Whiting Petroleum's Hidden Bench area yielded a well that produced more than 2,800 boe/d in McKenzie County, ND. The well, the Timber Creek 21-27H, was one of many highlights in the company's third quarter conference call.

The company is now producing over 84,000 boe/d and 73% is attributable to the Rockies region, with more than 60% attributable to the Bakken. Considering only development since 2009, Whiting has been the largest Bakken and Three Fork producer in North Dakota over the past 12 months.

James Volker commented:

"We are generating exceptional results from our Three Forks drilling operations, as we continue development of our Sanish Field. Highlighting recent results was the completion of the Mildred Roggenbuck 41-24TFX well. This cross-unit well was drilled on the western side of the field and was completed flowing 1,695 boe/d.

At our Pronghorn prospect, we show a sampling of our typical strong well results. The Solberg 14-11PH flowed 1,825 boe/d. Two pad wells, the Buckman 34-9PH and the Buckman 44-9PH, flowed 1,964 boe/d and 1,545 boe/d, respectively. All 3 wells were completed in the Pronghorn Sand."

The company is also targeting the Red River formation at the Big Island Prospect. Over 500 vertical well locations have been identified using 3-D seismic. Wells are expected to yield 200,000-300,000 boe EURs at a cost of $3-3.5 million. The most recent completion flowed at over 300 boe/d from the upper Red River D zone. An additional horizontal test well in the lower Red River D is planned for 2013.

As 2013 approaches, expect Whiting to begin discussing operational efficiency in more detail. The company's Sanish rigs are drilling 15 wells per year, while the rest of the company's rigs are drilling closer to 10 wells per year. If wells per rig grows to 15 outside of the Sanish area, expect Whiting to realize significant operational savings.

Whiting's Bakken Midstream Assets Grow

Whiting also continues to expand on the ground in North Dakota.

• A Watford City office is 90% complete
• Robinson Lake Gas Plant's inlet gas rate increased 10% to 69 mmcfd
• Belfield Gas Plant reached a record rate of 15 mmcfd in July
• Two new gas plant projects were initiated in the quarter
• Belfield Oil Terminal will be in service late November
• Volumes in the Belfield Gathering System increased to 7,000 b/d in Q3