Saturday, June 28, 2025

Making The Military Great Again -- June 28, 2025

Locator: 48613MILITARY.

USAF cancels the E-7 Wedgetail, citing survivability and cost concerns. Link here. This a/c was built on the Boeing 737, also marketed as the Boeing 737 AEW&C. Link here.

Last year, the Air Force and Boeing inked a $2.6 billion deal for the first two Wedgetail prototypes, the first of which was set to be delivered in FY28. The service intended to buy a total of 26 Wedgetails to replace aging E-3 AWACS aircraft. The Air Force has not yet published detailed budget information, but supporting documents indicate a request of $200 million in research and development funding to close out the E-7 program. 

From the first linked article

The official added that the Wedgetail, while a “perfectly great” platform, doesn’t match with the department’s current ambitions to have a sensing solution that would cover the entire globe instead of a more limited theater.
“If we want to go there, we have to do a large investment in space-based sensing, which also supports Golden Dome. It covers homeland defense, It covers the Indo-Pacific, which is our priority theater, and also services the globe,” the official stated. “So that investment [in Wedgetail] was pushed that way [to space-based sensors].
We are bullish on space, and we think that’s a capability that can be achieved actually faster than the E-7 will deliver at this point.”

Was it easy to kill the E-7? First question to ask, where was the E-7 being built? From AI:

The Boeing E-7 Wedgetail is not being "built" in a single location. It is a modified Boeing 737-700 airframe that undergoes modification and integration of its mission systems.

And here it is:

The primary modification and integration work for the Royal Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail fleet is being done in the UK, specifically at facilities at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. While the core 737 airframe is built elsewhere, the "Wedgetail" configuration is completed in the UK.

I doubt the US Congress had any trouble killing this project. 

Memo to self: stop by Barnes and Noble and buy some new aviation magazines. LOL.

**************************
How Slow Was News Today?

National news, CBS Nightly News, tonight, Saturday night led off with a still photo of a tornado that caused no damage in Bismarck, ND. I kid you not; I can' make this stuff up.

Global Economy -- There Seems To Be A Pattern Here -- June 28, 2025

Locator: 48612EVS.

First, this morning we had the story of GM Cadillac Celestiq:

Link here.

Earlier, we had this: the starting price for a new Range Rover is around $107,400.  Range 300 miles.

Prices can increase significantly depending on the trim level, wheelbase, and options chosen. For example, the Range Rover SV can start at $209,000 for a standard wheelbase and go up to $234,000 for a long wheelbase. 

And now this: link here.

I'm not looking for these stories. They pop up on my various feeds and seem to be associated with the sixth industrial revolution, and stories about making America great again.

Then, "combine" these stories with the $50-million Bezos wedding and one starts to get another feeling.... the gilded age, the roaring 20's. Not the 1920s -- the great Jay Gatsby -- but the gay (and literally, in some cases, really "gay") 20s, but this time, the 2020s.

And million-dollar bonuses for software engineers. 

A lot of folks are trying to slow down this train. At their peril. This train has already left the station.

By the way, the Lamborghini Revuelto has a new 6.5-liter V12 engine! Say what? Yes, and they have the nerve to call this an EV. LOL. Range? Infinite, unlike a true EV. It can stop anywhere it needs to, to fill up with gasoline. 

*********************************
Meanwhile

Link here.

Shares have dropped.

From the link:

China’s top automaker is scaling back production at several factories due to rising vehicle inventories and slower-than-expected sales growth.
The company has canceled night shifts and delayed adding new production lines, reducing output at at least four factories by about one-third.
“There were two reasons for the mentioned actions: saving costs and failing to meet targets."
In May 2025, BYD launched aggressive discounts across 22 of its models, slashing prices by as much as 53,000 yuan (USD 7,390) in an attempt to ease dealership backlogs.
However, inventories continued to rise despite the deep price cuts. A major dealer network in eastern China even suspended operations, partly due to unsold stock.

The problem with EVs for automobile manufacturers: margins.  

But now it's even worse: even with prices being slashed on the least expensive EVs to begin with, not even these are selling any more --- at least not at levels necessary to make the company a going concern. 

Does Warren Buffett / BRK still owns shares in BYD? Yes, from ChatGPT:

Berkshire’s original investment began in September 2008, when they purchased HK$230 million worth (~225 million shares), representing about 9.9% of BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares.
Beginning in 2022, Berkshire quietly began trimming its position.
By mid‑2023, it had edged below 8%, and by July 2024, its stake had fallen to 4.94%.
A filing in June 2024 confirmed their holding was roughly 6.9%, down from around 7.0%, while the July disclosure reflected further reduction to under 5%

U-Shaped, Doubling Back, 2-Mile Proposed CLR Well In Beaver Lodge -- June 28, 2025

Locator: 48611B.
Locator: 48611DOUBLINGBACK.

From Geoff Simon's "quick connects" this past week: Trending in the Williston Basin: ND sees more U-turn well permits -- Hart Energy

From the NDIC hearing dockets, July, 2025. Link here. It is possible this is not the first such proposal in the Bakken but it is the first that I've seen, but I often miss a lot of stuff.

This is a case, not a permit:

31876, CLR, Beaver Lodge-Bakken, create an overlapping 640-acre unit, two wells, each two miles in length, with the surface locations approx 3520 feet from the east line and 100 feet from the north line of section 1-155-95, allowing the well to be drilled 180°S, then turning the well bore approx 180° and then allowing the well be drilled at an approx 360°north with a well terminus location approximately 1500 feet from the west line and 150 feet from the north line of the same section, Williams.  

CLR wells in that area are the Vera wells.

Map (disclosure: could be entirely wrong; I often misread things. Will be corrected if necessary):

NDIC Hearing Dockets -- July, 202

Locator: 48610DOCKETS.

Note: typographical and content errors are still present. Proceed at hour own risk.

Link here.

July, 2025, hearing dockets.  

Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Seventeen pages.

Thursday, July 24, 2025. Sixteen pages.

The NDIC hearing dockets are tracked here.

As usual this is done very quickly and using shorthand for my benefit. There will be factual and typographical errors on this page. Do not quote me on any of this. It's for my personal use to help me better understand the Bakken. Do not read it. If you do happen to read it, do not make any investment, financial, job, relationship, or travel plans based on anything you read here or think you may have read here. If this stuff is important to you, and I doubt that it is, but if it is, go to the source. These are cases to be considered by the NDIC, not permits. If approved by the NDIC, then operators can go ahead and submit permits to drill wells within the parameters of the cases that were passed.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Link here.
Seventeen pages.

Cases, not permits:

  • 31917, NDIC, to alter the lease line spacing units in the Green Lake and Blue Ridge-Bakken pools, in sections 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 16, 21, 22, 27, 28, 33, and 34 - T159N - R100W, Williams County;
  • 31918, Krakken, Green Lake and/or Blue Ridge-Bakken, amend, terminate a 5120-acre unit; establish a 3840-acre unit, one horizontal well on that unit; Williams County;
  • 31919, Hess, Ray-Bakken; amend, establish two overlapping 1920-acre unit; four wells; Williams
  • 31920, Hess, Ellsworth-Bakken, amend, establish an overlapping 2560-acre unit, four wells, McKenzie County
  • 31921, Enerplus, Little Knife-Bakken, establish an overlapping standup 2560-acre unit, five wells, Dunn County;
  • 31922, Enerplus, Little Knife-Bakken, establish an overlapping standup 2560-acre unit, five wells, Dunn County;
  • 31923, Enerplus, Little Knife-Bakken, establish an overlapping standup 2560-acre unit; two horizontal wells; Dunn County
  • 31924, Whiting, Cartwright and/or Randolph-Bakken, establish two overlapping standup 2560-acre units; three wells on each unit; McKenzie County;
  • 31925, Oasis, Cottonwood-Bakken, establish two overlapping 1920-acre units, four wells on each unit; Burke County;
  • 31926, BR, Burning Mine-Bakken, establish three overlapping 2560-acre units; four wells on each unit; McKenzie County;
  • 21927, BR, South Boxcar and/or North Branch-Bakken, establish an overlapping 2560-acre unit, four wells, McKenzie County;
  • 31928, BR, Bully-Bakken, establish an overlapping 1920-acre unit; six wells on that unit; McKenzie County;
  • 31929, BR, Bully-Bakken, establish two overlapping standup 2560-acre units; six wells on each unit; establish an overlapping standup 520-acre unit; one well; McKenzie County;
  • 31930, BR, Bully and/or Haystack Butte-Bakken, establish an overlapping standup 5120-acre unit; one well on that unit; McKenzie County;
  • 31931, BR, Haystack Butte-Bakken, establish an overlapping standup 2560-acre unit; seven wells on that unit; McKenzie County;
  • 31932, Petro-Hunt; pumping fracking fluid between adjoining pads, McKenzie County;
  • 31933, Petro-Hunt, SWD.
  • 31934, Phoenix Operating, Saxon/Murphy Creek-Bakken, establish a standup 1920-acre unit; four wells, Dunn County;
  • 31935, Phoenix Operating, Murphy Creek-Bakken, establish a standup 1920-acre unit; four wells, Dunn County;
  • 31936, Phoenix Operating, Little Muddy-Bakken, establish a standup 2560-acre unit; five wells; Williams County;
  • 31937, Phoenix Operating, Zahl/Little Muddy-Bakken, establish a standup 1920-acre unit; five wells; Williams County;
  • 31938, Phoenix Operating, Zahl-Bakken, establish a standup 1920-acre unit; five wells, Williams County;
  • 31939, MRO, Bailey-Bakken, pooling
  • 31940, Hess, commingling;
  • 39141, Hess, commingling;
  • 39142, Hess, commingling;
  • 39143, Hess, pooling;
  • 39144, Hess, pooling;
  • 39145, Hess, pooling;
  • 39146, Hess, Ross-Bakken, seven wells; Mountrail County
  • 31947, Kraken, pooling;
  • 31948, Kraken, pooling;
  • 31949, Neptune, pooling;
  • 31950, Neptune, pooling;
  • 31951, Neptune, pooling;
  • 31952, Neptune, pooling;
  • 31953, Enerplus, pooling;
  • 31954, Enerplus, pooling;
  • 31955, Enerplus, pooling;
  • 31956, Whiting, pooling;
  • 31957, Whiting, pooling;
  • 31958, Oasis, pooling;
  • 31959, Oasis, pooling;
  • 31960, BR, pooling;
  • 31961, BR, pooling;
  • 31962, BR, pooling;
  • 31963, BR, pooling;
  • 31964, BR, pooling;
  • 31965, BR, pooling;
  • 31966, BR, pooling;
  • 31967, BR, pooling;
  • 31968, BR, pooling;
  • 31969, BR, pooling;
  • 31970, Phoenix Operating, pooling;
  • 31971, Phoenix Operating, pooling;
  • 31972, Phoenix Operating, pooling;
  • 31973, Phoenix Operating, commingling;
  • 31974, Phoenix Operating, commingling;
  • 31975, Phoenix Operating, commingling;


Thursday, July 24, 2025
Link here.
Sixteen pages.

Cases, not permits:

  • 31873, Hunt Oil, Parshall-Bakken, establish two overlapping 3840-acre units; one well between existing spacing units on each proposed unit; Mountrail County;
  • 31874, Hunt Oil, Ross-Bakken, establish an overlapping 1280-acre unit; three wells; Mountrail;
  • 31875, CLR, Ross-Bakken, establish an overlapping 2560-acre unit; five wells, Mountrail;
  • 31876, CLR, Beaver Lodge-Bakken, create an overlapping 640-acre unit, two wells, each two miles in length, with the surface locations approx 3520 feet from the east line and 100 feet from the north line of section 1-155-95, allowing the well to be drilled 180°S, then turning the well bore approx 180° and then allowing the well be drilled at an approx 360°north with a well terminus location approximately 1500 feel from the west line and 150 fee from the north line of the same section, Williams. See map here.
  • 31877, CLR, Hanson-Bakken and/or Temple-Bakken, establish an overlapping 1920-acre unit; five wells; establish two overlapping 3840-acre units, section line well; Williams County;
  • 31878, Oasis, Temple-Bakken, establish two overlapping standup 2560-acre units, four wells; Williams County;
  • 31879, Rockport Energy Solutions, Ranch Coulee-Bakken and Ranch Creek-Bakken, flaring, McKenzie
  • 31880, Devon, Glass Bluff-Bakken, Foreman Butte-Bakken, and/or Nameless-Bakken, establish an overlapping 3200-acre unit, ten wells, McKenzie County;
  • 31881, Silver Hill Energy, Stoneview-Bakken and/or North Tioga-Bakken, establish an overlapping 5120-acre unit; one well; Divide County;
  • 31882, Silver Hill, Stoneview-Bakken, establish an overlapping 2560-acre unit; four wells; establish two overlapping 5120-acre units; one section line well; Divide and Burke counties
  • 31883, Bakken Partners, LLC, Glade Field; transferring operatorship of an Obrigewitch well, #40171; Billings County;
  • 31884, SOGC, Lone Butte-Bakken, a couple of wells, McKenzie County;
  • 31885, WGO, Delhi-Red River pool, establish a 320-acre unit, one well; Golden Valley;
  • 31886, KODA Resources, Alkabo-Bakken and Daneville-Bakken, establish a 1920-acre unit; one well; establish two 1920-acre units; five wells on each; establish an approx 3100-acre unit; eight wells; Divide County;
  • 31887, KODA Resources, Daneville-Bakken, establish three 2560-acre units; five wells on each; establish two overlapping 2560-acre unit; four wells; establihs an approx 4100-acre unit; eight wells; Divide County;
  • 31888, KODA Resources, Alkabo-Bakken, establish three 2560-acre unit; five wells; establish an overlapping 2560-acre unit; four wells; establish an approx 4200-acre unit; eight wells; five wells on an existing 1920-acre unit; Divide County;
  • 31889, KODA Resources, Bar Butte-Bakken, establish a 2560-acre unit; five wells; establish two overlapping 2560-acre units; four wells; Williams County;
  • 31890, KODA Resources, Hanks-Bakken, establish two overlappoing 2560-acre units; four wells; establish a 2560-acre unit; five wells; Williams County;
  • 31891, KODA Resources, Grenora-Bakken, establish four 2560-acre units; five wells; establish an approx 3800-acre unit; seven wells; Williams County;
  • 31892, KODA Resources, Sioux Trail-Bakken, establish two 1920-acre units; five wells; Divide County;
  • 31893, Murfin Drilling, pooling;
  • 31894, Murfin Drilling, pooling;
  • 31895, Murfin Drilling, pooling;
  • 31896, Murfin Drilling, pooling;
  • 31897, Hunt, pooling; 
  • 31898, Hunt, pooling; 
  • 31899, Hunt, pooling; 
  • 31900, Hunt, commingling;
  • 31901, Hunt, pooling; 
  • 31902, Hunt, pooling; 
  • 31903, Hunt, pooling; 
  • 31904, Hunt, pooling; 
  • 31905, Hunt, pooling; 
  • 31906, Hunt, commingling; 
  • 31907, CLR, pooling; 
  • 31908, CLR, pooling; 
  • 31909, CLR, pooling; 
  • 31910, CLR, pooling; 
  • 31911, CLR, Todd-Bakken, six wells on an existing 640-acre unit; Williston, Williams County; 
  • 31912, Wesco Operating, Bicentennial-Red River, two wells on an existing 320-acre unit; McKenzie County
  • 31913, EOG, pooling;
  • 31914, Devon pooling;
  • 31915, Oasis, pooling;
  • 31916, Oasis, pooling;

Supplement to WednesdayJuly 23, 2025 Docket
Link here.
Three pages: all continued cases.


Supplement to Thursday, July 24, 2025
Link here.
Two pages: all continued cases.

Geoff's Simon's Quick Connects -- June 28, 2025

Locator: 48609GEOFFSIMON.

Burgum bailing on "all-of-the-above" energy, focus on energy security -- E&E News

Trending in the Williston Basin: ND sees more U-turn well permits -- Hart Energy

America First energy agenda is the power surge ND and the world needs -- InForum

North Dakota PSC sets hearing for new Bakken crude pipelines -- Bismarck Tribune

Intensity, Rainbow Energy to build 344-mile gas pipeline across North Dakota -- Pipeline & Gas Journal

Energy industry leaders host 'Made in North Dakota' roundtable with congressional staff -- KX News

Massive caught on video fireball lights up Montana sky after oilfield disposal plant explodes -- NY Post

Longtime public servant, former PSC Commissioner Bruce Hagen dies at 94 -- North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota to expand in-state Legacy Fund investments up to $150M -- North Dakota Monitor

Derecho leaves trail of damage as tornadoes, 100+ mph winds sweep across Plains -- Fox Weather

Armstrong declares statewide disaster for tornado damage across ND -- Office of the Governor

Appointment of state lawmaker in limbo amid dispute over district party chair -- Bismarck Tribune

Federal funding cuts to ND agencies total $100M so far, analysis shows -- North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota among the top five most dangerous states for drivers on the 4th of July -- KX News

City of Dickinson verbally commits $4 million toward new airport terminal project -- Dickinson Press

Watford City housing initiative has newly-built homes nearly ready to sell -- McKenzie County Farmer

Brand new childcare facility in Alexander is nearing completion; fall opening expected -- KFYR-TV

New partnership adds a high-tech twist to the city's Roughrider Days July 4 finale -- Dickinson Press

State offers storm help for Stark County residents after severe weather slams area -- Dickinson Press

Street projects continue in Stanley; water and sewer replacements as well -- Mountrail Co. Promoter

County commission agrees to fund family crisis, domestic violence shelter -- McKenzie County Farmer

Williston city commissioner Lucas Gjovig seated, replaces Tate Symbaluk who resigned -- KFYR-TV

Five candidates seek open Killdeer City Commission seat in August 18 election -- Dickinson Press

Susie Jacobson wins Divide County School Board seat as a write-in candidate -- Crosby Journal

Supporters of charter schools coming to North Dakota say it's 'all about choice' -- Dickinson Press

Pennsylvania legislators pass bill mandating that kids learn cursive in school -- Washington Times

Mardee Reich voted in, Kory McGraw holds seat on BPS board, Auston Biles resigns -- Beulah Beacon

Minot Rep. Scott Louser drops plan to pursue school funding ballot measure -- North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota University System faces $800,000 shortfall, interim chancellor says -- Dickinson Press

Results from the Williston Basin school board election canvassed and accepted -- Williston Herald

USGS reports 29.4 billion barrels of untapped oil reserves under federal lands -- US Dept. of Interior

Trump administration announces massive 80-million acre Gulf of America oil lease sale -- Free Beacon

Oil prices drop 6% as agreement on Israel-Iran ceasefire reduces Middle East supply risk -- Reuters

Trump calls on US, global producers to keep crude prices from spiking after strikes on Iran -- Oil Price

US grid operators direct power plants to maximize their output amid heat, prices surge -- Reuters

Environmental group says 130 new gas-fired generation projects proposed in Texas -- PowerMag

The energy decarbonization myth frays as hydrocarbon use continues to grows -- BisPacReview

Federal agencies ignore their research to prevent windmills from killing eagles -- Watts Up With That

NOAA axes Climate.gov site based on Trump's 'Gold Standard Science' executive order -- Breitbart

AP hilariously offers guide to manage "emotional toll" of climate anxiety that it stokes -- Newsbusters

GM: THis Will Move The Needle -- Range? 300 Miles -- My 2012 Honda Civic? 500 Miles -- June 28, 2025

Locator: 48608GM.

Link here

If they built it in China, they could build it for a lot less.  

The bigger story? We're seeing this in the Trump economy. In the Biden economy it was a race to see who could build the smallest EV -- the Chinese won that race.

By the way, you can ask ChatGPT this question: how much might it cost to build the Cadillac Celestiq EV in China?

I did just that and it's too much to "cut and paste," but bottom line, the cost would likely come in 20% less, at best.

Trump's Week -- Less Than Six Months In Office -- June 28, 2025

Locator: 48607TRUMP.

PowerLine: probably one of the best ever.

Mideast: has anyone noticed? The entire Mideast narrative has changed. No longer talking about war. Talking about peace. Iran considering opportunity to negotiate directly with the US. After 47 years. 

Resignation: University of Virginia president resigns under pressure from Trump over DEI. They all knew their DEI policies were unconstitutional. Rolled over without much of a fight. Link here to The New York Times.

Trump's week, link here:

MSBC removes its stock market ticker crawler, link here:

ChatGPT:


Biden, flashback, link here. One year anniversary. This put Scott Jennings on the map.