat:

• top-of-the-line, Apple Watch Series 6: $399
• refurbished Apple Watch Series 5: $329
• price difference: $70
  

The other two choices:

• Apple Watch Series SE: $279
• Apple Watch Series 3: $199

The writer asks: are the blood-oxygen sensor, an EKG, and an always-on display worth $120?

Okay, so there you have it. You can stop reading now.

She asks the question: are the blood-oxygen sensor, an EKG, and an always-on display worth $120?

She's talking to investors, high earners, millionaires (and billionaires). 

She's says to upgrade every three to five years. 

For that demographic (millionaires) and a purchase every three to five years, she's quibbling about $120? LOL.

LOL.

✋

Are you kidding me.

I was blown away that the top-of-the-line Apple Watch is that inexpensive. $399. I honestly had forgotten the price (the bands are the expensive add-ons). 

And if you buy it in Montana, no sales tax. 

$120 difference.

$400 for the best.

Yearly subscription to The WSJ: $400. ($99 every three months, I believe). 

By the way, see how long it takes you to find the price for a WSJ subscription. I quit looking. Apple puts their price out there, front and center.

Fine dining: a meal for two -- $150.

• the business and pleasure of dining out, The WSJ;
• how much does fine dining cost?

Starbucks $3.00 coffee Monday through Friday, 300 x $3.00 = $900 for one year.

Starbucks coffee for three years: $2,700. A new top-of-the-line Apple Watch every three years: $400.

One ticket to Disneyland: $209 for tier 5. That's one ticket for one day.

And, again, the writer is talking to millionaires (and billionaires), suggesting they buy a refurbished Apple Watch for $329 vs brand-new-top-of-the-line for $399. And interest free, $17/month for two years.

$399: gold aluminum case with Solo Loop. 

Or, as an alternative one on your right wrist; one on your left wrist; and, one on on your right ankle:

• a cheap smart watch knock-off [$250];
• a FitBit [$330]; and,
• a Walgreen's pulse oximeter [$45] (all three at the same time)

I'm not making this up; that was her alternative for those trying to find excuse not to buy Apple. I didn't say that; she did.

A photo of the demographic group that The WSJ targets:

As I've said many, many times, Apple is not a tech company. It's part of the fashion industry. 

Or for the men:

Natural Gas: Connecting The Dots -- September 25, 2020

These stories have all been posted in the past 24 hours -- an incredibly interesting story on so many levels:

• RBN Energy: more northeast gas production curtailments, part 4.  Fascinating story, absolutely fascinating.
• Natural gas consumption in US plummets: link here to EIA.
• Fill rate: link here.

Not Alone Anymore, Traveling Wilburys

One Well Coming Off The Confidential List; Wow, This Week Went By Fast -- September 25, 2020

Natural gas consumption in US plummets: link here to EIA.

Below $40: so much for $40 oil; WTI breaks below $40.

OPEC basket, link here: reverses; down again; looking like a "dead cat bounce," or (hope springs eternal), a "W" recovery. OSP at $41.22.

************************************Back to the Bakken

Active rigs:

$39.95	9/25/2020	09/25/2019	09/25/2018	09/25/2017	09/25/2016
Active Rigs	11	59	66	58	33

One well coming off the confidential list -- Friday, September 25, 2020: 139 for the month; 210 for the quarter, 656 for the year

• 34914, SI/A, Whiting, Wold Federal 44-1-3H, Sand Creek, t--; cum 91K in three months; a 30K month;
  

RBN Energy: more northeast gas production curtailments, part 4.  Fascinating story, absolutely fascinating.

U.S. natural gas production in recent days has plunged more than 3 Bcf/d. While some Gulf of Mexico offshore and Gulf Coast production is still offline from the recent tropical storms, the bulk of these declines are happening in the Northeast, where gas production has dived 2 Bcf/d in the past week or so to about 30.2 Bcf/d, the lowest level since May 2019, pipeline flow data shows. Appalachia’s gas output was already down earlier in the month, as EQT Corp. shut in some volumes starting September 1. But with storage inventories soaring near five-year highs, a combination of maintenance events and demand constraints are forcing further curtailments of Marcellus/Utica volumes near-term. Today, we provide an update of Appalachia gas supply trends using daily gas pipeline flow data.

As we discussed on Wednesday in Part 3 of this blog series, the Northeast gas market has been volatile lately. Appalachian supply prices in the spot market earlier this week fell to three-year lows, despite production shut-ins being in effect. A confluence of factors influenced the downturn, including low weather-driven demand, pipeline outages that are restricting outflows, and the start of an annual fall maintenance event at Dominion Energy’s Cove Point LNG facility that took another 700 MMcf/d or so of export demand out of the market. What’s making all of that worse is that storage levels are soaring, not just in the Northeast but also in downstream markets, reducing flexibility to navigate supply congestion and forcing production curtailments. In the past couple of days, cash prices have strengthened again as production has pulled back.

Twenty Minutes -- Fast And Furious -- September 25, 2020

Note: I apologize for all The WSJ links. I know they are behind a paywall. When I get caught up, I will post additional material for each of the more important WSJ stories. In addition, there are often ways to get around the paywall; and, many of the stories are re-printed elsewhere by other sources.

First things first:

• oh, my bad. Stanley Cup -- game tonight, not last night. Moving on.

PAC-12: re-posting.

• I find this incredible. The west coast flip-flop on college football. Speaks volumes about priorities. I can only guess "they" were watching all those college football games being played on TV the past two weeks and finally came to their senses; so much for player safety (which, of course, was never the issue); in The WSJ; 
  

Did You EverHave To Make Up Your Mind? MonaLisa Twins ft John sebastianApple:

• writer for The WSJ -- target audience, millionaires -- readers won't spend extra $129 for the new  Watch; yes this will get a stand-alone post; link here;
• the business and pleasure of dining out, The WSJ;
• how much does fine dining cost?

Cheating scandal:

• UC, admissions, Senator Feinstein's husband; story has no legs; in The WSJ;

EVs:

• California's ban on new gasoline-fuel automobiles will upend the market; in The WSJ;

Nikola:

• background; be sure to read the comments; helps explain things; at this link, this social media comment:
• GM deal has zero risk for GM. It look like in hindsight that the deal was a hail mary by Nikola to pivot and get some product and revenue on the table. They were paying GM $2.7B for GM to build a plant owned and operated by GM that would then produce vehicle for profit to sell to Nikola. If Nikola had done this pivot a year earlier it might have been successful I think they just stuck with the con until it was too late. 
• If the deal falls apart before GM gets paid anything then GM walks away with nothing but loses nothing. If GM gets paid some of what they are owed and then the deal falls apart GM comes out ahead. If GM gets paid everything they are owed and then the deal falls apart GM comes out more ahead. If somehow Nikola turns the corner and survives long enough to start selling GM trucks with a Nikola sticker on them then GM is even more ahead.
• If I were running GM I would take any deal where an outsider pays me $2.7B to build a plant I get to own and then acts as a sole supplier to supply them trucks on a cost plus basis after they built the plant on their dime.

Global warming and rising sea levels:

• UK home buyers don't care; aren't worried; 
• UK home buyers pay nearly 50% more to live "on the water"
• waterfront homes command major premiums as a rush of home buyers descend on rural and second-home markets;
• estuaries -- where fresh and saltwater meet -- command the greatest price premiums, commanding as much as 70% premium;
• “The U.K. lockdown provided people with plenty of time to think about their current lifestyles and reassess where they want to live,” said Chris Druce, a senior researcher for the report. “It is no surprise that waterfront living, in keeping with people’s desire for more space and greenery, remains in such high demand.” 
  

Pandemic:

• less food spoilage; Costco cashing in; The WSJ;
• high jobless claims: labor market recovery is slowing; actually it's something else;

Not so random:

• the 1955 Rand Corp book of a million random digits turns out not to be so random. Again, The WSJ.

Deep doo-doo:

• OPEC in trouble as oil outlook worsens. Link to Irina Slav.
• Russia: value of Russia's oil reserves drops b $129 billion; link to Charles Kennedy;
• Hope springs eternal, but it still won't be enough: GS expects Brent to hit $49 by year-end; link to Tsvetana Paraskova;

Mideast on the brink:

• Iran opens naval base along oil chokepoint. Link to Bloomberg via Rigzone.  Also, interestingly enough, a link to Charles Kennedy.
• US is preparing military response to wave of Iranian-backed attacks on its forces in Iraq;
  

Big_Orrin on supply and demand: link here.

And done!! Will correct typos and content later. Will fill out stories later, especially my favorite: Apple.

The Sturgis Rally Covid-19 Update -- September 25, 2020

I'll update this later today, but I am really, really impressed with the low number of new deaths in New York and New Jersey. Link here. Yesterday, both states (NY, NY) had fewer new deaths due to Covid-19, combined, than either ND or SD. Considering the difference in population, this is simply astounding. 

Assuming the numbers are accurate, these are the contributing factors:

• herd immunity;
• lock downs still in place; relaxation proceeding slowly;
• reversal of early policy decisions that decimated the nursing home populations;
• better understanding of how to treat individuals with the disease;
• one can't rule out a mutated virus with less virulence;
  

The big question: pandemics tend to burn themselves out regardless (think of the Black Plague, back in 1666 or thereabouts. It, too, ended, without explanation. Is the pandemic in NY/NJ just "burning out" or are efforts to stop the spread working? Apparently schools in New York have "re-opened" and have managed to stay "open" despite a surge in students testing positive.

*********************************
The Sturgis Rally Update

Link here.

Sturgis Rally: August 7 - August 16, 2020.

At link above, set "search" for "yesterday."

Number of cases means absolutely nothing.

Number of deaths associated with Covid-19 "means more" but numbers are incredibly questionable. Criteria for diagnosis varies across jurisdiction.

But be that as it may, new deaths in last 24 hours:

• Iowa: 8 -- ouch! In comparison, New York only had two.
• Minnesota: 3
• Nebraska: 0
  
• North Dakota: 9 -- oh, oh
• Montana: 0
  
• South Dakota: 8 -- oh, oh
  
• Wyoming: 0 -- four days in a row with zero new deaths;

Deaths per million population, and (ranking among 50 states and DC):

• Iowa: 413 (23) -- ranking unchanged
  
• Minnesota: 362 (28)  -- drops one (good)
  
• North Dakota: 278 (34) -- up one (bad)
  
• Nebraska: 239 (39) -- ranking unchanged
  
• South Dakota: 237(40) -- ranking unchanged and no new deaths in time period
  
• Montana: 153 (44) -- ranking unchanged
  
• Wyoming: 86 (50) -- ranking unchanged -- only Alaska is lower with 63 deaths / one million

Closer Look At WPX' Plan To Place Eight Wells On A 1280-Acre Drilling Unit In Reunion Bay -- September 25, 2020

From the NDIC hearing dockets, October, 2020.

Case (not a permit):

• 28581, WPX, Reunion Bay-Bakken; amend; authorize up to eight wells on a 1280-acre unit; sections 25/26-150-93, McKenzie County;

Graphics: pending

Currently there are no wells in this drilling unit and the drilling unit is almost completely under water; there is a peninsular into the river in section 25, but that's about it. It will be interesting to the siting of these wells. There is also a peninsula in section 30-150-92 which appears a most likely place for the siting of these wells.

A Closer Look At Slawson's Drilling Plan In Big Bend-Bakken -- September 25, 2020

From the NDIC hearing dockets, October, 2020. 

Case (not a permit):

• Case No. 28574: Application of Slawson Exploration Co., Inc. for an order for the Big Bend- Bakken Pool, Mountrail County, ND, as follows: 
• (i) create and establish two overlapping 640-acre spacing units comprised of the S/2 of Sections 14 and 15; and the N/2 of Sections 17 and 18, T.152N., R.92W., authorizing the drilling of a total not to exceed four horizontal wells on each proposed overlapping 640-acre spacing unit; 
• (ii) create and establish an overlapping 640-acre spacing unit comprised of the N/2 of Sections 15 and 16, T.152N., R.92W., authorizing the drilling of a total not to exceed two horizontal wells on said proposed overlapping 640-acre spacing unit; 
• (iii) create and establish an overlapping 960-acre spacing unit comprised of the N/2 of Sections 14, 15 and 16, T.152N., R.92W., authorizing the drilling of a total not to exceed two horizontal wells on said proposed overlapping 960-acre spacing unit; 
• (iv) create and establish an overlapping 960-acre spacing unit comprised of the S/2 of Sections 16, 17 and 18, T.152N., R.92W., authorizing the drilling of a total not to exceed four horizontal wells on said proposed overlapping 960-acre spacing unit; 
• (v) create and establish an overlapping 1920-acre spacing unit comprised of Sections 19, 30 and 31, T.152N., R.92W., authorizing the drilling of a total not to exceed four horizontal wells on said proposed overlapping 1920-acre spacing unit; 
• (vi) create and establish an overlapping 1280-acre spacing unit comprised of Sections 15 and 16, T.152N., R.92W., authorizing the drilling of a horizontal well on or near the mid-section line between the N/2 of Sections 15 and 16 and the S/2 of Sections 15 and 16; 
• (vii) create and establish an overlapping 1920-acre spacing unit comprised of the S/2 of Sections 15 and 16 and all of Sections 21 and 22, T.152N., R.92W., authorizing the drilling of a horizontal well on or near the section line between the existing spacing units of said proposed overlapping 1920-acre spacing unit; 
• (viii) amend the number of wells allowed on an existing 640-acre spacing unit comprised of Section 15, T.152N., R.92W., from three wells to one well, and amend the number of wells allowed on an existing 640-acre spacing unit comprised of Section 16, T.152N., R.92W., from four wells to one well; and 
• (ix) amend Order No. 30830 and any other orders of the Commission for the Big Bend- Bakken Pool to terminate the following: an existing 1280-acre spacing unit comprised of Sections 14 and 15, T.152N., R.92W., in Zone XX; an existing 1280-acre spacing unit comprised of Sections 18 and 19, T.152N., R.92W., in Zone XIV; a 1600-acre spacing unit comprised of all of Sections 16 and 17 and the E/2 of Section 18, T.152N., R.92W., in Zone XXX; and a 2560-acre spacing unit comprised of Sections 15, 16, 21 and 22, T.152N., R.92W., in Zone XL, and, 
• such other relief as is appropriate.

I haven't looked at this closely enough, but it appears Slawson is breaking up some larger drilling units (1280-; 1280-; 1600-; and a 2560-acre drilling units) (total of 6,720 acres) into smaller drilling units (640-; 640-; 640-; 960-; 960-; 1920-; 1280-; 1920-acre drilling units) (total of 8,960 acres); and, decreasing well density in the general area.

Disclaimer: in a long note like this there will be content and typographical errors. If this is important to you, go to the source.

Closer Look at Hess' Plan To Place 15 Wells On One 1280-Acre Blue Buttes Drilling Unit -- September 25, 2020

From the NDIC hearing dockets, October, 2020.

Case (not a permit):

• 28566, Hess, Blue Buttes-Bakken; amend; authorize up to 13 wells on a 1280-acre unit; sections 8/17-150-95, McKenzie County;

Graphics: pending

Currently there appear to be 10 wells in this stand-up 1280-acre unit; which means another 3 wells. Stand-up: 2 x 1; or two sections in a vertical line, north to south.

The wells:

• 23969, 1,188, Hess, BB-Rice 150-95-0718H-3, Blue Buttes, t4/13; cum 436K 7/20;
• 23968, 1,348, Hess, BB-Rice 150-95-0718H-2, Blue Buttes, t3/13; cum 402K 7/20; nice well with history of jump in production;
• 17125, AB/713, Hess, BB-Rice 150-95-0718H-1, Blue Buttes, t10/08; cum 358K 10/17; minimal production since 11/17;

As you go through these wells below, note that at the wellhead, at $20/bbl, these wells pay for themselves in less than two years. They will go on producing for upwards of 30 years. The decline rates are yet to be known; EURs of at least one million bbls/well.

• 35037, 3,945, Hess, BB-Charlie Loomer-150-95-0718H-4, Blue Buttes, t10/19; cum 304K 7/20; >300K in less than 10 months; 
• 35038, 4,226, Hess, BB-Charlie Loomer-150-95-0718H-5, Blue Buttes, t10/19; cum 260K 7/20; >260K in less than 10 months; 
• 35039, 3,771, Hess, BB-Charlie Loomer-150-95-0718H-6, Blue Buttes, t10/19; cum 210K 7/20; >210K in less than 10 months; 
• 35040, 3,209, Hess, BB-Charlie Loomer-150-95-0718H-7, Blue Buttes, t10/19; cum 229K 7/20; >229K in less than 10 months; 
• 35041, 3,511, Hess, BB-Charlie Loomer-150-95-0718H-8, Blue Buttes, t10/19; cum 167K 7/20; >167K in less than 10 months; 
• 35042, 4,251, Hess, BB-Charlie Loomer-150-95-0718H-9, Blue Buttes, t10/19; cum 239K 7/20; >239K in less than 10 months; 
• 35043, 4,051, Hess, BB-Charlie Loomer-150-95-0718H-10, Blue Buttes, t10/19; cum 209K 7/20; >300K in less than 10 months;

Closer Looks At BR's Plan To Place 15 Wells In A 1280-Acre Hawkeye Drilling Unit -- September 25, 2020

From the NDIC hearing dockets, October, 2020.

Case (not a permit):

• 28571, BR, Hawkeye-Bakken; amend; authorize up to 15 wells on a 1280-acre unit; sections 14/23-152-95, McKenzie County;

Graphics: pending

Currently there appear to be 7 wells in this stand-up 1280-acre unit; which means another 8 wells. Stand-up: 2 x 1; or two sections in a vertical line, north to south.

The wells:

• 26927, 1,323, BR, Crater Lake 11-14MBH-R, Hawkeye, t12/14; cum 194K 7/20;

• 26167, 2,044, BR, Crater Lake 21-14MBH, Hawkeye, t3/14; cum 342K 7/20;

• 19154, IA/1,883, BR, Crater Lake 21-14H, Hawkeye, t4/11; cum 241K 2/20; off line 3/20; remains off line 7/20;

• 26168, 2,520, BR, Crater Lake 31-14MBH, Hawkeye, t3/14; cum 337K 7/20;
• 26169, 2,616, BR, Crater Lake 41-14TFH, Hawkeye, t3/14; cum 287K 7/20;
• 26170, 2,520, BR, Crater Lake 41-14MBH, Hawkeye, t4/14; cum 343K 7/20; huge well with history of jump in production;

• 18624, 657, BR, Meldahl 1-23H, Hawkeye, t6/10; cum 327K 7/20; 
  

It appears that BR plans to add an additional eight wells to this drilling unit.

Closer Look At BR's Plan To Place 15 Wells On A 1280-Acre Drilling Unit -- September 25, 2020

From the NDIC hearing dockets, October, 2020.

Case (not a permit):

• 28569, BR, Westberg-Bakken; amend; authorize up to 15 wells on a 1280-acre unit; sections 6/7-152-96, McKenzie County;

Graphics: pending

Currently there appear to be 7 wells in this stand-up 1280-acre unit; which means another 8 wells. Stand-up: 2 x 1; or two sections in a vertical line, north to south.

The wells:

• 26045, IA/2,084, BR, Capitol 14-7TFH, Westerg, t5/14; cum 218K 2/20; off line 3/20; remains off line 7/20;
• 26046, MB,
• 26047, TFH,
• 26048, MB,

• 20687, IA/1,482, BR, Capitol 34-7TFH, Westerg, t10/11; cum 269K 4/20; off line 6/20; remains off line 7/20;

• 18336, IA/842, BR, Capitol 44-7H, Westerg, t3/10; cum 371K 4/20; off line 5/20; remains off line 7/20;

• 25952, IA/2,712, BR, Capitol 44-7TFH, Westerg, t12/13; cum 291K 4/20; off line 5/20; remains off line 7/20;
  

Closer Look At BR's Plan For 30 Wells In A 2560-Acre Spacing Unit -- September 25, 2020

From the NDIC hearing dockets, October, 2020.

Case (not a permit):

• 28570, BR, Clear Creek-Bakken; amend; authorize up to 30 wells on a 2560-acre unit; sections 25/36-152-96 & sections 1/12-151-96, Mckenzie County;

Graphics:

 

Currently there appear to be 12 wells in this stand-up 2560-acre unit; which means another 18 wells, nine running north and nine running south. Stand-up: 4 x 1; or four sections in a vertical line, north to south.

Most interesting: these are "old" wells and yet, at the time they were drilled by BR, they were placed on 2560-acre spacing. For that time period, that's pretty amazing.

Currently, these 12 wells are all sited in one horizontal line stretching less than a meager mile from the first one to the last one, four wells on each of three pads:

The wells:

• 19287, IA/1,872, BR, Rising Sun 11-1TF, 2NH, Clear Creek, t7/11; cum 209K 8/19; off line 9/19; remains off line 7/20;
• 19286, TF,
• 19285, MB,
• 19283, MB,

• 25831, 1,872, BR, Sunline 21-1TFH-4SH, Clear Creek, t6/14; cum 247K 7/20;
• 25830, TFH,
• 25829, MB,
• 25828, MB,

• 25684, IA/2,966, BR, Sunline 31-1TFH-6SH, Clear Creek, t1/14; cum 250K 12/19; off line 1/20; remains off line 7/20;
• 25683, TF,
• 25682, TF,
• 25681, TF,

In addition, there are two more wells sited in this drilling unit but are spaced fro 1280-acres so they are not part of the 2560-acre spacing unit under discussion.

• 17268, 1280-acre spacing, BR, 15 (no typo), Rising Sun 41-25H, Clear Creek, t11/08; cum 239K 6/20; offline, 7/20;
• 17536, 1280-acre spacing, BR, 1,691, Sunline 34-12H, Clear Creek, t4/09; cum 236K 7/20;

By the way, look at the chronologic numbers of these wells (#41, and #34). 

This works out to 15 wells on a 1280-acre unit, still well short of the number of wells we may ultimately see in the better Bakken.