Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Nineteen Permits Renewed -- December 26, 2018

Active rigs:

$46.4912/26/201812/26/201712/26/201612/26/201512/26/2014
Active Rigs68534162173

No new permits.

One permit canceled:
  • Petro-Hunt: a CMNUR permit in McKenzie County canceled
Nineteen permits renewed:
  • NP (6): six Roosevelt Federal permits in Billings County
  • EOG (4): four Parshall permits in Mountrail County
  • Bruin (3): three Fort Berthold permits in Dunn County
  • Hunt (2): two Palermo MCNIC permits in Mountrail County
  • Equinor (2); two Olson permits in Williams County
  • Murex: a Sophia Drake permit in Mountrail County 
  • Oasis: one Wren Federal permit in Williams County
No producing wells (DUCs) reported as completed.

Peak Oil? Unlikely In The Near Term -- December 26, 2018

WTI: surges 10% on Boxing Day.

Peak oil? Maybe for Saudi Arabia? One of my themes over at "the big stories" is the growing gap between Europe and the US when it comes to being energy sufficient. Major sub-themes include:
  • US energy centers of gravity
  • natural gas and coal in the post-nuclear world
  • the Saudi - OPEC myth
  • Japan's energy crunch
But one of the sub-themes I follow often is "Europe at a tipping point."

I was reminded of that when I came across this oilprice headline: US oil output will nearly equal Saudi and Russian production combined by 2025.

2025?

Are you kidding?

As far as politics go, it's already 2020.

2025 is only five years from 2020.

That means that I will (most likely) live to see that milestone.

The prediction is from the IEA chief.

My hunch is that it is "fake news." The IEA chief is beating the drum to increase CAPEX spending on conventional oil -- or in other words, increase spending in the Mideast and Russia, and not the US. This is another shout-out to the Saudis and the Russians that they need to accelerate oil activity in their own backyards if they don't want to be over-shadowed by the US.

But if he's accurate ... wow!

Biggest Gain Ever -- December 26, 2018


Does This Man Ever Sleep? December 26, 2018

President Trump and Melania in Iraq.




North Dakota 3Q18 Taxable Sales

Link at The Bismarck Tribune.  Full report here. Data points:
  • almost 20% higher, year-over-year
  • $5.6 billion for the quarter (July, August, September)
  • highest year-over-year increase since 3Q12
  • best taxable sales and purchases report of any quarter in several years
  • many sectors showed an increase; year-over-year:
    • utilities: a 202% increase
    • mining and oil: almost 50% increase
    • wholesale trade sector: up 23%
  • by city
    • New Town (Parshall oil field): up 72%
    • Watford City: up almost 50%
    • Williston: up 29%
    • Dickinson: up 18%
    • Minot: up 9%
    • Fargo: up 5%
    • Bismarck: flat
    • Grand Forks: a decrease of almost 9%
Memo to self: note to Art Berman and Jane Nielson.
 
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Alexa

Truly incredible. Most frustrating? Apple completely missed this. Well, Apple has Siri and can apparently do what Alexa can do but Amazon beat Apple out the gate on this one.