Director, NDIC, Comments On December's Bakken Production

Kent alerted me to this article.

The Fargo Forum is reporting:

The state produced 768,853 barrels per day in December, a 4.6 percent increase from the previous month and a new all-time high, according to preliminary figures from the department.

Director Lynn Helms said the state added 123 new producing wells in December, enough to increase production as well as make up for November’s 2 percent drop in production, the first decline the state reported in 19 months.

Again, as noted earlier, a new metric:

Helms said he now can estimate that it takes about 90 new wells per month to sustain North Dakota’s current oil production and 100 or more new wells per month to increase production.

He also noted that he thinks rig count will increase in the spring:

Major operators in North Dakota have indicated they plan to bring 15 more drilling rigs into the state, likely beginning in May or June, Helms said.

That would increase the number of drilling rigs from Friday’s count of 182 to approximately 200. The record rig count was set in May 2012 at 218 rigs.

But most interesting, regarding the backlog of 413 wells that need to be completed (fracked) and referred to as "idle wells":

This spring, Helms said he expects to see more fracking crews mobilizing to catch up and reduce the idle well count to closer to 200.

At the link he also spoke about flaring, which I have noted earlier. 

Winter Cold: Same Old Same Old

Wind chill in Washington, DC, for the "global warming" march on the White House: 16 degrees F (-9 C). Well below freezing.

And I see another winter storm developing over the Bakken:

A storm system in the Northern Plains will produce snow and strong winds across portions of eastern Montana, the Dakotas and Minnesota through Monday. Winds will gust up to 45 mph in this area, with blowing snow contributing to blizzard conditions. Travel across this region will be hazardous with reduced visibilities and snow-covered roads. 

This link is a dynamic link and will change.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional weather person, and this is not a weather-related site. Do not make any changes in your travel plans or book ski tickets based on what you read here.

Daytona 500: History Is Made -- Danica Patrick Has The Pole Position

Jeff Gordon also in the front row.

WAWS Water At 13-Mile Corner

CRC provided the link.

Great story. KFYR out of Bismarck reporting:

The demand for water is bigger than ever in western North Dakota, as residential and industrial growth continues to flourish. Thanks to some unique water depots, help is officially on the way. These depots are part of the Western Area Water Supply Project being installed throughout the western half of the state. Unlike most state-run projects, this one is being paid for by the oil industry.

Water is for sale at the 13 Mile Corner and area truckers couldn't be happier.

"Oh this is extremely helpful having this here, it really shortens the distance us truck drivers have to go for water and it makes our turnaround so much faster," said truck driver Rick Ingraham.

Go to the link for some interesting additional data points.

This is a very big story; lots of implications. Key phrase in the article: "state-of-the-art" water depots.

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This really was my favorite album at the time it came out:

Wah-Wah, George Harrison

A Nice Human Interest Story: From Riding The Rails to Working on the Rails

The Dickinson Press is reporting:

Scott Steskal hitched rides on freight trains to get to North Dakota’s oil boom.

Now the 51-year-old drives a train at a crude oil transloading facility and is getting his life on the right track.

“Until I got up here, my life was pretty much a wreck,” he said.

Steskal was living in Las Vegas with no job and no transportation when family members encouraged him to look into job opportunities in North Dakota.

He researched how to ride freight trains and found someone to mentor him on how to do it safely.

Steskal left Las Vegas in December 2010 and became what he calls a tramp, hopping on and off freight trains through several states to travel north. People he met during his trip gave him the “track name” of Jesse James.

Go to the link for the rest of the story.

But "researched how to ride freight trains....." that alone probably got him the job.

Don sent me the link. Much appreciated.