Whiting 3Q18 Corporate Presentation -- December, 2018

Before we get to the Whiting presentation.  From the EOG 3Q18 corporation presentation, this is how much it cost EOG to drill/complete a Bakken well in 2018:

• $4.6 million

This is how much it cost EOG to drill/complete a well in the Bakken in 2012:

• $10 million

Now, back to the Whiting 3Q18 presentation.

***************************************

Updates

March 23, 2019: in the presentation below, there is no mention of "Generation 5.0" fracking by Whiting. In early 2019, Whiting began talking about Generation 5 fracking. With Generation 5.0 fracking, Whiting feels that a lot of their Tier 2 areas will become Tier 1. In addition, Whiting is talking about adding more acreage.

Original Post

Link here.

December 6, 2018.

Only a few items that might be different from earlier presentations.

33 slides total.

• Strategic vision: 
• reduce debt and deliver free cash flow at $55 NYMEX oil price
• maintain a strong hedge position (60 - 70% of oil volumes), 12 - 14 months forward
• Results:
• 3Q18: net cash exceeded CAPEX by $56 million 
• 3Q18: discretionary cash flow exceeded capital expenditures by $90 million
• forecast: 129,000 boe/d
• Williston Basin operated production forecast to grow 13% 4Q year-over-year (2018 over 2017)
• plan to drill 120 Bakken/Three Forks in the Williston Basin in CY2018
• plan to put on production (POP) 123 wells in Williston Basin in CY2018
• cash flow, historical, in millions
• 4Q17:  $96
• 1Q18: $103
• 2Q18: $56
• 3Q18: $90
• four-quarter total: $355
• Among 12 peers: #1 in generating peer leading cash flow
• only two peers: positive cash flow
• ten peers: with negative cash flow
• Williston Basin acreage
• Whiting is now #1 in acreage across the core Williston Basin
• Tier 1 areas: 296,063 net acres
• East Missouri Breaks
• Foreman Butte
• Hidden Bench
• Polar
• Sanish/Polar
• Tier 2 areas: 171,038 net acres
• Pronghorn
• West Missouri Breaks
• Other (probably Wildrose area)
• Total net acres: 467,101 net acres in Williston Basin
• 2018 deal
• Bakken bolt-on
• 54,833 net acres
• $130 million
• new acres overlap Hidden Bench, East Missouri Breaks acreage
• 1,290 boepd
• $2,370 / acre
• McNamara Infill Project: Sanish
• four sections (22/23/26/27)
• drill/complete six Bakken infill wells
• parent wells: 9 parent wells completed in 2007 and 2012
• seven middle Bakken wells; two Three Forks wells
• sounds like 15 wells across four sections
• project has produced more than 1.5 million bbls oil
• projected DSU recovery factor prior to McNamara infill wells: 11%
• projected DSU recovery factor including McNamara infill: 20%
• Sanish generation 4.0 Bakken completions; graph highlights three DSUs
• McNamara (220 days production)
• Sanish Bay (190 days production)
• Bartelson (60 days production)
• Western Sanish generation 4.0 Bakken wells outperform  by 83%
• Bartelson parent: 35K bo at 60 days
• Bartelson children: 65K bo at 60 days
• Pinwheel pad -- I think CLR had one of the first of these designs
• 8 new Bakken wells
• 6 new Three Forks wells
• 2 existing wells
• spud to TD average: 9.3 days
• 76 daysof fracking, 100 million lbs proppant, 2 million bbls fresh water
• will come in 8% under budget
• Generation 4.0 Bakken completions (2018)
• 600 - 1,200 lbs/ft proppant
• 200' - 300' stage spacing
• 15 - 40 bbl/ft fluid
• 30' to 50' cluster spacing
• Generation 3.0 (2016 - 2017)
• Generation 2.0 (2013 - 2015)
• Generation 1.0 (2010 - 2012)

Much, much more at the link.

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

Fracking:

• 10,000-ft lateral
• about 8 million lbs proppant
• about 40 stages

Random Update On A Whiting Well In Pronghorn Prospect, Southwest North Dakota -- October 25, 2014

It seems the Pronghorn prospect in southwest North Dakota has very mixed results. Some wells seem to be very, very good; others not quite so good. It looks like Whiting is going to be reporting some nice wells in this area. This is one example:

• 24830, conf,Whiting, Pronghorn Federal 44-11PH, Park, coming off confidential: list on January 4, 2015:

Date	Oil Runs	MCF Sold
8-2014	28068	29075
7-2014	33924	27732

**************************************

US Having Coolest Year On Record: 2014

Real Science is reporting:

The percentage of US HCN stations to reach 90 degrees was the smallest on record this year, with four of the five coolest years occurring above 350 PPM CO2. The most widespread heat occurred in 1931, when more than 98% of stations were over 90 degrees.

Spoiler alert / warning: A real scientific graph is posted at the link. 

Obrigewitch -- Bell Oil Field, Whiting's Pronghorn Prospect -- This Will Be Fun To Watch

Updates

August 28, 2015: I now follow the Whiting Obrigewitch wells in Bell oil field at this post. Data for these wells may not be updated in the original post below.

Original Post

 

Of the new wells reporting, this one caught my eye:

• 20079, 2,760, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-16TFH, Bell, t2/12; cum 117K 6/12;  it was completed in February of this year and by June had produced almost 120K bbls of light, sweet crude

Back to May 8, 2012: even for seasoned Bakken observers, this is exciting.

Also, from May 8, 2012: huge Whiting wells.

Newbies may want to start here: Whiting's Pronghorn prospect.

From May 22, 2012: The Prospect Sand could be the best payzone in the Bakken -- Mike Filloon.

I believe these are all the Obrigewitch wells in Bell oil field;

• 19623, 1,075, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-17TFH, Bell, t4/11; cum 212K 4/13;
• 20079, 2,760, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-16TFH, Bell, t2/12; cum 222K 4/13;  it was completed in February of this year and by June had produced almost 120K bbls of light, sweet crude
• 21018, 1,517, Whiting, Obrigewitch 11-17TFH, Bell, t2/11; cum 186K 4/13;
• 22864, 1,890, Whiting, Obrigewitch 41-17PH, Bell, t11/12; cum 79K 4/13;
• 22287, 1,738, Whiting, Obrigewitch 41-16PH, Bell, t11/12; cum 80K 4/13;
• 23468, conf, Whiting, Obrigewitch 11-16PH, Bell, producing
• 25454, loc, Whiting, Obrigewitch 11-29PH, Bell,
• 25453, loc, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-29PH, Bell, 
• 25452, loc, Whiting, Obrigewitch 41-29PH, Bell,

Obrigewitch wells in Little Knife oil field:

• 18227, 116, Hess, Obrigewitch 34-1H, Little Knife, t10/09; cum 117K 4/13;
• 18276, 962, Hess, Obrigewitch 4-1H, Little Knife ,t2/10; cum 123K 4/13;
• 22798, drl, Hess, LK-Obrigewitch 146-97-3427H-2, Little Knife,
• 22800, drl, Hess, LK-Obrigewitch 146-97-3427H-3, Little Knife,
• 22803, drl, Hess, LK-Obrigewitch 146-97-3427H-4, Little Knife,

See the entire string of wells running east-west in this section at this post.

A long, long time ago, when one of the first Obrigewitch wells "came in," a roughneck who had worked on the well, was kind enough to send me a note regarding his experience on a very successful well. As noted many times, it must be a huge sense of satisfaction for everyone working on the well when it's a good one.

*********************

From May 27, 2012: These are the oil fields inside Whiting's Pronghorn Prospect (my best guess; will be updated as new information flows), but consider the area between Dickinson and Belfield, especially north of the interstate as the area of the Pronghorn Prospect:

Pronghorn Prospect, north of I-94, between Dickinson and Belfield

• Whiskey Joe -- nw of Park, Park west of Bell
• Bell -- north of Belfield
• Park -- east of Bell
• North Creek -- between Bell and New Hradec
• New Hradec -- east of Bell, ne of Zenith
• Dutch Henry Butte -- east of New Hradec
• Green River -- east of Belfield, north of Zenith, north of I-94; west of Dickinson

Pronghorn Prospect, south of I-94, west of Dickinson

• South Heart -- south of Dutch Henry Butte -- south of I-94; west of Dickinson
• Zenith -- south of Bell, east of Belfield; west of South Heart; south of I-94; west of Dickinson
• Gaylord -- south of Belfield; south of the interstate; west of Zenith
• Fryburg -- sw of  Belfield; west of Gaylord
• Davis Creek -- sw of Belfield; south of Fryburg; southwest of Gaylord oil field

Whiting Has a New Corporate Presentation

The presentation includes a "new" slide: the sweet spots in the Bakken, slide 18.

In one sense, the "Bakken sweet spot" slide doesn't provide anything we didn't already know: some spots are better than others. But in another sense, I am somewhat surprised: there are a lot more sweet spots than I would have thought. A lot more. But they are discreet, which again, in a continuous reservoir, is counter-intuitive.

The presentation includes Sanish Field area gathering system and Robinson Lake gas plant -- slide 21.

The presentation includes Pronghorn Field area gathering system and Belfield gas plant -- slide 22: note -- Whiting is calling their Pronghorn Prospect the "Pronghorn Field" which has been noted earlier. NDIC will address this nomenclature, if I recall correctly. There is an NDIC-designated Pronghorn oil field near Alexander/Watford City, in McKenzie County.

The proposed pipeline parallel to and well south of I-94 is of special interest. This is where Chesapeake controls a lot of acreage.

Slide 23 shows up to 1.292 million bbls of takeaway capacity by the end of 2013. Whiting suggests we have 1.102 million bbls of takeaway capacity by the end of 2012. Currently, "we" have 690,000 bbls takeaway capacity.

Dickinson Studying the Effects of the Boom -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

 A Whiting well with 210,000 bbls in one year in the Dickinson area

Updates

June 25, 2012: Wow, these are some good wells; I have been following this area for quite some time. This is a string of wells, running west to east, north of Dickinson area, in the Park and Bell oil fields (some of these wells are reported elsewhere, also).

• 20404, 1,606, Whiting, Pronghorn Federal 21-14TFH, Park, t10/11; cum 52K 4/12;
• 20131, 1,343, Whiting, Pronghorn Federal 34-11TFH, Park, t10/11; cum 50K 4/12;
• 20504, 2,696, Whiting, Pronghorn Federal 21-13TFH, Park, t12/11; cum 79K 4/12;
• 20526, 2,446, Whiting, Smith 34-12TFH, Park, t9/11; Park; cum 132K 4/12;
• 19444, 3,106, Whiting, Hecker 21-18TFH, Bell, cum 210K 4/12; 
• 20828, DRL, Whiting, Frank 34-7TFH; Bell; 27K in January; 33K in February; 30K in March; 19K in April; no IP reported yet;
• 20893, 2,805, Whiting, Mastel 41-18TFH, Bell,  t11/11; cum 135K 4/12; 30 stages; 2 million lbs; 
• 22167, conf, Whiting, Frank 44-7PH, Bell; 18K in Apr 2012; no IP reported yet
• 21018, 1,517, Whiting, Obrigewitch 11-17TFH, Bell; t12/11; cum 93K 4/12; 24K in December, 2011; 21K in January, 2011; 18K in February; 16K in March, 2012; 
• 22372, drl, Whiting 3J Trust 24-8PH, Bell, s4/12;
• 19623, 1,075, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-17TFH; 138K, Bell, 7 stages, 7,000 lbs (no typo); s11/10; t4/11; cum 169K 4/12; F
• 20795, drl, Whiting, 3 J Trust 34-8PH, Bell,
• 22864, loc, Whiting, Buckman 34-9PH, Bell,
• 22865, drl, Whiting, 3 J Trust 44-8PH, Bell,
• 20079, 2,760, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-16TFH, Bell, t2/12; cum 117K 6/12; 
• 22285, drl, Whiting, Buckman 44-9H, Bell,
• 22287, drl, Whiting, Obrigewitch 41-16PH, Bell,
• 19891, conf, Whiting, Cymbaluk 21-15PH, Bell,
• 22283, conf, Whiting, Cymbaluk 11-15PH, Bell,
• 22094, drl, Whiting, Lydia 41-14PH, Bell,
• 21655, drl, Whiting, Solberg 34-11PH, Bell,
• 22594, drl, Whiting, Solberg 44-11PH, Bell,
• 18837, 1,780, Whiting, Kubas 11-13TFH, Bell, t9/10; cum 97K 4/12;
• 22169, conf, Whiting, Solberg 14-12PH, Bell,
• 21895, conf, Whiting, Kubas 34-12PH, Bell, 7K (Mar); 2K (Apr)
• 20695, conf, Whiting, Solberg 34-12TFH, Bell, 6K (Mar); 3K (Apr)
• several more
  
• 21527, DRL, Whiting, Buresh 34-10TFH, Dutch Henry Butte; 21K in February, 2012; 11K in March; 8K in April; no IP reported yet;

Original Post

Link here.

It's a fairly long article on the oil boom in the Dickinson area, southwest North Dakota. Much of the article has to do with the issue of housing.

This is my favorite line from the article:

"It will take more than a couple of months to catch up to the housing demand."

Williston has been at the center of the boom for five years now, and a housing shortage persists despite record amount of home building and temporary housing having been added. So, yes, I expect it will take "more than a couple of months" to catch up on the housing demand in Dickinson. The tea leaves tell me the boom is yet to take off in the Dickinson area.

We are only starting to see examples of the wells that will be reported in the Dickinson area such as the one reported yesterday:

• 20672, 2,499, Whiting, DRS Federal 24-24TFH, Park oil field; t11/11; cum 65K 3/12.

Park oil field is about 20 miles due west of Dickinson on I-94. 

Here's another one, in Bell oil field, just east of Park oil field:

• 19444, 3,106, Whiting, Hecker 21-18TFH, Stark County; 2.4 million lbs, all sand; t3/11; cum 210K 3/12;

We've yet to see if the TFS will stand the test of time, but early indications are: the TFS will live up to its hype in some areas of North Dakota -- and it looks like it may center around Dickinson. Yes, I would say that it will take more than a couple of months to catch up with the housing demand.

I have updated permits in Stark County.

Note the incredible number of Whiting wells on DRL status, and then look at these incredible wells that have not yet reported an IP. My understanding was that IPs need to be reported within 30 days of the end of the month in which the well was completed/fracked/tested:

• 20828, DRL, Whiting, Frank 34-7TFH; Bell; 27K in January; 33K in February; 30K in March, 2012; no IP reported yet;
• 20893, 2,805, Whiting, Mastel 41-18TFH, Bell,  t11/11; cum 117K 3/12; 30 stages; 2 million lbs; 
• 21018, 1,517, Whiting, Obrigewitch 11-17TFH, Bell; t12/11; cum 93K 4/12; ; 24K in December, 2011; 21K in January, 2011; 18K in February; 16K in March, 2012;
• 21527, DRL, Whiting, Buresh 34-10TFH, Dutch Henry Butte; 21K in February, 2012; 11K in March; 8K in April; no IP reported yet;
• 19623, 1,075, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-17TFH; 138K, Bell, 7 stages, 7,000 lbs (no typo); s11/10; t4/11; cum 162K 3/12; F

It looks like the Obrigewitch and the Frank wells will be quite interesting [posted before the IPs were known].

Update on Stark County Permits, 2009 -- 2014 -- The Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA

Preliminary data; additional data and analysis at a later date.

2014
29705, conf-->dry, Armstrong Operating, Dickinson City1-16, wildcat,
29295, PNC, Whiting,
29301, loc-->EXP, Whiting,
29296, PNC, Whiting,
29295, PNC, Whiting,
29280, dry, MBI,
29179, PNC, Whiting,
29152, PNC, Whiting,
29149, PNC, Whiting,
29086, 1,607, Whiting, Cymbaluk ... cum 239K 1/22;
28987, 1,129, CLR, Debrecen ... cum 160K 1/22;
28853, PNC, Petro-Hunt / Emerald Oil,
28852, PNC, Petro-Hunt / Emerald Oil,
28811, Al/A, Kaiser-Francis / Fidelity, Steffan 1-12H, t--; cum 180K 1/22; Zenith,
28810, AL/A, Kaiser-Franis / Fidelity, Dorothy 1-12H, Zenith
28809, AL/A, Kaiser-Franis / Fidelity, Henry 1-12H, Zenith,
28799, PNC, Whiting, Bell, t1/15; cum 366K 1/122
28674, 963, Whiting,
28673, Whiting,
28669, Whiting,
28613, CLR,
28504, Emerald,
28503, Emerald,
28455, CLR,
28292, Whiting,
28291, Whiting,
28277, Emerald,
28276, Emerald,
28213, Fidelity,
27994, drl, Armstrong,
27947, conf, Whiting, Bock Federal 44-7PH, Bel, producing,
27903, conf, Emerald, Lloyd Christmas 1-4-9H, Heart River, producing,
27902, conf, Emerald, Lloyd Christmas 2-4-9H, Heart River, producing,
27638, conf, Fidelity,
27570, PNC, Fidelity,
27569, PNC, Fidelity,
27427, conf, Whiting, Pavlish 41-30PH, South Heart, producing,
27426, conf, Whiting, Pavlish 11-30PH, South Heart, producing,
27424, conf, Whiting, Talkington Federal 41-25PH, Park, producing, 
27401, Fidelity,
27400, Fidelity,
27399, PNC, Fidelity, Wallace 1-12H, New Hradec,
27394, A, Fidelity, Barnhart1 20-17H, t--; cum 238K 8/23;
27393, conf, Fidelity, Barnhart2 20-17H, no production data, 
27392, conf, Fidelity, Barnart3 20-17H, Heart River, producing,

Permits issued in 2013 (list is complete):
27260, conf, Whiting, Dolyniuk 11-25PH, Zenith, producing,
27259, conf, Whiting, Dolyniuk 21-25PH, Zenith, producing,
27258, conf, Whiting, Dolyniuk 41-25PH, Zenith, producing,
26590, loc, Fidelity,
26447, 383, Fidelity, Mary P 19-20H, Dutch Henry Butte, t4/14; cum 29K 8/14;
26418, 572, Fidelity, Ben 19-20H, Dutch Henry Butte, t3/14; cum 45K 8/14;
26413, conf, Whiting, Kubas 44-7PH, North Creek, producing,
26317, conf, Whiting, Ridl Federal 41-12PH, Zenith, producing,
26316, conf, Whiting, Ridl Federal 44-12PH, Zenith, producing,
26292, 1,256, Whiting, Newton 44-4PH, Bell, t4/14; cum 44K 8/14;
26291, 1,645, Whiting, Newton 41-4PH, Bell, t4/14; cum 67K 8/14;
26290, 1,615, Whiting, Newton Federal 42-2PH, Bell, t4/14; cum 50K 8/14;
26166, PNC, Whiting,
26165, PNC, Whiting,
26161, conf, Whiting, Kadrmas Federal 44-11PH, Zenith, producing,
26160, conf, Whiting, Kadrmas Federal 34-11PH, Zenith, producing,
26159, conf, Whiting, Kadrmas Federal 14-11PH, Zenith, producing,
25997, conf, Whiting, Froelich 41-13PH, Zenith, producing,
25996, conf, Whiting, Froelich 11-13PH, Zenith, producing,
25834, 750, Fidelity, Dacker 21-16h, Heart River, t5/14; cum 41K 8/14;
25833, 457, Fidelity, Weiler 21-16H, Heart River, t5/14; cum 34K 8/14;
25782, 150, Fidelity, Justine 25-36H, Green River, t1/14; cum 40K 8/14;
25759, 1,112, Whiting, Marsh 44-18PH, Marsh 44-18PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t10/13; cum 74K 8/14;
25758, 1,732, Whiting, Marsh 14-18PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t10/13; cum 90K 8/14;
25729, 570, Fidelity, Cindy 14-34H, t9/13; cum 60K 8/14;
25626, 1,089, CLR, Amy 2-5H1, Dutch Henry Butte, Three Forks, t1/14; cum 59K 8/14;
25591, 661, Whiting,Kostelecky 11-28PH, t10/13; cum 57K 8/14;
25590, 779, Whiting, Kostelecky 41-28PH, t10/13; cum 46K 8/14;
25589, dry, Whiting, Kostelecky 21-28PH, comp 11/13;
25471, 1,236, Whiting, Privratsky 24-22PH, Bell, t9/13; cum 57K 8/14;
25470, 1,144, Whiting, Privratsky 14-22PH, Bell, t9/13; cum 59K 8/14;
25469, 2,271, Whiting, Privratsky 41-27PH, Zenith, t3/14; cum 97K 8/14;
25468, 1,920, Whiting, Privratsky 21-27PH, Zenith, t3/14;cum 93K 8/14;
25467, 1,821, Whiting, Privratsky 11-27PH, Zenith, t3/14; cum 72K 8/14;
25454, 1,614, Whiting, Obrigewitch 11-29PH, Bell, t9/13; cum 84K 8/14;
25453, 2,027, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-29PH, Bell, t9/13; cum 99K 8/14;
25452, 1,171, Whiting, Obrigewitch 41-29PH, Bell, t9/13; cum 84K 8/14;
25391, 1,263, Whiting, Kessel 11-26PH, Zenith, t12/13; cum 76K 8/14;
25390, 1,117, Whiting, Kessel 21-26PH, Zenith, t12/13; cum 61K 8/14;
25389, 887, Whiting, Kessel 41-26PH, Zenith, t12/13; cum 62K 8/14;
25376, 526, Fidelity, Kubas 12-1H, New Hradec, t8/13; cum 58K 8/14;
25194, loc, Fidelity,
25193, loc, Fidelity,
25130, loc, Fidelity,
25129, loc, Fidelity,
25128, loc, Fidelity,
25098, loc, Fidelity,
25097, loc, Fidelity,
25021, 518, Fidelity, Rudy 5-8H, t7/13; cum 76K 8/14;
24990, 1,117, Fidelity, Doloris 14-23H, Dickinson, t10/13; cum 58K 8/14;
24989, A, Fidelity, Allan 14-23H, Dickinson, no IP; cum 50K 8/14;
24915, loc, Fidelity,
24914, EXP, Kaiser-Francis Oil/Fidelity,
24872, 976, Whiting, Kadrmas Federal 14-10PH, t3/14; cum 44K 8/14;
24871, 984, Whiting, Kadrmas Federal 44-10PH, t3/14; cum 37K 8/14;
24860, 1,679, Whiting, Dietz 13-7PH, t7/13; cum 64K 8/14;
24859, 1,210, Whiting, Dietz 34-7PH, t7/13; cum 72K 8/14;
24721, 985, Whiting,Kostelecky 31-29PH, t4/13; cum 89K 8/14;

Note two things:

a) started seeing "PH" wells in 2011 (Pronghorn Sand)
b) in some fields, targeting both the TF and the Pronghorn Sand -- huge

Permits issued in 2012:   (list is complete)

• 24663, 377, Whiting,  Zalesky 14-8PH, t12/13; cum 23K 8/14;
• 24662, 1,010, Whiting, Zalesky 11-17PH, North Creek, t10/13; cum 31K 3/14;
• 24661, 928, Whiting, Zalesky 21-17PH, North Creek, t10/13; cum 33K 3/14;
• 24617, 284, Whiting, Mischel 34-8PH, t7/13; cum 17K 2/14;
• 24575, 980, Whiting, Pavlish 31-30PH, South Heart, t5/13; cum 71K 3/14;
• 24554, dry, Great Plains, Wolf 42-21, Lodgepole well,
• 24496, 790, Whiting, Koppinger 31-13PH, t2/13; cum 65K 2/14;
• 24032, 744, Fidelity, Mularchek 6-7H, t4/13; cum 81K 2/14;
• 24031, 2,181, Whiting, Marsh 34-18PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t12/12; cum 147K 3/14;
• 24030, 654, Fidelity, Larry 41-7H, t3/13; cum 79K 8/14;
• 24025, PNC, Hess, RC-Lona-140-95-2932H-1,
• 24021, 550, Whiting, Tomchuk 11-30PH, Green River, t1/13; cum 51K 3/14;
• 23961, 1,301, Whiting, Havelka 44-17PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t4/13; cum 79K 3/14;
• 23960, 1,864, Whiting, Havelka 34-17PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t4/13; cum 106K 3/14;
• 23959, 1,642, Whiting, Havelka 14-17PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t4/13; cum 85K 3/14;
• 23892, loc, Fidelity, Lehigh/wildcat
• 23880, 1,122, Fidelity, Norken 17-20H, t12/13; cum 93K 8/14;
• 23789, loc, Fidelity,
• 23771, 193, Hess, RC-SV1HL 140-95-0706H-1, Davis, t3/13; cum 36K 2/14;
• 23733, PNC, Fidelity,
• 23727, 581, Fidelity, Peaceful Valley 13-24H, t3/13; cum 64K 3/14;
• 23712, 780, Fidelity, BMP 19-20H, Dutch Henry Butte, t4/13; cum 51K 3/14;
• 23710, 348, Whiting, Richard 31-15PH, Zenith, t2/13; cum 26K 3/14;
• 23700, 700, Fidelity, Albert 14-23H, Dickinson, t3/13; cum 88K 2/14;
• 23695, drl-->conf, Fidelity,
• 23653, 745, Whiting, Marsh 14-9PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t4/13; cum 73K 3/14;
• 23652, 932, Whiting, Wagner Farms 11-16PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t6/13; cum 60K 2/14;
• 23641, 1,153, Whiting, Buresh 41-15PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t2/13; cum 82K 2/14;
• 23640, 883, Whiting, Buresh 44-10PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t2/13; cum 60K 2/14;
• 23635, 256, Whiting, Perzinski Family Trust 34-19PH, Heart River, t12/12; cum 45K 2/14;
• 23616, 964, Fidelity, Bauer 25-36H, t12/12; cum 89K 2/14;
• 23579, 1,897, Whiting, Havelka 14-10PH, t2/13; cum 115K 2/14;
• 23577, 1,192, Whiting, Havelka 21-15PH, Dickinson, t2/13; cum 109K 2/14;
• 23576, 2,061, Whiting, Havelka 11-15PH, Dickinson, t2/13; cum 90K 2/14;
• 23510, 269, Whiting, Brueni 11-28PH, Green River, t11/12; cum 32K 2/14;
• 23503, 204, Whiting, Brueni 11-16PH, New Hradec, t12/12; cum 37K 2/14;
• 23468, 1,244, Whiting, Obrigewitch 11-16PH, Bell, t12/12; cum 105K 2/14;
• 23467, 1,132, Whiting, Buckman 14-9PH, Bell, t12/12; cum 113K 2/14;
• 23436, 597, Whiting, Marsh 41-16PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t6/13; cum 42K 2/14;
• 23435, 1,267, Whiting, Marsh 44-9PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t2/13; cum 82K 2/14;
• 23420, 1,861, Whiting, Frank 14-7PH, Bell, t11/12; cum 198K 2/14;
• 23419, 1,556, Whiting, Hecker 11-18PH, Bell, t11/12; cum 174K 2/14;
• 23396, 314, Fidelity, Schmidt 11-2H, Dutch Henry Butte, t3/13; cum 58K 2/14;
• 23273, 426, Whiting, Froehlich 34-9PH, Bell, t9/12; cum 45K 2/14;
• 23239, PNC, Whiting, Prairie Rose 34-11PH, Heart River,
• 23222, 253, Fidelity, Pavel 14-23H, Zenith, t6/13; cum 36K 2/14;
• 23214, 784, Whiting, Froehlich 21-13PH, Zenith, t2/13; cum 55K 2/14;
• 23186, PNC, Whiting, Tomchuk 21-17PH, North Creek,
• 23185, loc, Fidelity, Ehrmantraut 7-6H, Dickinson,
• 23179, 754, Fidelity, Pavlish19-20H, Dutch Henry Butte, t9/12; cum 84K 2/14;
• 23172, 812, Fidelity, Kudrna 5-8H, Heart River, t9/12; cum 130K 2/14;
• 23171, PNC, OXY USA, Tomahawk 1-28-33H-141-93, wildcat,
• 23032, 294, Whiting, Mann 11-18PH, North Creek, t3/13; cum 34K 2/14;
• 23031, 178, Whiting, Kubas 14-7PH, North Creek, t4/13; cum 22K 2/14;
• 22959, 325, Whiting, Schwartz 14-2H, Dutch Henry Butte, t8/12; cum 48K 2/14;
• 22955, 821, Whiting, Talkington 11-30PH, Bell, t8/12; cum 92K 2/14;
• 22954, 622, Whiting, Dietz 11-18PH, Gaylord, t7/13; cum 23K 2/14;
• 22950, 1,494, Whiting, Solberg 14-11PH, Bell, t9/12; cum 90K 2/14;
• 22949, 993, Whiting, Lydia 11-14PH, Bell, t9/12; cum 98K 2/14;
• 22865, 2,312, Whiting, 3 J Trust 44-8PH, Bell, t11/12; cum 136K 2/14;
• 22864, 1,890, Whiting, Obrigewitch 41-17PH, Bell,  t11/12; cum 140K 2/14;
• 22825, 635, Whiting, Kubas 12-13PH, Bell, t7/12; cum 50K 2/14;
• 22774, 1,947, Whiting, Froehlich 41-28PH, Bell, t11/12; cum 120K 2/14;
• 22630, PNC, Chesapeake, Burwick 17-137-98 A 1H, wildcat
• 22594, 1,303, Whiting, Solberg 44-11PH, Bell, t7/2; cum 94K 2/14;
• 22667, IA/170, Fidelity, O Bach 29-32H, Green River, t10/12; cum 3K 2/14;
• 22373, 2,172, Whiting, Froehlich 11-28PH, Bell, t11/12; cum 117K 2/14;
• 22372, 1,775, Whiting, 3J Trust 24-8PH, Bell, t6/12; cum 186K 3/14;
• 22365, dry, Chimney Hondl 21-1, Sweep Oil, wildcat,  (note lack of "H" designation)
• 22326, 1,582, Whiting, Talkington 41-30PH, Bell, t5/12; cum 56K 9/12;
• 22287, 1,738, Obrigewitch 41-16PH, Bell, t11/12; cum 161K 3/14;
• 22286, 1,669, Whiting, Buckman 34-9PH, Bell, t9/12; cum122K 3/14;
• 22285, 1,329, Whiting, Buckman 44-9PH, Bell, t9/12; cum 92K 3/14;
• 22283, 1,493, Whiting, Cymbaluk 11-15PH, Bell, t6/12; cum 134K 3/14;
• 22282, 898, Whiting, Tomchuk 21-30PH, Green River, t7/12; cum 64K 3/14;
• 22250, PNC, Chesapeake, Raab 23-138-95 A 1H, wildcat,
• 22224, 971, Fidelity, Kuntz 25-36H, Green River, t5/12; cum 46K 9/12;
• 22223, AB, Madison/Three Forks; Chesapeake, Hutzenbiler 9-137-99 A 1H, wildcat, still in limbo 9/12;
• 22176, 1,261, Whiting, Marsh 34-9PH, Dutch Henry Butte, t5/12; cum 55K 9/12;

Permits issued in 2011:

• 20449, DRY, Whiting, Marsh 21-16TFH,  Dutch Henry Butte, 9/9/11: This is very, very strange; the NDIC scout ticket says this well was DRY, but GMXR reports an IP of 2,694 for this well.
• 20694, 227, Fidelity, Parker 29-32H, Green River, t3/12; cum 7K 5/12;
• 20695, 168, Whiting, Solberg 34-12TFH, Bell, t2/12; cum 25K 9/12;
• 20788, 254, Whiting, Zalesky 34-8PH, North Creek, t5/12; cum 11K 9/12;
• 20789, 987, Whiting, Kadrmas 34-10TFH, Zenith, t3/14; cum 48K 8/14;
• 20795, 1,895, Whiting, 3 J Trust 34-8PH, Bell, t6/12; cum 176K 3/14;
• 20796, 471, Whiting, Ridl 34-12TFH, Zenith, t1/12; cum  44K 9/12;
• 20821, PNC, Whiting, Kessel 21-26TFH, Zenith;
• 20828, 2,456, Whiting, Frank 34-7TFH; Bell; t1/12; cum 190K 9/12;
• 20831, 530, Whiting, Kubas 34-7PH, North Creek, t3/12; cum 22K 9/12;
• 20893, 2,805, Whiting, Mastel 41-18TFH, Bell,  t11/11; cum 202K 9/12; 30 stages; 2 million lbs; 
• 20894, conf, BR, South Hart 17-1H, Zenith
• 20911, LOC/PNC, Whiting, Kubas 41-13TFH, Bell
• 20912, 653, Whiting, Duletski 11-16TFH, Gaylord, t5/12; cum 19K 9/12;
• 20933, PNC, Fidelity, Gaylord
• 20960, 476, Whiting, Kessel 41-17TFH; Gaylord; t1/12; cum 33K 9/12;
• 21002, 384, GMXR, New Hradec, 14K; Three Forks, 15 stages, 2.8 million lbs
  
• 21018, 1,517, Whiting, Obrigewitch 11-17TFH, Bell; t12/11; cum 93K 4/12
• 21135, conf-->DRL, Chesapeake,  wildcat
• 21139, 0, Chesapeake, Zent 30-138095 A 1H, Wildcat; Zent 30-138-95 A 1H, Wildcat, Bakken/Three Forks; t12/11; cum 1,633 bbls (no typo) 4/12;
• 21143, 0, Chesapeake, Schoch 21-137-97 A 1H, Wildcat, t1211; cum 0 4/12;
• 21213, 240, GMXR, Frank 31-4-1H, New Hradec; t12/11; cum 18K 9/12; 
• 21214, conf, GMXR, Frank 31-4-2H, New Hradec
• 21235, natural gas well, BTA, Sharon 1, Wildcat, cum gas 2.9MMCF, 4/12;
• 21291, 782, Whiting, Froehlich 41-9TFH, Bell; t12/11; cum 65K 9/12;
• 21347, DRY, Wesco, Gruman 41-18, Eland; this will be  Lodgepole vertical;
• 21483, 2,503, Whiting, Marsh 21-16TFH-R; Dutch Henry Butte; another nice well; a re-entry; t11/11; cum 96K 9/12;
• 21527, 2,600, Whiting, Buresh 34-10TFH, Dutch Henry Butte; t2/12; cum 58K 6/12; 
• 21625, PNC, Whiting, Havelka 21-15TFH, Dickinson field, 
• 21655, 1,123, Whiting, Solberg 34-11PH, Bell, t7/12; cum 107K 8/14;
• 21673, AB/23, SM, Bogner 13-20H, Wildcat; t7/12; cum 2K
• 21681, DRY, Chesapeake, Kostenko 30-138-97 A 1H, Wildcat
• 21687, PNC, Chesapeake, Wildcat
• 21885, PA, Chesapeake, Wilcat
• 21892, LOC, Thunderbird Resources/GMXR, Frank 31-3-2H/New Hradec
• 21893, LOC, Thunderbird Resources/GMXR, Frank 31-3-1H/New Hradec
• 21895, 638, Whiting, Kubas 34-12PH, Bell; t2/12; cum 76K 3/12;
• 21958, 1,044, Whiting, Iver & Minnie 21-14PH, Zenith, t5/12; cum 73K 8/14;
• 21976, PNC, Chesapeake, Wildcat
• 21984, 288, Fidelity, New Hradec, t7/12; cum 64K 8/14;
• 21986, loc, Chesapeake, Wildcat
• 21987, exp, Chesapeake, Wildcat, Three Forks,
• 22002, 425, Whiting, Iver & Minnie 11-14PH; Three Forks; Zenith, t4/12; cum 52K 8/14;
• 22004, PNC, Chesapeake, Jilek 8-137-97 A 1H, Wildcat, Bakken/Three Forks,
• 22014, PNC, Chesapeake, Klemm 21-138-95 A 1H, Wildcat, Three Forks,
• 22047, 254, Fidelity, New Hradec, t7/12; cum 46K 8/14;
• 22060, 621, Whiting, Zalesky 31-18PH, North Creek; t4/12;cum 65K 8/14;
• 22094, 608, Whiting, Lydia 41-14PH, Bell, t7/12; cum 79K 8/14;
• 22120, A, Whiting, Duletski 41-18PH, Gaylord, no IP, cum 39K 8/14;
• 22153, DRY, Chesapeake, Grenz 26-138-98 A 2H, Mission Canyon, Wildcat,
• 22167, 1,545, Whiting, Frank 44-7PH, Bell, t4/12; cum 213K 8/14;
• 22169, 795, Whiting, Solberg 14-12PH, Bell, t6/12; cum 75K 8/14;

Permits Issued in 2010

• 18833, 1,832, Whiting, 123K, Bell, Three Forks, 28 stages, 3.2 million lbs; t9/10; cum 206K 8/14;
• 18837, 1,780, Whiting, Kubas, 85K, Bell, Three Forks, 29 stages, 3.5 million lbs; cum 108K 9/12; t9/10; cum 139K 8/14;
• 19258, PA, Oil for America, Lodgepole, 83 bbls (no typo), wildcat; no production since June, 2011
• 19264, 595, Fidelity, Kostelecky 31-6H, Heart River, Three Forks/Nisku, 16 stages, 2.5 million lbs, t2/11; cum 94K 8/14;
• 19272, dry, Oil for America, Lodgepole, wildcat
• 19275, 193, Fidelity, wock 14-11H, Dutch Henry, Three Forks/Nisku, 16 stages, 1.7 million lbs; t5/11; cum 106K 8/14;
• 19277, 118, Fidelity, Oukrop 34-34H, Wildcat, Three Forks/Nisku, 16 stages, 1.5 million lbs; t2/11; cum 36K 8/14;
• 19337, 772, Whiting, Mann 21-18TFH, North Creek, Three Forks; 30 stages, 2.6 million lbs; t12/10; cum 95K 8/14;
• 19415, PNC, Wesco, Eland, Lodgepole
• 19444, 3,106, Whiting, Hecker 21-18TFH, Bell, Three Forks, 22 stages, 2.4 million lbs; t3/11; cum 331K 8/14;
• 19562, 412, Whiting, Brueni 28-1H, Green River, Three Forks, 2 stages, 2.5 million lbs, t3/11; cum 100K 8/14;
• 19585, AB; salt water disposal, Executive Drilling, Halek, Heart River, Lodgepole
  
• 19601, dry, Oil for America, wildcat
• 19623, 1,075, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-17TFH; 138K, Bell, 7 stages, 7,000 lbs (no typo); s11/10; t4/11; cum 237K 8/14;
• 19685, 875, Fidelity, Kostelecky 5-8H; Heart River; t5/12; cum 145K 8/14;
• 19688, LOC, Fidelity, Zenith
• 19698, 622, Fidelity, Kuchynski 12-1H, wildcat, t7/12; cum 87K 8/14;
• 19705, PA/42 (no typo), Fidelity, Wanner 44-23H, wildcat; t1/12; cum 10K 7/14;
• 19785, dry, Oil for America, Lodgepole
• 19809, 222, Whiting, Arthroud 21-29TFH, Gaylord, Three Forks, 30 stages, 2 million lbs; t5/11; cum 35K 8/14;
• 19810, 741, Whiting, Dietz, 25K Gaylord, Three Forks, 30 stages, 2 million lbs, t7/11; cum 72K 8/14;
• 19816, 202, Whiting, Paluck, 13K, Gaylord, Three Forks, 30 stages, 3.4 million lbs, t4/11; cum 42K 8/14;
• 19820, 843, Whiting, Dietz, 53K, Gaylord, Three Forks, 30 stages, 3.6 million lbs, t3/11; cum 106K 8/14;
• 19853, EXP, Core 54, wildcat
• 19871, LOC, Whiting, Zenith
• 19886, A, Oil for America, West Dickinson 1, Dickinson, Lodgepole, ICO, no IP, no test date; producing infrequently; 117 bbls in August, 2014, first production since July 2012;
• 19891, 2,087, Whiting, Cymbaluk 21-15PH, Bell; t6/12; cum 178K 8/14;
• 19923, 865, Whiting, Richard 21-15TFH, Zenith, Three Forks, 30 stages, 2.6 million lbs; t5/11; cum 100K 8/14;
• 19926, 161, Whiting, Roller 21-26TFH, Zenith, Three Forks, t5/11; cum 35K 8/14;
• 19937, 404, Whiting, Paluck 21-27TFH, Zenith, Three Forks, 30 stages, 1.9 million lbs; t6/11; cum 43K 8/14;
• 19967, 809, Whiting, Talkington 21-30TFH, Bell, Three Forks, 30 stages, 1.4 million lbs; t7/11; cum 155K 8/14;
• 20002, 391, Whiting, Praus 21-28TFH, Heart River, Three Forks; t9/11; cum 64K 8/14;
• 20028, 707, Whiting, Duletsky 21-16tFH, Gaylord, Three Forks; 22 stages, 2.8 million lbs; t6/11; cum 97K 8/14;
• 20034, 524, CLR, Debrecen 1-3H, Bell, Three Forks, 30 stages, 2.9 million lbs; t7/11; cum 186K 8/14;
• 20060, 258, Whiting, Binstock 21030TFH, Gaylord, 30 stages. 1.6 million lbs, t7/11; cum 28K 8/14;
  
• 20061, dry, Oil For America, Lodgepole, wildcat
  
• 20064, 1,875, Whiting, Froehlich 21-28PH, Bell, t11/12; cum 154K 8/14;
• 20079, 2,760, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-16TFH, Bell; a nice well; t2/12; cum 292K 8/14;
• 20124, 802, Whiting, Brueni 21-16TFH, New Hradec, t11/11; cum 108K 8/14;
• 20195, dry, Oil For America, Lodgepole, wildcat

Permits Issues in 2009

• 18190, 463, Armstrong, Lodgepole, Patterson Lake; t9/09; cum 580K 8/14;
• 18496, 474, Armstrong, Lodgepole, Patterson Lake, t3/10; cum 478K 8/14;

No Longer Stumped -- The Pronghorn Sand / Whiting's Pronghorn Prospect -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Background

From the ND DMR monthly publication:

Whiting Petroleum drilled 217 oil wells in Billings and Stark counties targeting the Pronghorn Member of the Bakken Formation from 2010-2014.

In their own words, they drilled these wells and pursued this oil play based upon their work in the Wilson M. Laird Core and Sample Library.

As of November 2014, these wells had produced 19,542,147 barrels of oil. Using just the oil extraction tax and a conservative price of $40/ barrel, Whiting’s Pronghorn oil play has generated more than $50,800,000. That is more than three times the $13.6 million core library expansion.

In November 2014, Whiting Petroleum’s 217 Pronghorn oil wells produced 558,412 barrels or 18,613 barrels per day. These wells generated $48,400 in extraction taxes per day (at $40 per barrel). At that rate, the extraction tax pays off the Wilson M. Laird Core and Sample Library expansion project in 280 days. 

Stratigraphic 

From an OXY USA report in the Manning oil field, general area of Whiting's Pronghorn prospect:

Updates

August 13, 2015: the Pronghorn Federal wells are tracked here.

August 8, 2012:

• 20079, 2,760, Whiting, Obrigewitch 21-16TFH, Bell, t2/12; cum 117K 6/12; 

June 5, 2012: this is what I wrote in reply to a comment elsewhere:

1. For others who are following this discussion, the presentation referenced above is found at this site: https://www.dmr.nd.gov/ndgs/bakken/bakkenthree.asp; presentation GI-136 at the link. 

2. Remember, I am an amateur at all this. The third map over, on the linked presentation above, certainly seems relevant to the area under discussion.

3. I think this is developing faster than even Whiting expected. Remember, the Pronghorn Prospect was carved out of the Lewis&Clark. In Whiting's most recent corporate presentation (which I linked today), this is the first time that Whiting has publicly separated the Lewis&Clark from the Pronghorn Prospect on their corporate presentation.

4. I agree with you; the proposed pipeline (south of the interstate) suggests Whiting is looking a lot farther south than first suggested (and I posted that thought earlier today).

5. I have listed the oil fields that I think are in the Whiting Pronghorn Prospect, and have asked for help in clarifying; to date no one has contradicted what I've posted. The post is here: http://milliondollarway.blogspot.com/2012/05/reminder-ndic-oil-fields-inside.html

6. Whiting will help us out with this. They are designating their wells that are targeting the Pronghorn Sand with a "PH" designation.

7. Right now, I consider any Whiting well twelve miles north or twelve miles south of the area between Dickinson/Belfield (and inclusive) as part of their Pronghorn Prospect unless evidence to the contrary.

8. In Whiting's current corporate presentation, the first one in which they separate the Pronghorn from the L&C (http://milliondollarway.blogspot.com/2010/10/areas-of-interest-in-bakken-by-producer.html):

• Sanish/Parshall: 83,000 net acres for Whiting
• Pronghorn Prospect: 121,402 net acres for Whiting
• Lewis & Clark Prospect: 128,370 net acres for Whiting

May 28, 2012: see first comment on naming the Pronghorn formation.

May 24, 2012: Prior to the Bismarck Bakken conference, CLR estimated 24 billion bbls recoverable oil from the Bakken Pool (Bakken formations and Three Forks formations). On the last day of the conference, Harold Hamm said this: 

[CLR] now believes there is as much as 27 billion to 45 billion barrels of oil recoverable from the Bakken based on production from two previously untapped bench zones in the resource.

The article went on immediately to talk about the Pronghorn Sand, so was one of the "two previously untapped bench zones," the Pronghorn Sand? If so, what is the second zone he was talking about? The second bench of the Three Forks? Most likely.  I wonder if the "original" Three Forks wells are all considered "first bench" wells?

Sorting this out, I wonder if CLR suggested 24 billion bbls with original middle Bakken and Three Forks; raised it to 27 billion with the second bench; and then to 45 billion with the Pronghorn Sand. The delta would be approximately 18 billion for the Pronghorn Sand which seems reasonable (as a percent) based on the geographic size (surface area) of the Pronghorn Sand. But, it is way to early to guess based on the little public information. 

May 22, 2012: The Prospect Sand could be the best payzone in the Bakken -- Mike Filloon. 

May 10, 2012: Whiting's 1Q12 corporate presentation: 121,403 net acres in the Pronghorn prospect.

February 7, 2012, WLL's corporate presentation: in the Lewis & Clark: no Bakken; thin Pronghorn Sand; mostly Three Forks; Pronghorn prospect: thick Pronghorn -- 35 feet; no Bakken. 

November 25, 2011: I may be slow, but at least I eventually catch on. It just dawned on me. I could be wrong, but Whiting was perhaps one of the earliest to designate their Three Forks Sanish horizontals with the "TF" before the "H" yielding TFH.  With the "P" lettering preceding the "H" they obviously want to identify this formation.Technically, the "Pronghorn Sand"  is part of the upper Three Forks and the company could have simply stayed with the TFH designation . Separating this out, suggests to me the CEO feels strongly that the Pronghorn Sand will be different enough from the TF that it required its unique designation. The question, now, is whether CLR will differentiate the four (4) benches on the "bottom" side of the Three Forks formation.

See comment from Mary -- my hunch that it stood for "Pronghorn" was correct, but I was sure on shaky ground on that. It's very interesting that they would put "prospect" designations there. A big thank you to Mary for researching this and posting it. 

Pronghorn Well Completions

May 10, 2012: More Pronghorn results here.
 
From the slides: Pronghorn 4Q11 Completions, in BOEPD

• 20131, 1,645, Pronghorn Federal 34-11TFH, Park oil field;
• 20404, 1,849, Pronghorn Federal 21-14TFH, Park oil field;
• 20124, 889, Brueni 21-16TFH, New Hradec;
• 20893, 3,218, Mastel 41-18TFH, Bell;
• 21483, 2,694, Marsh 21-16TFH-R, Dutch Henry Butte,
• 21018, 1,740, Obrigewitch 11-17TFH, Bell
• 20504, 3,225, Pronghorn Federal 21-13TFH, Park
• Pronghorn average: 2,184

Pronghorn Sand/Bakken Formation

Note: all references to the Pronghorn Sand as being part of the Three Forks formation should be updated; it was correct when it was first blogged. However, in its February 7, 2012, presentation, Whiting said that the Pronghorn Sand is part of the Bakken formation. 

Sometime in 2011, Whiting started referring to a new prospect as the Pronghorn prospect, a bit southeast of their Lewis & Clark prospect in southwestern North Dakota. Over time, a bit more information trickled out, and now, based on a recent Whiting corporate presentation, it appears there is a new formation at least in some parts of the Bakken: the Pronghorn Sand, an upper formation which is just below the Bakken. See slide 16 of Whiting's November, 2011, presentation (unfortunately those presentations will change over time, and this slide may be "lost").

The Pronghorn Sand is thick and prospective in three Whiting areas: a) Pronghorn Prospect; b) Big Stick in the Lewis & Clark Prospect; O'Neil Creek in the Lewis & Clark Prospect; and, c) the Elkhorn Ranch area of the Lewis & Clark Prospect.

The graphic reveals that in Whiting's Tarpon prospect there is the well-understood middle Bakken, lower Bakken, and Three Forks formations. Whiting is presently drilling into both the middle Bakken and the Three Forks in their Tarpon prospect. [Note: Whiting is drilling into B Zone of the middle Bakken in the Sanish; the C Zone of the middle Bakken in prospects south of the Sanish; and into the Pronghorn Sands farther southwest.]

In their Lewis & Clark prospect, the middle Bakken thins out to be almost negligible, but the Three Forks remains fairly thick (about the same as elsewhere in the Williston Basin). Interestingly enough, the Pronghorn Sands just begins to show up in the Lewis & Clark, and although not very thick, is thick enough to be drilled.

In the Pronghorn prospect, the middle Bakken becomes very thin. The Three Forks remains the same, but here the Pronghorn Sand is very thick and the target for Whiting drilling.

These are the oil fields inside Whiting's Pronghorn Prospect (my best guess; will be updated as new information flows), but consider the area between Dickinson and Belfield, especially north of the interstate as the area of the Pronghorn Prospect:

Pronghorn Prospect, north of I-94, between Dickinson and Belfield

• Whiskey Joe -- nw of Park, Park west of Bell
• Bell -- north of Belfield
• Park -- east of Bell
• North Creek -- between Bell and New Hradec
• New Hradec -- east of Bell, ne of Zenith
• Dutch Henry Butte -- east of New Hradec
• Green River -- east of Belfield, north of Zenith, north of I-94; west of Dickinson

Pronghorn Prospect, south of I-94, west of Dickinson

• South Heart -- south of Dutch Henry Butte -- south of I-94; west of Dickinson
• Zenith -- south of Bell, east of Belfield; west of South Heart; south of I-94; west of Dickinson
• Gaylord -- south of Belfield; south of the interstate; west of Zenith
• Fryburg -- sw of  Belfield; west of Gaylord
• Davis Creek -- sw of Belfield; south of Fryburg; southwest of Gaylord oil field

Original Post

I'm usually not this stumped (I may not know what's going on, but at least I can make something up or come up with an idea) but in this case, I have absolutely no idea.

A reader sent me this:

Noticed Whiting well Kubas 34-12PH on the drilling list as the next location after SOLBERG 34-12TFH. They seem to be at the same location. I haven't seen the PH designation before. Any idea what it means? 

It's not a typo. Permit number 21895 in the Bell oil field is named the Kubas 34-12PH. I can't believe the "P" stands for "Pronghorn" prospect, but that's all I can think of. The only formations in this area: Bakken, Three Forks, Lodgepole, and Tyler.

So, if anyone knows what the "P" stands for there are at least two folks who would be interested.