Random Update Of North Dakota Oil And Gas Permits, 2013, Now That The Year Is Over

FOR THE ENTIRE CALENDAR YEAR - 2013

Permits by selected operator:

• American Eagle: 28
• BEXP: 35
• BR: 148
• CLR: 255
• Corinthian: 28
• Emerald: 35
• EOG: 94
• Fidelity: 42
• G3: 31
• Hess: 235
• HRC: 66
• KOG: 101
• MRO: 85
• Murex: 20
• Newfield: 61
• Oasis: 190
• OXY USA: 58
• Petro-Hunt: 82
• QEP: 132
• Samson Resources: 27
• Slawson: 68
• SM Energy: 33
• Statoil: 48
• Triangle: 44
• True Oil: 17
• Whiting: 244
• WPX: 56
• XTO: 153
• Zavanna: 31
• Zenergy: 14

Permits by selected counties:

• Divide: 169
• Dunn: 385
• McKenzie: 865
• Mountrail: 539
• Williams: 428

Permits by selected field:

• Grail: 75
• Sanish: 99
• Siverston: 61
• Stockyard: 28
• Van Hook: 50
• Westberg: 23

Director's Comment On Permitting Process In Bismarck

From the October Director's Cut:

Drilling permit activity was up in August and September, and will remain high through October as we help operators plan for winter. The goal is to have a sufficient permit inventory to accommodate multi-well pads through the end of load restrictions in 2014 as well as the time required to deal with federal hydraulic fracturing rules if required.

From my data base:

• As of today, the NDIC reports 2,054 permits for calendar year 2013. At this rate, there would be 2,603 permits for calendar year 2013. 
• One year ago, as of October 15, 2012, there were 1,992 permits recorded which put the state on track for 2,525 permits. The state actually issued 2,251 permits for calendar year 2012; about 30 were canceled during the year. 
• I don't see a whole lot of difference between 2,054 permits and 1,992 permits (actual), or much of a difference between 2,603 and 2,525 (projected).

Disclaimer: my data base may be at variance with the state's database. I often collect this data when I am in a hurry (taking care of the granddaughters) and I generally do not double check my data. It is what it is. I'm a big picture sort of guy and often get the details wrong. Whatever. 

On Track For 2,500 Oil And Gas Permits

With 1,730 new permits issued so far this year by the NDIC for oil and gas wells (this does not include salt-water disposal wells), the NDIC is on track to issue 2,496 permits this calendar year.

At this time last year, the NDIC had issued 1,573 oil and gas permits, which put it on track to issue 2,269 permits for the year. In fact, the NDIC issued 2,521 permits in 2012 (about 30 were ultimately cancelled); and the NDIC issued 1,926 oil and gas permits in 2011.

Snapshot:

• projected for 2013: 2,496
• actual, 2012: 2,521; about 30 cancelled
• projected at this time one year ago for 2012: 2,269
• actual, 2011: 1,926

Random Update on NDIC Oil and Gas Permits To Date

Updates

March 28, 2013 (in 2012, there were 29 days in February):

• Permits to date: 620
• Projected for 2013: 2,601
• Projected for 2012 same time one year ago: 1,989
• Permits issued in 2012: 2,521 with 30 or so ultimately canceled. 

February 28, 2013 (in 2012, there were 29 days in February):

• Permits to date: 402
• Projected for 2013: 2,487
• Projected for 2012 same time one year ago: 1,862
• Permits issued in 2012: 2,521 with 30 or so ultimately canceled. 

February 22, 2013: 

• Permits to date: 371
• Projected for 2013: 2,555
• Projected for 2012 same time one year ago: 1,901
• Permits issued in 2012: 2,521 with 30 or so ultimately canceled. 

February 14, 2013:

• Permits to date: 322
• Projected for 2013: 2,612
• Projected for 2012 same time one year ago: 1,841
• Permits issued in 2012: 2,521 with 30 or so ultimately canceled.
  

February 11, 2013: 

• Permits to date: 297
• Projected for 2013: 2,581
• Projected for 2012 same time one year ago: 1,790
• Permits issued in 2012: 2,521 with 30 or so ultimately canceled.
  

Original Post

Active rigs: 185

This is way too early to make these projections, but just for the fun of it: with regard to oil and gas permits in North Dakota, where are we compared to last year at this time?

Today's daily activity report with permits for today has not yet been issued.

As of yesterday, my database shows 275 oil and gas permits to date. Through February 7, that projects to 2,641 permits for the entire year (2013).

Last year, 2012, through February 7, there were 204 permits issued. Projecting that number through the end of the year showed 1,959 permits for the year. In fact, there were 2,521 permits issued last year (2012) with about 30 or so of those ultimately canceled.

So, for the 30-second sound bite: through February 7, 2013, there have been 275 permits for oil and gas wells issued compared to 204 permits this time last year. Those numbers project to more than 2,600 permits in 2013, compared to less than 2,000 in 2012.

Someone asked if operators might be "front loading" permits this year. I have no idea. A more reasonable explanation is pad drilling.

The rig count has stabilized in the 185 range.

Recap -- New Permits: January 2013 -- The Williston Basin

217 permits in January, 2013 (annualized: 2,555)  There were 146 permits in January, 2012.

Selected operators:

• BEXP: 15
• CLR: 39
• EOG: 2
• Fidelity: 3
• Hess: 15
• KOG: 13
• Oasis: 9
• OXY USA: 8
• Petro-Hunt: 15
• Slawson: 6
• Triangle: 8
• Whiting: 22

Selected Counties:

• Dunn: 31
• McKenzie: 65
• Mountrail: 33
• Williams: 49