The Bakken Is The Real Deal -- Moratorium on Man-Camps -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

I was out in the Bakken today and hope to have more pictures posted by the end of the week.

If anyone doubts the "reality" of the Bakken, he/she needs to take a drive around the area. The unit trains themselves are incredibly impressive, and they haven't even built all the crude-by-rail loading facilities. My dad could not believe the number of tank cars -- stretching a long, long way, and often side-by-side on sidings. Even in the areas that are "slow" -- like the area around Sidney, Montana -- is busy, busy, busy.

I was told that Harold Hamm, CLR/CEO bought almost 100,000 shares of CLR stock last week (September 8 - 9, 2011); I haven't had time to find the link, but it's a very credible source. Trust me.

It is so busy in the Bakken, Williams County commissioners finally had to put a moratorium on man-camps. I have mixed feelings on that, but I'm not going to wade into this issue. There are issues on all sides.

Back to Tying the Record: 201 Active Drilling Rigs in North Dakota -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

The subject line says it all.

Looking to set a new record by the end of next week.

And while North Dakota ties its record, the US overall dropped 10 rigs in most recent reporting period. 

This Is A Rarity: A Page Full of Permits and No New Wells Reporting -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

tiThis is very, very unusual -- a page full of new permits and not one bit of other news: something tells me NDIC got behind a bit and will be playing catch up during the week. In addition, permits for two 4-well pads.

Daily activity report -- September 12, 2011 --

Operators: Burlington Resources (4), CLR (4), Hess (3)

Fields: Murphy Creek, Elm Tree and Ray

BR has permits for a 4-well pad in Murphy Creek; CLR has permits for a 4-well pad in Elm Tree.

Hess has two permits in Ray oil field, and one in Murphy Creek.

There was absolutely nothing else in today's daily activity report.

Huge Apology -- I Was So Busy in the Bakken Today -- No Chance To Post Until Now

This is a huge apology. I was so busy in the Bakken today that I was unable to get to any new posts today.

I really apologize for not warning folks ahead of time. It may be much the same during the week. I never knew I would be so busy after coming back to the Bakken.

I will spend the next couple of hours catching up.

Be patient.

Analysis of the Cost of Regulation and Tax Policy on the US Domestic Energy Program

Wood Mackenzie released an analysis of the cost of government regulation on the US energy industry.

There is nothing in the general sense that "we" did not already know, but the specifics are very helpful.

It will remain linked at the "Data Link" page.