Hofmeister: $5.00 Gasoline; Not So Wrong

Link here to Orlando Sentinel.

A Shell station in the tourist area near Lake Buena Vista was selling gasoline for $6.44 a gallon Monday — more than $3 above what most motorists are paying.

A clerk at the station at 8788 Vineland Ave. declined to comment. The manager could not be reached.

And so it goes. 

The End of Any Economic Development on Sixth Largest Reservation in the United States: Standing Rock Reservation

Link here to Casper, Wyoming Star Tribune.

A Columbus, Neb., biologist might have discovered the first wild colony of an endangered species since the Meeteetse find in 1981.

Mike Gutzmer, with Columbus-based New Century Environmental LLC, found three black-footed ferrets during an endangered species survey in South Dakota.

The black-footed ferret is the most endangered mammal in America and has been on the endangered species list since 1967.

It has been more than 30 years since the black-footed ferret was found in the wild in Meeteetse. There have been several populations of the animal reintroduced by scientists over the years in eight states.

The black-footed ferret used to number in the tens of thousands, but because of habitat loss and disease, the animal faced extinction. It was presumed extinct in the wild in 1987. About 1,000 of the ferrets are recorded today, with 750 living in the wild and another 250 in captivity.

The black-footed ferret is the only ferret species native to the Americas. They are part of the weasel family and are yellow, buff or white with a black “mask” across the eyes. They weigh between 1.4 to 2.5 pounds and measure 19 to 24 inches in length.

The discovery of the wild colony on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation is like “finding a needle in a haystack,” Gutzmer said.

The Standing Rock Reservation is outside the Bakken. 

On Tap for Tuesday: Wells Coming Off the Confidential List; KOG Has A Huge Well; Triangle Has A Nice Well

Active rigs: 191 (steady)

Wells coming off the confidential list the last few days (long Veterans Day weekend, a day Google remembered with Rodin's The Thinker)

11/10/11
20788, 254, Whiting, Zalesky 34-8PH, North Creek, Stark, t5/12; cum 11K 9/12
21957, drl, BEXP, Cvancara 20-17 4TFH, Alger, Mountrail,
22539, 502, Hess, GO-Qvale Trust 158-97-3229H-1, New Home, Williams, t8/12; cum 17K 9/12
22577, drl, BEXP, Gunderson 15-22 4H, Banks, McKenzie, [see the Gunderson wells here]

11/11/11
20095, 1,097, XTO, Wagern 24X-23B, Midway, Williams, t7/12; cum 17K 9/12
20859, 196, Petro-Hunt, Carlson 159-94-4B-9-1H, North Tioga, Burke, t8/12; cum 6K 9/12;
21632, 1,686, Triangle, Larson 149-100-9-4-1H, Ellsworth, McKenzie, t5/12; cum 33K 9/12;
22695, drl, BEXP, Ross-Alger 6-7 4TFH, Alger, Mountrail,
22733, drl, CLR, Glasoe 5-19H, Dolphin, Divide,
22785, 810, MRO, Thomas Miller USA 21-28H, Deep Water Creek Bay,  McLean, t8/12; cum 12K 9/12;
22788, drl, Crescent Point, CPEUSC Szarka 25-36-159N-100W, Wildcat, Williams,

11/12/11
21099, 825, Zenergy, Rella 17-20H/Heen 17-20H, Lake Trenton, Williams, t7/12; cum 25K 9/12;
21444, 141, Samson Resources, Camino 5-9-163-98H, Candak, Divide, t8/12; cum 6K9/12;
21793, 56 (no typo), Hunt, Horst 2-25H, Parshall, Mountrail, t8/12; cum 25K 9/12; 14 stages; 1.3 million lbs proppant;
22271, 616, OXY USA, State Caly 1-26-23H-142-97, Willmen, Dunn, t5/12; cum 44K 9/12;
22578, drl, BEXP, Gunderson 15-22 3TFH, Banks, McKenzie, [see the Gunderson wells here]
22620, drl, CLR, Thronson 2028AH, Alkali Creek, Mountrail,
22823, 963, G3 Operating, Berg 1-20-17H, Good Luck, Williams, t8/12; cum 9K 9/12;

11/13/11
20483, 1,562, XTO, FBIR Georgeblackhawk 21X-6B, Heart Butte, Dunn, t7/12; cum 23K 9/12;
20515, 2,462, KOG/BTA, P Alice 154-99-4-3-27-4H, Epping, Williams, t8/12; cum 38K 9/12;
20912, 653, Whiting, Duletski 11-16TFH, Gaylord, Stark, t5/12; cum 19K 9/12;
21612, 35 (no typo), MRO, Hoff 24-19H, Strandahl, Williams, t8/12; cum 522 bbls 9/12; 30 stages; 2.6 million lbs proppant;
21947, 161, GMX Resources, Fairfield State 21-16-1H, St Demetrius, Billings, t9/12; cum 1K 9/12;
22356, 207, Hess, GO-Anderson 157-97-36H-1, Ray, Williams, t7/12; cum 6K 9/12;
22510, 264, Hess, EN-Hanson-156-94-3031H-3, Manitou, Mountrail; t8/12; cum 8K 9/12;
22735, drl, CLR, Glasoe 7-19H, Dolphin, Divide,

From Forbes: Natural Gas Production Not Likely To Decrease Next Four Years

Link here to Forbes.

.... a key element of both the Romney and Obama energy platforms: increased domestic natural gas production.  It is generally expected that the Obama administration will continue to push for more oversight and regulation of shale fracking. 

The April 2012 EPA decision to reduce air emissions from fracking could well be followed by an effort to end exemptions from certain elements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.  In the case of the EPA air emissions oversight, the rules were relaxed somewhat, and industry was given two years to bring activities into compliance.

In the case of water regulation, the conversation may well continue to drag along slowly for some time to come.  In the end, there is only so much regulation that is likely to occur at the national level.  The 2005 Energy Policy Act essentially gave most regulatory responsibility to individual states, and it will probably remain there.

Regardless of the final regulatory outcome, gas production is likely to soar, especially as gas use grows in transportation, industry, and electric generation.  And don’t forget the significant potential for LNG exports, as numerous license requests have already been tendered.  

The Marcellus area, and Pennsylvania in particular, should continue to see rapid growth. 

A new study from ASD Reports announced today suggests that production could increase more than seven-fold from 2011 levels, from  just over 1,000 billion cubic feet equivalent (bcfe) in 2011 to almost 5,000 bcfe in 2015, before finally leveling off at over 7,600 bcfe in 2020.

I'll be sleeping better tonight. 

Coal Story: Nothing To Do With The Bakken

For archival purposes only: proposed railway in eastern Montana waiting for federal review/approval. Only 83 miles long; from the Billings Gazette.

First, the article today: Montana coal railroad faces federal review

And, then the article in October, 2012: Federal approval sought for Tongue River Railroad

Eastern Montana residents will weigh in this week on a proposed 83-mile coal railroad with the potential to usher in a dramatic expansion of mining in the state and increase exports of the fuel to Asia.

The Surface Transportation Board is hosting a series of public meetings beginning Monday in Lame Deer for its environmental review of the proposed Tongue River Railroad.

The $490 million line from Miles City to south of Ashland would haul up to 20 million tons of fuel annually. That's equal to about half the state's current coal production.

The long-stalled railroad was bought last year by BNSF Railway, Arch Coal and billionaire Forrest Mars Jr., following decades of delays due to court challenges and financing hurdles.

And so it goes.