Five New Permits; Thirteen Permits Renewed; Three DUCs Completed -- January 18, 2019

Active rigs:

$54.04	1/18/2019	01/18/2018	01/18/2017	01/18/2016	01/18/2015
Active Rigs	68	58	38	49	157

Five new permits:

• Operators: Newfield (3); Sinclair (2)
• Fields: South Tobacco Garden (McKenzie); Sanish (Mountrail)
• Comments: Newfield has permits for a 3-well Sturgeon pad in Lot 1, section 18-150-99; Sinclair has permits for a two-well Uran pad in 15-153-92;

Thirteen permits renewed:

• CLR (4): three Alpha permits and one Florida Federal permit, all in McKenzie County
• XTO (4): four Hartel permits in McKenzie County
• EOG (2): two Austin permits in Mountrail County
• Murex: a Barrett Leigh permit in Williams County
• Whiting: a Roggenbuck permit in Mountrail County
• Nine Point Energy: a little Muddy permit in Williams County

Six permits canceled:

• XTO (5): three Maddy Federal permits and two Cherry Creek State permits, all in McKenzie County
• Nine Point Energy: a little Muddy permit in Williams County

Three producing wells (DUCs) reported as completed:

• 31269, 1,857, Slawson, Torpedo Federal 1H, Big Bend, t12/18; cum --
• 31289, 1,778, Slawson, Bandit Federal 1 SLH, Big Bend, t12/18; cum --
• 31279, 3,794, Slawson, Rebel Federal 1 SLH, Big Bend, t12/18; cum --

State, Tribes Talking -- More Than What Is Happening In DC -- January 18, 2019

Link here.

When I get caught up, I will come back to this one.

The subject line will be seen as many as a jab at Trump-Shelosi. That is only partly accurate. The real story is that the reason the Bakken has been so successful is because all parties involved have worked hard to work together.

I would say the surface owners, perhaps, were the most negatively impacted, and yet, somehow things moved along. There are reasons why "the Bakken" could not have happened in France, New York, California, or British Columbia.

Back to the linked story:

North Dakota Republican legislative leaders unveiled a bill Thursday that aims to stop a longstanding disagreement over shared revenues on an oil-rich American Indian reservation in the state.

The bill sponsored by GOP Sen. Jordan Kannianen and the party's Senate and House majority leaders reworks a tax-sharing agreement that favors the Three Affiliated Tribes on new wells drilled on the Fort Berthold Reservation, which accounts for about a fifth of North Dakota's more than 1.3 million barrel-a-day oil production.

"It's a good, solid step," Tribal Chairman Mark Fox told The Associated Press of the measure. "We are very supportive of this change."

The legislation is the result of nearly two years of negotiations between tribal leaders, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum, legislative leaders, the state tax department and industry officials.

The Kannianen name should be familiar to regular readers of the blog. Who knows? Maybe someday a NoDak will be president of the US? Stranger things have happened.

I know nothing about the proposal, but the comment by Mark Fox was nice to see. Even if the proposal is not perfect, it appears folks are willing to talk.

Best News Canada Could Ever Receive -- Now, If Only They Could Get Their Pipelines Built -- January 18, 2019

Now I know the reason for the jump in the price of oil today. Regular readers know what this is all about. When I get caught up, I will come back to this.

From Reuters:

U.S. refiners are bidding up prices for scarce types of crude oil needed for their most sophisticated plants as the United States reconsiders harsher sanctions on Venezuela that could further reduce imports of the country's oil.

Trump administration officials in recent days met with U.S. oil company executives to lay out potential actions in response to the Jan. 10 inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in an election it considered illegitimate.

Among other steps, U.S. officials have recognized the opposition-run Venezuelan congress as the only legitimately elected authority. But the proposals that would most affect the energy industry involve banning U.S. exports of refined products or limiting oil imports - a move that, until now, the White House has not taken even after sanctioning individuals and barring access to U.S. banks.

This is very, very good news for Canada. Western Canadian shale oil now trades at its amallest discount to WTI in ten years. The discount: $10/bbl. Link here.

Having said that, it's complicated. Very complicated. Venezuela holding the better poker hand?

A contributor over at SeekingAlpha has another explanation but that article had to have been written some days ago. It's too long and detailed to have popped up after the Reuters link above. I could be wrong. But I doubt it. LOL.

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They're Watching

After the recent Gillette hullabaloo I checked out the stories on the net. Now, I'm getting non-stop ads for Harry's:

Harry's keeps looking better and better. My son-in-law switched years ago.

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UND Over At Oilprice

Speaking of ads. The University of North Dakota (UND) has ads on the oilprice.come website. 

NDIC Has Posted New Presentations -- January, 2019

NDIC presentations here.

Most recent presentations:

• House Energy Natural Resources Oil and Gas Update 01-10-2019 (PDF)
• House Appropriations Oil and Gas Update 01-04-2019 (PDF)

This One Ad Tells Me Things Continue To Boom In The Bakken -- January 18, 2019

can

422 1st Avenue West is the location of the Williston Job Service Center where the interviews will be held.

To the best of my knowledge, Boot Barn has not yet opened in Williston. Website. Maybe a reader knows the proposed location. If they're hiring; it must be close to opening.