North Dakota fracking falls behind

Fracking Backlog in North Dakota

Whiting in the Bakken-water recycling

Whiting inks Bakken water-recycle deal

Snapshot of the Boom in the Bakken-MSNBC

Even though I hesitate to put up tv broadcasts, this one seems to be less biased then most.  Actual footage from the heart of the Bakken, Williston, ND, shows the new normal for the region. Sorry for the ads.

MSNBC- Rock...Bakken Boomtown

Bakken may get a new operator

Brigham followers might be interested to see that Statoil is looking to buy. A major focus for Statoil is the large footprint Brigham has in the Bakken.
Statoil buys Texas-based Brigham for $4.4B

Another Bakken Pipeline in the works-Natural Gas

Enbridge, Veresen to build Bakken natural gas pipeline

North Dakota's Bakken formation pours out the oil.

North Dakota oil output soars

Vaalco closes Bakken deal

Vaalco closes Bakken deal

GMX eyes more Bakken-Three Forks wells

GMX eyes more Bakken-Three Forks wells - Upstream Online

GMX Resources Reports completion of Three Forks Horizontal well

Quick snapshot of the activity in GMX Reources near future. (including Bakken, Three Forks, & Niobrara)  Find it interesting that they may be entertaining the sale of some Niobrara assets.  Check it out:
GMX Resources

The Impact of Oil in a small town

I really like the piece below.  Its one those that makes you stop and think, but only if you are paying attention. Western North Dakota is in the middle of a oil boom, that's no question, but how it is handling the impact is the part I like to watch.  Most people through out the US still haven't heard about what is going on here, and even when they do know about the Bakken I have heard several people comment in surprise in just how busy it is here when they see it for themselves.  It has become a sport for the original residents to learn to go about normal life and try to accommodate their new neighbors moving in, whether temporary or permanent.  It gives me a small smile to see the writer of the article counting plates, vehicle type, and navigating Wal-Marts long lines. I know that will be coffee conversation at the local cafe after I share it with my grandfather. That is however how rural ND discusses what is happening to its community and works to make a very chaotic time manageable and more efficient.

Sunday Night at Walmart - Million Dollar Way

Bakken producers getting on board with the Frac Focus Chemical Registry

Moving to rural North Dakota and going without Internet for two months has had some big challenges.  The first of course is my inability to update my blog and keep my readers feed.  The second biggest challenge I have faced is the lack of relevant information in hard copy to keep myself up to date on what is going on outside the region in the industry.
I have however found some small surprises in the my absence, for example the Frac Focus Chemical Registry has grown in that time.  After hitting the website today I am happy to find that North Dakota does have wells on the search database. A huge improvement from just a few short months ago. My quick count came up with seven producers in the region listing.  I did a little checking and it appears that Wyoming is at about the same pace on their participation.  Montana is still moving a little slower with only XTO Energy listing a single well, but since the focus has been less on Montana until recent months I think that will change as well.

For anyone interested in the website and if there is anything in your area, please check out:

Frac Focus Chemical Registry

Bakken conditions improve - barely

The Bakken just can't seem to catch a break from mother nature this year.  With a year that opened up with large amounts of snow all the way till May 1st, now the water is taking over.  Flooded locations, sinking equipment, and muddy roads have remained all spring.  The evidence the wet sloppy region can be seen everywhere. In Williams County ND county officials even called a halt to large truck traffic in the region. Williston Herald - Online Edition
The roads just are not able to take any more strain in most areas.  However what may strain them has also helped provide the necessary resources to repair them.  In many counties funds are near exhausted from snow removal, but producers are coming to the rescue by helping haul or provide materials for the repairs.  This not only keeps them in the field producing, but has allowed stranded farmers and ranchers to get out.
There are even areas around the Bakken where road conditions are so bad the whole road is shut down.  This is the case with ND HWY 22, a main through way for the supplies, crews, and oil transportation in western ND. Here it is completely at mother natures mercy that the hwy has been buckled up to an impassable condition.
ND HWY 22 Closed - Dickinson Press

Samson Oil and Gas

New updates for the North Stockyard Field and the Hawks Springs project.
Samson Oil and Gas Update 06-03-11

Samson Oil and Gas Operational Update Released

The following link contains information from May 26th, 2011 on Samson's Everett #1-15H and Earl #1-13H in the Bakken, and the Defender US 33 #2-29H in the Niobrara formation.

Samson Oil and Gas Update 05/26/2011

TWMA signs Hess Dakota deal

TWMA signs Hess Dakota deal - Upstream Online

Bakken producers take another hit

Just when it looked like producers in the Bakken region were reading to hit the ground running for the warm months, mother nature throws a wrench. Blizzard stops Bakken

Rig updates in the Bakken -MonDak Oilfield Review

If your looking for a quick update on the Bakken rig counts this is the link for you.
Rock and Roll Roughneck- MonDak Oilfield Review

Linn Energy posts Acquisition agreements totaling $637 million

Linn Energy will enter a new operating area with its acquisition in the Williston Basin Bakken at $196 million and also two bolt-on acquisitions for $163 million.  In the Permian Basin, Linn Energy completed two additional bolt on acquisitions totalling $238 million.  Linn Energy Q1 2011 Results

Muddy roads, reserve pits flooding main problems in oil field

I posted up a picture earlier of the flooding on just one location in the Bakken. 

Here is a quick article from the Minot Daily News about the effects on the oil industry.
Muddy roads, reserve pits flooding main problems in oil field - MinotDailyNews.com News, sports, business, jobs - Minot Daily News

Chesapeake updates.

It appears that there is some info on Chesapeake that I had not been aware of pertaining to Chesapeake assets in the Bakken.  It is still not clear if the assets actually pertain to the Bakken, but it would appear that they have acquired acreage in North Dakota.  I did a little research and did find information an the wells that Chesapeake currently had in the area.  The most current status update was in 2002 according to the ND Oil and Gas Commission.  All I can say is that I have found a new research project for the week.  In the meantime readers can get more information be going to one of my favorite blogs on the Bakken at Million Dollar Way - Something Big in Bakken....