NDIC Considers Bakken Crude Treatment

August 15, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

The North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) plans to hold a public hearing in the next few weeks to determine ways to reduce the volatility of Bakken crude before it is stored or transported.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported North Dakota officials are considering requiring oil & gas companies to treat Bakken crude before it is loaded onto trains. Stabilization, which is common in similar shale plays like the Ealge Ford Shale, is also being discussed among officials.

While some industry players argue Bakken crude shouldn't be subject to stabilization, a process by which the vapor pressure of crude oil is lowered, making it less volatile, they may not have a choice in the matter. According to the WSJ, the federal government has been weighing the idea of making stabilization a requirement.

Differing Opinions on Bakken Crude Volatility

In support of the argument for Bakken crude testing and possibly stabilization, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) released a report in July of this year saying crude oil from the Bakken region in North Dakota tends to be more volatile and flammable than other crude oils. During the same month, the Department of Transportation (DOT) also proposed phasing out older DOT-111 tank cars for the shipment of packing group I flammable liquids within two years.

By contrast, in May of this year, The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), an industry trade association, released findings from a study that examined the characteristics of Bakken crude oil. In their report, the AFPM claims Bakken crude is within the safety standards for current rail car designs (DOT 111 tank cars), and is comparable to other light crudes.

Continental Resources Bakken Production Up 11% in Q2 2014

August 13, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

Continental's Bakken production totaled 108,573 boe/d (North Dakota: 94,702 boe/d, Montana: 13,871 boe/d) in the second quarter of 2014. That's an increase of 11% quarter-on-quarter and 23% year-over-year.

During the quarter, the company completed 224 gross (93 net) wells in the Bakken, and finished the reporting period with an inventory of approximately 84 gross operated (66 net) Bakken wells drilled, but not completed. The second quarter drilling inventory numbers are down from 100 gross operated wells drilled, but not completed at the end of the first quarter of 2014. Continental expects to complete approximately 870 gross (287 net) wells in the Bakken in full-year 2014, including both operated and non-operated wells.

Continental Bakken New Completion Techniques Employed

The company continues to modify completion techniques. During the quarter, Continental conducted three slick water completions in an unspecified geological area of the play, which company officials say resulted in an average early cumulative production increase of 35% higher than the production trend for the company's 603,000 BOE estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) model for North Dakota. Additionally, in the same geological area, early production was also stronger for three wells completed with increased proppant volumes, which averaged between 200,000 to 300,000 pounds of proppant per stage.

“COO Rick Bott, said, “we’re pleased with several of the new completion methods we are testing and early results show significant improvements in well performance. We are studying the broader implications of applying enhanced completions across the play.”

Continental Bakken Well Tests Update

In 2013, Continental began testing different areas across the Bakken field to determine the optimum well density and pattern for maximizing recovery and returns. So far, the company has initiated seven density pilot projects, all designed to include the Middle Bakken ("MB") and Three Forks One, Two and Three across the company's approximately 1.2 million net acres of leasehold.

Three of these projects are testing 1,320-foot inter-well spacing and four are testing 660-foot inter-well spacing. Four of the projects have already been completed. Company officials indicate positive results from the first completed 660-foot inter-well spacing test:

Wahpeton (660 ft test); Initial Production (IP) rate for 12 wells in unit - 1,015 boe/d; IP rate for three MB wells in unit only - 1,730 boe/d

Three more projects testing the 660-foot inter-well spacing are in various stages of drilling or completion. The new wells are expected to be completed in the second half of 2014.

Bakken Shale Rig Count Increases by Five to 189

August 11, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

Magnum Hunter Resources Bakken Acreage Map

The Bakken-Three Forks rig count increased by five to 189 rigs running across our coverage area by the end of last week. The NDIC notes 193 rigs are active in North Dakota, but around 23 of those are in the process of moving in and rigging up.

In recent Bakken news, Magnum Hunter announced last week that the company will sell its Divide County, North Dakota operated/non-operated properties and reallocate resources to core operations in the Appalachian Basin. Baytex Energy, Continental Resources, or Samson Resources are all likely buyers for the acreage.

The U.S. rig count increased by 19 to 1,908 rigs running by the end of last week. A total of 316 rigs were targeting natural gas (three more than the previous week) and 1,588 were targeting oil in the U.S. (15 more than the previous week). The remainder were drilling service wells (e.g. disposal wells, injection wells, etc.). 191 rigs are running in the Williston Basin across MT, ND, and SD. 182 are in ND alone.

Not all rigs counted in our census are drilling for the Bakken, but it's close. The NDIC estimates 95% or more of activity in this region targets the Bakken and Three Forks formations.

Note: The NDIC reports 193 rigs are active in North Dakota. That is two more than Baker Hughes reports in the Bakken area, and 11 more than the company reports in North Dakota. The difference is likely accounted for in the number of rigs actually working, rigs that might not be serviced by Baker Hughes AND rigs in areas outside of the Bakken fairway. On any given week, a certain number of rigs are in route to the next well location or idle waiting to drill the next well. The NDIC notes that around 23 rigs are in the process of moving in and rigging up.

Bakken Oil & Gas Rigs

The number of oil rigs increased by five to 189 rigs running by the end of the week . WTI oil prices stayed relatively flat from the previous week, trading at $97.57/bbl on Friday afternoon. Williston Basin Sweet crude traded at $84.19/bbl on Aug. 7th. The WTI-Brent stayed flat, settling at ~$7 by the end of last week.

The natural gas rig count in the region held flat at zero. Natural gas futures (Henry Hub) were trading at $3.97/mmbtu by the end of last week. A little more than 10% of the production stream from the Bakken and Three Forks is attributable to natural gas and roughly half of that is NGLs.

McKenzie County continues to lead development with 65 rigs running. Dunn, Mountrail, and Williams counties are the only other counties with more than 20 rigs running each. View the full list below under the Bakken Drilling by County section.

Activity is dominated by horizontal drilling:

174 rigs are drilling horizontal wells
14 rigs are drilling directional wells
1 rig is drilling a vertical well

Bakken Oil & Gas News

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Bakken Drilling by County

What is the Rig Count?

The Bakken Shale Rig Count is an index of the total number of oil & gas drilling rigs running across Montana and North Dakota. The rigs referred to in this article are for ALL drilling reported by Baker Hughes and not solely wells targeting the Bakken formation. All land rigs and onshore rig data shown here are based upon industry estimates provided by the Baker Hughes Rig Count.

Magnum Hunter Decides to Exit North Dakota Bakken

August 8, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

In Magnum Hunter's second quarter report, the company announced its decision to sell its Divide County, North Dakota operated/non-operated properties and reallocate resources to core operations in the Appalachian Basin. Baytex Energy, Continental Resources, or Samson Resources are all likely buyers for the acreage.

Magnum Hunter currently holds 102,000 net acres in Divide County, with an additional 50,000 net acres in Canada. Across its Williston Basin assets (152,000 net acres), the company currently has 255 gross producing wells.

Magnum Hunter Bakken Operations Update

During the second quarter of 2014, Magnum Hunter participated in 13 gross (2.4 net) wells and the completion of six gross (1.3 net) wells in Divide County. Magnum Hunter's Q2 upstream capex in the Bakken amounted to $33.2-million.

At the end of June, operators of Magnum Hunter's non-operated properties in Divide County electrified ~113 gross wells and tied in approximately 183 gross wells into the Oneok, Inc. gas gathering system. Magnum Hunter officials say production and revenues from the gathering of associated gas from the tied-in wells are growing monthly.

Bakken Major Contributor to EOG's Production Growth in Q2

August 6, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

In its second quarter report, EOG Resources said the Bakken and Eagle Ford Shale plays were major contributors to EOG's overall production growth.

EOG's U.S. crude oil production grew 33% year-over-year and associated natural gas liquids NGLs grew 22% year-over-year.

See below for EOG's U.S. production volumes for the quarter:

Crude Oil and Condensate - 274,600 b/d
NGLs - 78,500 b/d
Natural Gas - 925 MMcfd

The company said most of its activity was focused on its core acreage in Mountrail County during the quarter. According to company officials, well productivity improved due to continued refinements in completion designs.

In EOG's first-quarter report, the company indicated its activity in the Bakken would nearly double. So far, the company is on track to hit their target goal.

EOG Bakken Second Quarter Operations Update

Three Core wells were completed during the second quarter in Mountrail County:

Wayzetta 43-0311H - 1,505 b/d
Wayzetta 44-0311H - 2,410 b/d
Wayzetta 45-0311H - 2,690 b/d

EOG says it plans to drill several Three Forks wells to test various benches of this play on both its core and Antelope extension acreage during the remainder of 2014. Currently, the company has a six rig program running in the Bakken, and 80 net wells planned for the full-year.