Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Gasoline Demand -- January 25, 2023
Natural Gas Drops Below $3; Six New Permits; Four DUCs Reported As Completed -- January 25, 2023
New Mexico: oil and natural gas production sets new revenue record in 2022. Link here. Fiscal year 2022, for New Mexico:
- revenue nearly $9.7 billion
- an increase of twenty percent over fiscal year 2021;
- the state also recorded more than $3.6 billion in surplus "new money" that is largely attributable to New Mexico's energy industry.
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Back to the Bakken
Active rigs: 45.
WTI: $80.54.
Natural gas: $2.929.
Six new permits, #39591 - #39596, inclusive:
- Operators: Lime Rock Resources (4); Neptune Operating (2)
- Field: Stanley (Mountrail); Squires (Williams)
- Comments:
- Lime Rock has permits for four wells: Moe, Curly, Larry, and Chico, NENE 29-155-91,
- to be sited 290 FNL and between 655 FEL and 775 FEL
- Neptune Operating has permits for two Sigma Lee wells, SWSE 11-155-103,
- to be sited 510 FSL with one well 2103 FEL and the other well 2136 FEL.
Four producing wells (DUCs) reported as completed:
- 35411, 150, Crescent Point Energy, CPEUSC Narcisse 2-8-5-158N-99W-MBH,
- 38741, 827, Whiting, Joanna TTT 11-6H,
- 38689, 986, Whiting, Rohde Federal 14-6-2XH,
- 38623, 2,705, MRO, Rossol 24-31H,
Change of operator, from Sinclair Oil l& Gas to SOGC: approximately 140 older wells.
Chevron Rewards Shareholders -- Huge -- January 25, 2023
Up $4.70 / share after hours. Up almost 3% after hours.
Fast Money panel: jaws dropped -- $75-billion buyback! On top of the recent $25-billion buyback.
[Reminder: I don't watch CNBC except when there is news like today. LOL.]
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.
All my posts are done quickly:
there will be content and typographical errors. If anything on any of
my posts is important to you, go to the source. If/when I find
typographical / content errors, I will correct them.
Investors need to ask: what would you think of an investment opportunity if an outside investor swooped in and bought 20% of the entire Chevron company? The company has a P/E of 10, and pays over 3%. Yeah, that's what I thought.
Link here:
Energy giant Chevron announced a $75 billion stock buyback program and a dividend hike on Wednesday evening.
Shares of Chevron were up 3% in extended trading.
The buyback program will become effective on April 1, 2023, with no set expiration date, the company said in a press release. The dividend hike increases Chevron’s per share payout to $1.51 per share from $1.42, and will be payable on March 10, 2023.
Chevron’s market cap was roughly $350 billion as on Wednesday’s market close, meaning that the buyback would represent more than 20% of the company’s stock at current prices.
This buyback plan follows a $25 billion plan enacted in 2019. The old plan will be terminated at the end of March. For the third quarter of 2022 — the most recent quarter that Chevron has reported — the company repurchased $3.75 billion of shares.
The Amazing Bakken -- It's All About TOC -- January 25, 2023
This is not a one-off. One can find them everywhere.
This well was first drilled in 2008.
Total production for this well:
- 302,036 bbls crude oil;
- it was first drilled back in 2008, fifteen years ago;
- and, in five months in the past year or so, this well has produced: 130,675 bbls
- 130,675 / 302,036 = 43%
30788 |
34679 |
1722 |
51 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3907 |
5069 |
6372 |
11550 |
16004 |
20533 |
Well of interest:
- 16797, 108, CLR, Bang 1-33H, Cedar Coulee, t4/08; cum 302K 11/22;
Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAKKEN | 11-2022 | 30 | 30788 | 30897 | 29354 | 43047 | 41894 | 945 |
BAKKEN | 10-2022 | 31 | 34679 | 34024 | 47258 | 43075 | 42642 | 214 |
BAKKEN | 9-2022 | 5 | 1722 | 1675 | 5530 | 2183 | 2179 | 2 |
BAKKEN | 8-2022 | 1 | 51 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 7-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 6-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 5-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 4-2022 | 17 | 3907 | 4225 | 1511 | 4824 | 4667 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 3-2022 | 17 | 5069 | 4818 | 2902 | 5191 | 4979 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 2-2022 | 24 | 6372 | 6654 | 2750 | 8244 | 7946 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 1-2022 | 31 | 11550 | 11608 | 5835 | 14730 | 14311 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 12-2021 | 31 | 16004 | 16229 | 8969 | 19237 | 18818 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 11-2021 | 30 | 20533 | 20341 | 19563 | 22195 | 21790 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 10-2021 | 6 | 3319 | 3019 | 5476 | 3288 | 3207 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 9-2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 8-2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 7-2021 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 6-2021 | 30 | 457 | 586 | 117 | 888 | 496 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 5-2021 | 31 | 500 | 524 | 82 | 959 | 540 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 4-2021 | 30 | 477 | 576 | 78 | 897 | 505 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 3-2021 | 31 | 515 | 312 | 93 | 925 | 506 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 2-2021 | 28 | 466 | 558 | 213 | 754 | 379 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 1-2021 | 31 | 533 | 936 | 77 | 879 | 460 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 12-2020 | 31 | 514 | 0 | 78 | 883 | 464 | 0 |
CLR Bang Wells Starting To Report; Parent Well With Huge Jump In Production -- From 500 Bbls/Month To 35,000 Bbls/Month -- January 25, 2023
The CLR Bang wells are tracked here.
The well:
- 38608, drl/A, CLR, Bang 11-4H1, Cedar Coulee, t--; cum 116K 11/22;
Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAKKEN | 11-2022 | 30 | 35506 | 35528 | 22164 | 38936 | 37906 | 802 |
BAKKEN | 10-2022 | 31 | 48891 | 49115 | 33287 | 58927 | 58000 | 711 |
BAKKEN | 9-2022 | 25 | 31210 | 30852 | 22090 | 31909 | 30111 | 1798 |
BAKKEN | 8-2022 | 2 | 247 | 247 | 1103 | 297 | 0 | 297 |
Well of interest:
- 16797, 108, CLR, Bang 1-33H, Cedar Coulee, t4/08; cum 302K 11/22;
Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAKKEN | 11-2022 | 30 | 30788 | 30897 | 29354 | 43047 | 41894 | 945 |
BAKKEN | 10-2022 | 31 | 34679 | 34024 | 47258 | 43075 | 42642 | 214 |
BAKKEN | 9-2022 | 5 | 1722 | 1675 | 5530 | 2183 | 2179 | 2 |
BAKKEN | 8-2022 | 1 | 51 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 7-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 6-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 5-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 4-2022 | 17 | 3907 | 4225 | 1511 | 4824 | 4667 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 3-2022 | 17 | 5069 | 4818 | 2902 | 5191 | 4979 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 2-2022 | 24 | 6372 | 6654 | 2750 | 8244 | 7946 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 1-2022 | 31 | 11550 | 11608 | 5835 | 14730 | 14311 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 12-2021 | 31 | 16004 | 16229 | 8969 | 19237 | 18818 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 11-2021 | 30 | 20533 | 20341 | 19563 | 22195 | 21790 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 10-2021 | 6 | 3319 | 3019 | 5476 | 3288 | 3207 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 9-2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 8-2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 7-2021 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 6-2021 | 30 | 457 | 586 | 117 | 888 | 496 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 5-2021 | 31 | 500 | 524 | 82 | 959 | 540 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 4-2021 | 30 | 477 | 576 | 78 | 897 | 505 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 3-2021 | 31 | 515 | 312 | 93 | 925 | 506 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 2-2021 | 28 | 466 | 558 | 213 | 754 | 379 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 1-2021 | 31 | 533 | 936 | 77 | 879 | 460 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 12-2020 | 31 | 514 | 0 | 78 | 883 | 464 | 0 |
New WPX McGregory Buttes Wells Starting To Report -- January 25, 2023
The wells:
Well of interest:
- 18129, 359, WPX, Ethan Hall 14HC, McGregory Buttes, t11/11; cum 264K 11/22;
Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAKKEN | 11-2022 | 30 | 1619 | 1548 | 1654 | 1875 | 1773 | 9 |
BAKKEN | 10-2022 | 31 | 70 | 0 | 143 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 9-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 8-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 7-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 6-2022 | 30 | 263 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 5-2022 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 4-2022 | 30 | 202 | 234 | 153 | 219 | 155 | 51 |
BAKKEN | 3-2022 | 31 | 566 | 541 | 639 | 611 | 422 | 106 |
BAKKEN | 2-2022 | 28 | 417 | 456 | 150 | 450 | 360 | 1 |
BAKKEN | 1-2022 | 31 | 868 | 890 | 307 | 937 | 723 | 43 |
BAKKEN | 12-2021 | 31 | 895 | 858 | 328 | 1036 | 865 | 0 |
The new wells:
- 38480, drl/A, WPX, Hall 14-15HY, McGregory Buttes, t--; cum 115K 11/22;
- 38479, drl/A, WPX, Hall 14-15HD, McGregory Buttes, t--; cum 109K 11/22;
- 38478, drl/A, WPX, Hall 14-15HZ, McGregory Buttes, t--; cum 119K 11/22;
- 38477, drl/A, WPX, Hall 14-15HIL, McGregory Buttes, t--; cum 82K 11/22;
Production profile:
- 38478:
Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAKKEN | 11-2022 | 30 | 19018 | 18947 | 20122 | 23960 | 23943 | 17 |
BAKKEN | 10-2022 | 31 | 25297 | 25294 | 27736 | 22190 | 22190 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 9-2022 | 30 | 29812 | 29823 | 36162 | 21925 | 21925 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 8-2022 | 31 | 30774 | 30994 | 36346 | 4000 | 3968 | 32 |
BAKKEN | 7-2022 | 31 | 14451 | 14090 | 19246 | 4860 | 4838 | 22 |
Slawson Starting To Report The Sauger Federal Wells -- January 25, 2023
These wells are tracked here. This page will not be updated.
Updates
January 25, 2023:
Two wells of interest:
- 18368, 323, Slawson, Payara 2-21H, Van Hook, t1/11; cum 332K 11/22; recent production, small jump in production;
Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAKKEN | 11-2022 | 30 | 2616 | 2607 | 1505 | 2246 | 846 | 1250 |
BAKKEN | 10-2022 | 31 | 3073 | 2948 | 2598 | 2703 | 1287 | 1261 |
BAKKEN | 9-2022 | 9 | 325 | 347 | 1118 | 300 | 143 | 112 |
BAKKEN | 8-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 7-2022 | 22 | 1061 | 1200 | 173 | 4300 | 4190 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 6-2022 | 30 | 1682 | 1642 | 253 | 5790 | 5640 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 5-2022 | 31 | 2125 | 1998 | 309 | 5504 | 5349 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 4-2022 | 30 | 2254 | 3040 | 332 | 4543 | 4339 | 54 |
BAKKEN | 3-2022 | 28 | 2060 | 1408 | 379 | 3668 | 3526 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 2-2022 | 28 | 1911 | 2295 | 249 | 3107 | 2906 | 61 |
BAKKEN | 1-2022 | 31 | 2420 | 2221 | 253 | 2966 | 2512 | 299 |
BAKKEN | 12-2021 | 31 | 2408 | 2335 | 138 | 2444 | 2225 | 64 |
BAKKEN | 11-2021 | 29 | 1993 | 1898 | 129 | 1865 | 1700 | 20 |
BAKKEN | 10-2021 | 13 | 536 | 477 | 91 | 503 | 378 | 60 |
BAKKEN | 9-2021 | 22 | 317 | 187 | 249 | 363 | 237 | 18 |
BAKKEN | 8-2021 | 31 | 395 | 469 | 178 | 480 | 317 | 8 |
BAKKEN | 7-2021 | 31 | 391 | 458 | 189 | 460 | 297 | 8 |
BAKKEN | 6-2021 | 30 | 457 | 395 | 172 | 549 | 378 | 21 |
- 18717, 1,306, Slawson, Sauger Federal 1-22H, Van Hook, t4/10; cum 432K 11/22: recent production, small jump in production;
Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAKKEN | 11-2022 | 30 | 1270 | 1174 | 1224 | 2036 | 574 | 1312 |
BAKKEN | 10-2022 | 31 | 3105 | 3283 | 2230 | 5019 | 1353 | 3511 |
BAKKEN | 9-2022 | 7 | 345 | 0 | 1209 | 569 | 50 | 484 |
BAKKEN | 8-2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BAKKEN | 7-2022 | 21 | 416 | 475 | 355 | 863 | 708 | 50 |
BAKKEN | 6-2022 | 27 | 451 | 697 | 414 | 1040 | 803 | 102 |
BAKKEN | 5-2022 | 31 | 706 | 716 | 504 | 1321 | 1107 | 59 |
BAKKEN | 4-2022 | 25 | 555 | 478 | 386 | 1119 | 866 | 128 |
- 38725:
Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAKKEN | 11-2022 | 30 | 12972 | 12418 | 42732 | 8519 | 8220 | 149 |
BAKKEN | 10-2022 | 27 | 11485 | 12149 | 45869 | 7102 | 6117 | 848 |
BAKKEN | 9-2022 | 5 | 1508 | 0 | 8610 | 923 | 0 | 896 |
- 38726:
Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAKKEN | 11-2022 | 30 | 26007 | 25439 | 6135 | 19693 | 19480 | 63 |
BAKKEN | 10-2022 | 27 | 29436 | 30080 | 8622 | 18200 | 16730 | 1335 |
BAKKEN | 9-2022 | 3 | 1674 | 0 | 1428 | 1015 | 0 | 1000 |
- 38727:
Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAKKEN | 11-2022 | 25 | 19646 | 19032 | 5433 | 13058 | 12703 | 230 |
BAKKEN | 10-2022 | 18 | 14671 | 15440 | 8424 | 8021 | 7344 | 586 |
BAKKEN | 9-2022 | 4 | 1673 | 0 | 1998 | 904 | 0 | 883 |
November 7 - 8, 2022: DUCs reported as completed --
- 38727, 795, Slawson, Sauger Federal 4-22H, Big Bend, t--; cum 36K 11/2;
- 38726, 1,083, Slawson, Cannonball Federal 1 SLH, Big Bend, t--; cum 57K 11/22;
- 38725, drl/A, Slawson, Sauger Federal 5 SLTFH, t--; cum 26K 11/22;
US Economy -- Ports Of New York, Los Angeles -- January 25, 2023
“Shatters” record …. and we’re still talking about a recession. “Everyone” says it’s a sure thing. This is simply fascinating.
Sanctions On Russia About To Expand -- January 25, 2023
The European Union is about to ban imports of refined oil products from Russia. That could be much more disruptive than its earlier halt to crude purchases.
Starting February 5, 2023, imports of diesel, gasoline and other products used for further processing — including fuel oil and vacuum gasoil — cannot be imported from Russia into EU countries. The US and UK already have their own bans in place.
The sanctions will be accompanied by a ban on using European ships, insurance and other services to carry Russian oil products anywhere in the world unless they’re purchased at a price below yet to be determined caps. This mirrors the restrictions on crude shipments that were imposed December 5, 2022.
Overall crude flows from Russia haven’t been hurt by the EU ban, with seaborne shipments remaining around 3 million barrels a day for now. That will please the US Treasury, whose price cap was aimed at keeping oil flowing. Cargoes that previously went to Europe have been diverted to India and China, with shipments from Russia’s western ports sold at prices well below the $60-a-barrel cap.
But things could be very different for refined products trade.
Asia is thirsty for crude. India and China both import huge volumes for their massive refining systems. The two nations took about 14.5 million barrels a day in 2021, and that figure almost certainly increased last year. By contrast, they brought in just 3 million barrels a day of refined products from overseas.
But those huge systems mean that a ready market for Russian refined products outside Europe simply doesn’t exist in the way it did for crude. Many of the newly built plants were designed to maximize the production of diesel, the very fuel for which Russia needs new buyers.
Huge discounts will be needed to make it economic to move Russian-refined products to Asia while, ridiculous as it sounds, shipping similar products from Asian refineries back to Europe.
Without them, Russia may be forced to reduce processing rates and either boost crude sales or cut production levels — something it has managed to avoid so far.
US Big Oil Re-Engaging -- January 25, 2023
I think folks can connect the dots. For the archives: at this time, Russia is bogged down in Ukraine.
Huge Chevron deal in the Mideast, Simon Watkins.
Weekly EIA Petroleum Report -- January 25, 2023
The weekly EIA petroleum report, link here:
- US crude oil in commercial storage is 3% above the five-year average.
- US crude oil in commercial storage increased by a paltry 0.5 million bbls
- US imports of crude oil unchanged week-after-week-after-week
- US refiners are operating at 86.1% capacity
- distillate fuel inventories are a whopping 20% below the five-year average as we move into planting season
- surprising: jet fuel supplied was down 1.9% compared with same four-week period last year (the four weeks included weather and Southwest airline issues)
Earnings Today, Leopards And Abrams, And So Much More -- January 25, 2023
Dividends: NSC -- from Zacks --
Dividends can be considered one of the most rewarding elements of investing in the stock market.
Norfolk Southern Corporation NSC has not disappointed its shareholders on the front and has provided regular dividends since its inception in 1982.
The company has announced a 9% increase in the quarterly dividend amounting to $1.35 from the previous $1.24.
The new dividend is payable on February 21, 2023, to its shareholders of record on February 3, 2023.
Norfolk Southern has an impressive history of rewarding its shareholders. In 2021, the company rewarded its shareholders to the tune of $4,418 million, through dividends ($1,028 million) and share buybacks (3,390 million).
SLB: link here.
HES: tops 4Q22 earnings and revenue estimates.
T: stock leaps after 4Q22 earnings beat, dividend support.
ASML: great report. Barron's. CNBC.
Boeing: oh-oh. 4Q22 surprise ... and not in a good way.
Huge Chevron deal in the Mideast, Simon Watkins.
SRE: strikes 20-year LNG supply deal with Poland's PKN ORLEN. Link here. And, SeekingAlpha.
French nuclear. Why it's failing miserably, and back from the abyss?
Ukraine:
- that earthquake the Russians are about to feel: German Leopards and US Abrams.
- Biden at noon today.
- This is going to be huge. Germans said "yes," but said Americans must follow suit.
- Biden at noon today. Did I already say that?
Jet fuel:
- climbing jet fuel demand could increase beyond 20% year-on-year growth;
- despite accounting for just 6% of global oil demand in 2022, jet fuel demand is expected to have an outsize impact on global oil markets this year
- IEA: jet fuel demand may account for 45% of global oil demand growth of 1.9 bpd
- source: Kayrros
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Back to the Bakken
Active rigs: 46.
The Far Side: link here.
WTI: $80.96.
Natural gas: $3.139.
Thursday, January 26, 2023: 61 for the month; 61 for the quarter, 61 for the year
39047, conf, CLR, Kelling 7-4H1,
38583, conf, Whiting, Dexter TTT 11-26-2H,
38581, conf, Whiting, Maria TTT 11-26HU,
Wednesday, January 25, 2023: 58 for the month; 58 for the quarter, 58 for the year
39048, conf, CLR, Kelling 8-4H,
39000, conf, Hunt, Alexandria 161-100-24-13H-5,
38867, conf, Prima Exploration, Yogi Bear State 3H,
34525, conf, Slawson, Armada Federal 7-14-18H,
RBN Energy: Colorado E&Ps learn to deal with state's tougher rules.
New, stiffer rules on well siting, drilling and production undoubtedly pose potential challenges to producers. After all, these changes typically impose further limits on what E&Ps can do on the acreage they control as well as new requirements. But like death and taxes, environmental regulation is a certainty that producers need to deal with and, if they’re lucky, they can find a way to work with new rules and minimize their impact on their businesses. That seems to be what’s happening in Colorado — home to the rebounding Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin and other production areas — which enacted a new oil and gas permitting law a couple of years ago and subsequently developed and implemented related regulations. As we discuss in today’s RBN blog, most producers seem to have figured out how to manage the new regs.
Colorado isn’t California and it isn’t Texas, and our guess is that, generally speaking, Coloradans are happy with that. The state’s got amazing mountains, crisp and clean air, awesome skiing and cool microbreweries, plus a strong economy, relatively low taxes, and great cities, towns and rural areas to call home. It also seems to have found an acceptable middle ground on the regulation of the oil and gas industry.