North Dakota Energy

Congress Seeks Keystone XL Decision Deadline

2011-05-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

Congressional Republicans are pushing legislation that would give President Barack Obama until Nov. 1 to decide whether to grant or to deny a permit for the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline. At a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing today, they argued that bringing Canadian tar sands crude into the United States would help lower gasoline prices and urged the administration to promptly approve the pipeline project. Read more...

New Active Rig Record

2011-05-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

According to the North Dakota Industrial Commission's Oil and Gas Division website, the state's active rig count at the close of business today stood at 179, a new record. The previous record of 178 was set earlier this month. In comments made to the Associated Press today, North Dakota's mineral resources director Lynn Helms predicted six rigs per month will be moving into the Williston Basin over the next several months. Helms predicted the active rig count will approach 225 by the end of the year.

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/article_03ac9650-8543-11e0-8696-001cc4c03286.html

USGS Agrees to Update Bakken Assessment

2011-05-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced that the U.S. Geological Survey will update its 2008 estimate of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas in the U.S. portion of the Bakken Formation, an important domestic petroleum resource located in North Dakota and Montana.

“The Administration supports safe and responsible oil and gas production as part of our nation’s comprehensive energy portfolio,” Salazar said. “We must develop our resources armed with the best science available, and with wells drilled in the Bakken during the past three years, there is significant new geological information. With ever-advancing production technologies, this could mean more oil could potentially be recovered in the formation.”

The 2008 USGS assessment estimated 3.0 to 4.3 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil in the U.S. portion of the Bakken Formation, elevating it to a “world-class” accumulation. The estimate had a mean value of 3.65 billion barrels. The USGS routinely conducts updates to oil and gas assessments when significant new information is available, such as new understanding of a resource basin’s geology or when advances in technology occur for drilling and production.

The 2008 Bakken Formation estimate was larger than all other current USGS oil assessments of the lower 48 states and is the largest "continuous" oil accumulation ever assessed by the USGS. A "continuous” or "unconventional" oil accumulation means that the oil resource is dispersed throughout a geologic formation rather than existing as discrete, localized occurrences, such as those in conventional accumulations. Unconventional resources require special technical drilling and recovery methods.

“The new scientific information presented to us from technical experts clearly warrants a new resource assessment of the Bakken,” said USGS Energy Resources Program Coordinator Brenda Pierce. “The new information is significant enough for the evaluation to begin sooner than it normally would. It is important to look at this resource and its potential contribution to the national energy portfolio.”

The 2008 USGS assessment showed a 25-fold increase in the amount of technically recoverable oil as compared to the agency's 1995 estimate of 151 million barrels of oil. New geologic models applied to the Bakken Formation, advances in drilling and production technologies, and additional oil discoveries resulted in these substantially larger technically recoverable oil volumes. About 135 million barrels of oil were produced from the Bakken between 1953 and 2008; 36 million barrels in 2008 alone. According to state statistics, oil production from the Bakken in North Dakota has steadily increased from about 28 million barrels in 2008, to 50 million barrels in 2009 to approximately 86 million barrels in 2010.

“The Bakken Formation is producing an ever-increasing amount of oil for domestic consumption while providing increasing royalty revenues to American Indian tribes and individual Indian mineral owners in North Dakota and Montana,” Salazar noted. Interior agencies have been working closely, for example, with the Three Affiliated Tribes (the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara) and individual Indian mineral owners on the Ft. Berthold Reservation in North Dakota to facilitate this development.

Technically recoverable oil resources are those producible using currently available technology and industry practices. USGS is the only provider of publicly available estimates of undiscovered technically recoverable oil and gas resources.

The new update effort will be a standard assessment task under the existing USGS National Oil and Gas Assessment. It will begin in October 2011, at the start of the 2012 fiscal year. Depending on funding, it is expected to take two years to complete. Drilling and production will continue while the USGS conducts its assessment update.

Source: USGS press release

Drilling Permits - May 19

2011-05-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

Source: North Dakota Industrial Commission

#20909 - BRIGHAM OIL & GAS, L.P., BARSTAD 23-14 #3H, SWSE 23-156N-93W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 450' FSL and 2290' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, ALGER, 'Tight Hole', 2326' Ground, API #33-061- 01761

#20910 - SINCLAIR OIL AND GAS COMPANY, NELSON 2-25H, SWSW 25-155N-90W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 335' FSL and 1315' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, PARSHALL, 'Tight Hole', 2171' Ground, API #33-061-01762

#20911 - WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION, KUBAS 41-13TFH, NENE 13-140N-99W, STARK CO., 325' FNL and 660' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, BELL, 20342', 9-5/8 " - 2050', 2568' Ground, API #33-089-00639, (Approved : 5/19/2011)

#20912 - WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION, DULETSKI 11-16TFH, NWNW 16-139N-99W, STARK CO., 350' FNL and 500' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, GAYLORD, 20232', 9-5/8 " - 2050', 2637' Ground, API #33-089-00640, (Approved : 5/19/2011)

#20913 - HESS CORPORATION, EN-REHAK A-155-94- 1423H-1, NENE 14-155N-94W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 590' FNL and 1230' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, MANITOU, 'Tight Hole', 2247' Ground, API #33-061-01763

#20914 - HESS CORPORATION, EN-REHAK A-155-94- 1423H-2, NWNE 14-155N-94W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 590' FNL and 1330' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, MANITOU, 'Tight Hole', 2249' Ground, API #33-061-01764

#20915 - PETRO-HUNT, L.L.C., FORT BERTHOLD 150-94-3B-10-2H, LOT4 3-150N-94W, MCKENZIE CO., 396' FNL and 1199' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, SPOTTED HORN, 'Tight Hole', 2267' Ground, API #33-053-03623

#20916 - PETRO-HUNT, L.L.C., FORT BERTHOLD 151-94-34C-27-2H, NWNW 3-150N-94W, MCKENZIE CO., 362' FNL and 1163' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, ANTELOPE, 'Tight Hole', 2272' Ground, API #33-053-03624

#20917 - ENERPLUS RESOURCES USA CORPORATION, LIKES EAGLE #2-31H, LOT2 2-148N-95W, DUNN CO., 250' FNL and 1320' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, EAGLE NEST, 'Tight Hole', 2441' Ground, API #33-025-01388

Drilling Permits - May 18

2011-05-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

Source: North Dakota Industrial Commission

#20896 - SLAWSON EXPLORATION COMPANY, INC., PROBE 1-19-30HMB, NWNE 19-157N-91W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 350' FNL and 1430' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, KITTLESON SLOUGH, 'Tight Hole', 2226' Ground, API #33-061-01755

#20897 - SLAWSON EXPLORATION COMPANY, INC., SCOUT 1-18-7H, NWNE 19-157N-91W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 250' FNL and 1430' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, KITTLESON SLOUGH, 'Tight Hole', 2229' Ground, API #33-061-01756

#20898 - CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC., JERRY 1-8H, SWSE 8-151N-100W, MCKENZIE CO., 200' FSL and 1980' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, POE, 'Tight Hole', 2158' Ground, API #33-053-03619

#20899 - BRIGHAM OIL & GAS, L.P., ELDRIDGE 29-20 #1-H, SWSW 29-152N-104W, MCKENZIE CO., 240' FSL and 855' FWL, DEV., BRIAR CREEK, 'Tight Hole', 1895' Ground, API #33-053-03620

#20900 - BRIGHAM OIL & GAS, L.P., HERMAN JOHNSON 32-5 #1-H, SWSW 29-152N-104W, MCKENZIE CO., 240' FSL and 830' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, BRIAR CREEK, 'Tight Hole', 1895' Ground, API #33-053-03621

#20901 - HESS CORPORATION, EN-WEYRAUCH B-154-93- 3031H-1, SWSE 19-154N-93W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 370' FSL and 2480' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, ROBINSON LAKE, 'Tight Hole', 2258' Ground, API #33-061-01757

#20902 - HESS CORPORATION, EN-WEYRAUCH B-154-93- 3031H-2, SWSE 19-154N-93W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 370' FSL and 2530' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, ROBINSON LAKE, 'Tight Hole', 2258' Ground, API #33-061-01758

#20903 - DENBURY ONSHORE, LLC, LOOMER 21-4SWH, LOT3 4-150N-99W, MCKENZIE CO., 250' FNL and 2200' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, TOBACCO GARDEN, 'Tight Hole', 2224' Ground, API #33-053-03622

#20904 - SAMSON RESOURCES COMPANY, CALISTOGA 18-7-161-92H, NWNE 19-161N-92W, BURKE CO., 242' FNL and 2243' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, BLACK SLOUGH, 'Tight Hole', 2443' Ground, API #33-013-01575

#20905 - SAMSON RESOURCES COMPANY, SONOMA 19-30-161-92H, NWNE 19-161N-92W, BURKE CO., 242' FNL and 2293' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, FOOTHILLS, 'Tight Hole', 2442' Ground, API #33-013-01576

#20906 - XTO ENERGY INC., ARLEY 21X-18, NENW 18-154N-96W, WILLIAMS CO., 230' FNL and 2215' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, GRINNELL, 'Tight Hole', 1907' Ground, API #33-105-02214

#20907 - BRIGHAM OIL & GAS, L.P., BARSTAD 23-14 #1-H, SWSE 23-156N-93W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 450' FSL and 2340' FEL, DEV., ALGER, 'Tight Hole', 2324' Ground, API #33-061-01759

#20908 - BRIGHAM OIL & GAS, L.P., BARSTAD 23-14 #2H, SWSE 23-156N-93W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 450' FSL and 2315' FEL, DEV., ALGER, 'Tight Hole', 2325' Ground, API #33-061-01760

Drilling Permits - May 16

2011-05-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

Source: North Dakota Industrial Commission

#20884 - WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION, BARTLESON 12-18TFH, LOT2 18-153N-92W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 1350' FNL and 400' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, SANISH, 20516', 9-5/8 " - 2000', 2102' Ground, API #33-061-01754, (Approved : 5/16/2011)

#20885 - NEWFIELD PRODUCTION COMPANY, CHRISTOPHERSON 156-99-2-11-1H, LOT3 2-156N-99W, WILLIAMS CO., 300' FNL and 2500' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, EAST FORK, 'Tight Hole', 2241' Ground, API #33-105-02213

#20886 - EOG RESOURCES, INC., CLARKS CREEK 101-1819H, NENW 18-151N-94W, MCKENZIE CO., 329' FNL and 2074' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, CLARKS CREEK, 20527', 9-5/8 " - 1719', 2235' Ground, API #33-053-03612, (Approved : 5/16/2011)

#20887 - EOG RESOURCES, INC., CLARKS CREEK 13-1806H, NENW 18-151N-94W, MCKENZIE CO., 367' FNL and 2106' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, CLARKS CREEK, 21250', 9-5/8 " - 1719', 2235' Ground, API #33-053-03613, (Approved : 5/16/2011)

#20888 - EOG RESOURCES, INC., CLARKS CREEK 14-1819H, NENW 18-151N-94W, MCKENZIE CO., 404' FNL and 2139' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, CLARKS CREEK, 20491', 9-5/8 " - 1719', 2233' Ground, API #33-053-03614, (Approved : 5/16/2011)

#20889 - WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION, HENRY STATE 24-36H, SESW 36-143N-105W, GOLDEN VALLEY CO., 260' FSL and 1425' FWL, WC, WILDCAT, 20150', 9-5/8 " - 2000', 2597' Ground, API #33-033-00305, (Approved : 5/16/2011)

Drilling Permits - May 13

2011-05-13T15:06:00.001-07:00

Source: North Dakota Industrial Commission

#20881 - WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION, HAGEY 14-13XH, SWSW 13-154N-92W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 1150' FSL and 250' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, SANISH, 20206', 9-5/8 " - 2200', 2384' Ground, API #33-061-01752, (Approved : 5/13/2011)

#20882 - WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION, ARNDT 12-24TFH, SWNW 24-154N-92W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 1350' FNL and 400' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, SANISH, 20272', 9-5/8 " - 2300', 2416' Ground, API #33-061-01753, (Approved : 5/13/2011)

#20883 - ENERPLUS RESOURCES USA CORPORATION, HANS #20-21H, NENW 20-148N-93W, DUNN CO., 260' FNL and 1580' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, MCGREGORY BUTTES, 'Tight Hole', 2282' Ground, API #33-025-01387

Keystone Spill Update

2011-05-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

According to a report in today's Bismarck Tribune, TransCanada Corp has resumed shipping crude oil on its Keystone pipeline and expects to be up to full capacity in several days. The Tribune also reported that North Dakota's Public Service Commission has voted to conduct a formal investigation of the 14,000-gallon spill near Milnor that led to this week's closure of the pipeline which runs from Alberta to Illinois and Oklahoma. Read more...

Chu Announces Fracking Study Group

2011-05-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced a group of environmental, industry and state regulatory experts who will make recommendations to improve the safety and environmental performance of natural gas hydraulic fracturing from shale formations - harnessing a vital domestic energy resource while ensuring the safety of our drinking water and the health of the environment. President Obama directed Secretary Chu to convene this group as part of the President's "Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future" - a comprehensive plan to reduce America's oil dependence, save consumers money, and make our country the leader in clean energy industries.

"America's vast natural gas resources can generate many new jobs and provide significant environmental benefits, but we need to ensure we harness these resources safely," said Secretary Chu. "I am looking forward to hearing from this diverse, respected group of experts on best practices for safe and responsible natural gas production."

A group of highly respected experts with experience in industry, environmental groups and state regulatory agencies will form a subcommittee of the Secretary of Energy's Advisory Board to conduct the review, and will work to identify, within 90 days of beginning their work, any immediate steps that can be taken to improve the safety and environmental performance of hydraulic fracturing. They will also develop, within six months of beginning their work, consensus recommended advice to the agencies on practices for shale extraction to ensure the protection of public health and the environment.

Membership of the group includes:

John Deutch, Institute Professor at MIT (Chair)

John Deutch served as Director of Energy Research, Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Technology and Under Secretary of Energy for the U.S. Department of Energy in the Carter Administration and Undersecretary of Acquisition & Technology, Deputy Secretary of Defense and Director of Central Intelligence during the first Clinton Administration. Dr. Deutch also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Raytheon and Cheniere Energy and is a past director of Citigroup, Cummins Engine Company and Schlumberger. A chemist who has published more than 140 technical papers in physical chemistry, he has been a member of the MIT faculty since 1970, and has served as Chairman of the Department of Chemistry, Dean of Science and Provost.

Stephen Holditch, Head of the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University

Stephen Holditch serves as Head of Texas A&M's Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering and serves on the Boards of Directors of Triangle Petroleum Corporation and Matador Resources Corporation Texas. In 1977, Dr. Holditch founded S.A. Holditch & Associates, a petroleum technology consulting firm which provided analysis of low permeability gas reservoirs and designed hydraulic fracture treatments. He served as president of the company until it was bought by Schlumberger in 1997. Dr. Holditch has worked for Schlumberger, Shell Oil Company and Pan American Petroleum Corporation.

Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund

Fred Krupp has overseen the growth of EDF into a recognized worldwide leader in the environmental movement. Krupp is widely acknowledged as the foremost champion of harnessing market forces for environmental ends. He also helped launch a corporate coalition, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, whose Fortune 500 members - Alcoa, GE, DuPont and dozens more - have called for strict limits on global warming pollution. Mr. Krupp is coauthor, with Miriam Horn, of New York Times Best Seller, Earth: The Sequel. Educated at Yale and the University of Michigan Law School, Krupp was among 16 people named as America's Best Leaders by U.S. News and World Report in 2007.

Kathleen McGinty, Former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Kathleen McGinty is a respected environmental leader, having served as President Clinton's Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and Legislative Assistant and Environment Advisor to then-Senator Al Gore. More recently, she served as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and as Chair of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority. Ms. McGinty is Senior Vice President of Weston Solutions, Inc. and a Director at NRG Energy.

Susan Tierney, Managing Principal, Analysis Group

Susan Tierney is chairman of the Board of the Energy Foundation, and serves on the Boards of Directors of the World Resources Institute and the Clean Air Task Force. Until recently, she was a co-chair of the National Commission on Energy Policy. Currently, she chairs the National Petroleum Council Policy Subgroup's study of North American natural gas and oil resources. Dr. Tierney served as Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department Energy during the Clinton Administration. In Massachusetts, she served as Secretary of Environmental Affairs, Chair of the Board of the Massachusetts Water Resources Agency, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and executive director of the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Council.

Daniel Yergin, Chairman, IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates

Daniel Yergin is the co-founder and chairman of IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates. He is a member of the Board of the United States Energy Association and a member of the U.S. National Petroleum Council. He has chaired the U.S. Department of Energy's Task Force on Strategic Energy Research and Development. Dr. Yergin is also CNBC's Global Energy Expert and the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power.

Mark Zoback, Professor of Geophysics, Stanford University

Mark Zoback is the Benjamin M. Page Professor of Geophysics at Stanford University. He was co-principal investigator of the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth project (SAFOD) and has been serving on a National Academy of Engineering committee investigating the Deepwater Horizon accident. He was the chairman and co-founder of GeoMechanics International and serves as a senior adviser to Baker Hughes, Inc. Prior to joining Stanford University, he served as chief of the Tectonophysics Branch of the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.

Source: DOE press release

Drilling Permits - May 12

2011-05-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Source: North Dakota Industrial Commission

#20871 - PETRO-HUNT, L.L.C., FORT BERTHOLD 148-94-9D-04-2H, SESE 9-148N-94W, DUNN CO., 245' FSL and 690' FEL, DEV., EAGLE NEST, 'Tight Hole', 2469' Ground, API #33-025-01383

#20872 - OASIS PETROLEUM NORTH AMERICA LLC, BORDEN FEDERAL 5300 24-34H, SENE 34-153N-100W, WILLIAMS CO., 1600' FNL and 250' FEL, WC, WILDCAT, 21106', 9-5/8 " - 1960', 1945' Ground, API #33-105-02209, (Approved : 5/12/2011)

#20873 - HESS CORPORATION, IM-STATE A-158-90- 36H-1, NENW 36-158N-90W, MOUNTRAIL CO., 240' FNL and 1760' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, CLEAR WATER, 'Tight Hole', 2274' Ground, API #33-061-01751

#20874 - NORTH PLAINS ENERGY, LLC, OPPEGAARD 9-9H, NESE 9-154N-97W, WILLIAMS CO., 1828' FSL and 408' FEL, DEV., WEST CAPA, 'Tight Hole', 1967' Ground, API #33-105-02210

#20875 - NORTH PLAINS ENERGY, LLC, VANCE FEDERAL 9-8H, NWSW 9-154N-97W, WILLIAMS CO., 1569' FSL and 571' FWL, DEV., TRUAX, 'Tight Hole', 2135' Ground, API #33-105-02211

#20876 - PETRO-HUNT, L.L.C., FORT BERTHOLD 148-94-27D-22-2H, SESE 27-148N-94W, DUNN CO., 485' FSL and 660' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, MCGREGORY BUTTES, 20372', 9-5/8 " - 2339', 2220' Ground, API #33-025-01384, (Approved : 5/12/2011)

#20877 - BRIGHAM OIL & GAS, L.P., GATHMAN 30-19 #1-H, SESW 30-154N-102W, WILLIAMS CO., 300' FSL and 1320' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, PAINTED WOODS, 'Tight Hole', 2218' Ground, API #33-105-02212

#20878 - SM ENERGY COMPANY, LEGAARD 4-25H, NWNW 25-163N-101W, DIVIDE CO., 220' FNL and 1300' FWL, WC, WILDCAT, 'Tight Hole', 2193' Ground, API #33-023-00728

#20879 - PETRO-HUNT, L.L.C., FORT BERTHOLD 147-94-1A-12-2H, NENE 1-147N-94W, DUNN CO., 400' FNL and 233' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, MCGREGORY BUTTES, 'Tight Hole', 2186' Ground, API #33-025-01385

#20880 - PETRO-HUNT, L.L.C., FORT BERTHOLD 148-94-36D-25-2H , NENE 1-147N-94W, DUNN CO., 300' FNL and 233' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, MCGREGORY BUTTES, 'Tight Hole', 2183' Ground, API #33-025-01386

Drilling Permits - May 11

2011-05-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

Source: North Dakota Industrial Commission

#20863 - OASIS PETROLEUM NORTH AMERICA LLC, FOLEY FEDERAL 5301 43-12H, SWSE 12-153N-101W, MCKENZIE CO., 250' FSL and 1827' FEL, WC, WILDCAT, 20522', 9-5/8 " - 2045', 2074' Ground, API #33-053-03608, (Approved : 5/11/2011)

#20864 - OASIS PETROLEUM NORTH AMERICA LLC, BRAY 5301 43-12H, SWSE 12-153N-101W, MCKENZIE CO., 250' FSL and 1927' FEL, WC, WILDCAT, 21107', 9-5/8 " - 2045', 2078' Ground, API #33-053-03609, (Approved : 5/11/2011)

#20865 - OXY USA INC., OXY 160-91-10-4-P-2H, SESE 4-160N-91W, BURKE CO., 387' FSL and 1035' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, DIMOND, 'Tight Hole', 2344' Ground, API #33-013-01574

#20866 - PETRO-HUNT, L.L.C., FORT BERTHOLD 148-95-23D-14-2H, SESE 23-148N-95W, DUNN CO., 574' FSL and 1167' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, EAGLE NEST, 20805', 9-5/8 " - 2439', 2451' Ground, API #33-025-01382, (Approved : 5/11/2011)

#20867 - SM ENERGY COMPANY, STEPANEK 1-18H, NENE 18-152N-101W, MCKENZIE CO., 250' FNL and 1050' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, ELK, 'Tight Hole', 2241' Ground, API #33-053-03610

#20868 - ZAVANNA, LLC, HUNTER 2-11 1H, LOT3 2-149N-102W, MCKENZIE CO., 300' FNL and 2400' FWL, DEVELOPMENT, FOREMAN BUTTE, 'Tight Hole', 2301' Ground, API #33-053-03611

#20869 - SAMSON RESOURCES COMPANY, REGAL 12-1-162-98H, SWSE 12-162N-98W, DIVIDE CO., 251' FSL and 2275' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, BLOOMING PRAIRIE, 'Tight Hole', 2052' Ground, API #33-023-00726

#20870 - SAMSON RESOURCES COMPANY, MARAUDER 13-24-162-98H, SWSE 12-162N-98W, DIVIDE CO., 201' FSL and 2275' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, BLOOMING PRAIRIE, 'Tight Hole', 2053' Ground, API #33-023-00727

MN House Votes to Lift Coal Power Import Ban

2011-05-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press reported this afternoon that the Minnesota House has approved legislation that would allow coal power from other states to be imported while keeping current restrictions on coal power within the state. A bill that lifted the coal restrictions within Minnesota passed the state's Senate last month. Read more...

Latest Production Numbers Released

2011-05-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

Feb Oil 9,773,765 barrels = 349,063 barrels/day
Mar Oil 11,147,249 barrels = 359,589 barrels/day (preliminary) (all time high)

Feb Gas 9,530,719 MCF = 340,383 MCF/day
Mar Gas 11,047,139 MCF = 356,359 MCF/day (preliminary) (all time high 356,446 Nov 2010)

Feb Producing Wells = 5,324
Mar Producing Wells = 5,439 (all time high)

https://www.dmr.nd.gov/oilgas/directorscut/directorscut-2011-05-11.pdf

BLM Simplfies Right-of-Way Applications

2011-05-11T02:35:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has moved to simplify right-of-way applications for lands with wind and solar energy development potential. On April 26, BLM published in the Federal Register rules that would allow the agency to temporarily segregate lands in a wind or solar energy right-of-way application from mining claims or other land appropriations. Under existing regulations, areas included in a proposed right-of-way, remain open to appropriations such as the location and entry of mining claims while the BLM is considering the application.

However, since 2006, there have been complications as the BLM has processed 24 solar and wind energy development right-of-way applications. In two proposed right-of-ways, mining claims were located after the applications were submitted but before the right-of-ways could be authorized. Over the past two years, 437 new mining claims were located within wind energy ROW application areas in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, while 216 new mining claims were located within solar energy ROW application areas.

To help resolve conflicts, the BLM published two rules: a proposed rule and a temporary interim final rule. The two rules grant the BLM authority to temporarily remove lands included in a renewable energy ROW application and lands offered for wind or solar energy lease from land appropriations such as mining claims. The segregation would be effective for two years and can be extended for an additional two years.

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=17143

USDA and DOE Award Bioenergy Grants

2011-05-11T01:45:00.000-07:00

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced a total of $47 million to fund eight research and development projects that will support the production of biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products from a variety of biomass sources. These investments in clean, sustainable transportation fuels will help reduce U.S. oil imports, support economic development in rural America, create clean energy jobs for U.S. workers, and protect American families and businesses from future spikes in gas prices. The advanced biofuels produced through these projects are also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent compared to fossil fuels. Read more...

Turning Water and Sunlight Into Hydrogen Fuel

2011-05-11T01:40:00.000-07:00

In a key step toward advancing a clean energy economy, scientists have engineered a cheap, abundant way to make hydrogen fuel from sunlight and water. A team from Stanford University's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory paired a molybdenum sulfide catalyst with a light-absorbing electrode to split water into its components.

Hydrogen is an energy-dense fuel that releases water upon combustion. Today, most hydrogen is produced from natural gas, which results in carbon dioxide pollution. An alternative is called photo-electrochemical (PEC) water splitting. When sunlight hits the PEC cell, solar energy is absorbed and used to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. However, the process requires a catalyst and while platinum is already recognized as an efficient catalyst, its high cost makes widespread use difficult.

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=17141

Drilling Permits - May 10

2011-05-10T15:35:00.001-07:00

Source: North Dakota Industrial Commission

#20861 - HUNT OIL COMPANY, HALLIDAY 2-25-36H , NWNE 25-146N-93W, DUNN CO., 250' FNL and 1675' FEL, DEVELOPMEN, WERNER, 'Tight Hole', 2311' Ground, API #33-025-01381

#20862 - DENBURY ONSHORE, LLC, MCCOY 44-23NWH, SESE 23-151N-98W, MCKENZIE CO., 300' FSL and 1100' FEL, DEV., SIVERSTON, 'Tight Hole', 2050' Ground, API #33-053-03607

Wind Meetings Highlight Barriers

2011-05-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

Wind Powering America (WPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind and Water Power Program hosted six regional meetings in March at strategic locations around the country. The purpose of the meetings was to allow industry and state government representatives, non-profit organizations, and other interested stakeholders to participate in identifying and prioritizing persistent deployment barriers while highlighting successful approaches to address the challenges identified. Among the barriers indentified...

Public and environmental organizations' acceptance, education, and understanding of wind deployment impacts
Lack of state markets motivating expanded wind deployment
Limited transmission
Complex and locally focused planning, permitting, ordinances, and development process
Barriers to community and distributed wind, including financing and integration
Funding for stakeholder engagement support
Utility wind integration
Federal permitting and access to federal lands.

http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/filter_detail.asp?itemid=3145

Study Says 80% Renewable Energy Possible

2011-05-10T03:40:00.000-07:00

Close to 80 percent of the world‘s energy supply could be met by renewables by mid-century if backed by the right enabling public policies a new report shows.

The findings, from over 120 researchers working with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), also indicate that the rising penetration of renewable energies could lead to cumulative greenhouse gas savings equivalent to 220 to 560 Gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (GtC02eq) between 2010 and 2050.

The upper end of the scenarios assessed, representing a cut of around a third in greenhouse gas emissions from business-as-usual projections, could assist in keeping concentrations of greenhouse gases at 450 parts per million.

This could contribute towards a goal of holding the increase in global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius – an aim recognized in the United Nations Climate Convention's Cancun Agreements.

http://www.ipcc.ch/news_and_events/docs/ipcc33/IPCC_Press_Release_11612_en.pdf

New Gov't Energy Report Highlights Federal Lands

2011-05-09T16:19:00.000-07:00

A joint USDA and DOI report, New Energy Frontier – Balancing Energy Development on Federal Lands, updates the development of renewable and conventional energy from federal lands and Outer Continental Shelf areas. The report documents the progress made to date and the Administration's plan of action for continued initiatives to ensure accountability, efficiency and responsibility in the management of Federal energy resources. Among the highlights...

•Interior’s Bureau of Land Management approved nine large-scale solar projects, with a total generating capacity of 3,682 MW. BLM also received more than 100 additional applications for utility-scale solar energy projects in four western states;

•This past year, USDA launched a major new Wood-to-Energy Initiative that seeks to build a forest restoration economy by integrating wood-to-energy activities within the larger forest products sector. Consisting of a broad-scale effort to coordinate USDA technical and program support to stimulate the wood-to-energy sector, the initiative takes its cue from the Administration’s emphasis on the role of renewable fuels and forest restoration in sustaining rural jobs and prosperity. In our National Forests, USDA has helped remove 86,927 tons of biomass to produce energy.

•Identified 24 solar energy study areas in six western states, comprising more than 1,000 square miles, being analyzed in detail to determine if they are appropriate for Solar Energy Zones with the potential to be used for large-scale solar energy production;

•USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program can provide funding for the development of renewable energy projects on public lands, such as wind and solar projects. In the past two years, REAP has assisted in more than 270 wind energy project across the country.

•Utilized the ‘Smart from the Start’ approach used in processing solar projects in the West to guide the Atlantic OCS wind energy initiative to facilitate siting, leasing and construction and spur the rapid and responsible development of the region’s vast offshore wind resources;

•States all along the Atlantic coast are actively pursuing development of OCS wind resources under the Smart from the Start initiative to help achieve renewable energy goals; and industry is considering the potential for offshore wind development in a number of areas;

•Expanded the 25 wind energy facilities on BLM lands in the West by approving four new projects and reviewing and processing 47 additional project applications;

•Through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, USDA has provided funding for the development of new tools to better evaluate the impact of expanded biofuel production on the environment and to assess the potential of using federal land resources to sustainably increase feedstock production for biofuels and biobased products.

•Worked to increase geothermal energy production on public lands, approving four priority geothermal projects in Nevada since 2009; BLM oversees 58 geothermal leases in a producing status covering about 56,000 acres on BLM lands and 120 geothermal leases covering 134,000 acres on U.S. Forest Service lands; a reasonably foreseeable development scenario indicates a potential for 12,210 MW of electrical generating capacity from 244 geothermal power plants by 2025.

Source: U.S. Department of Interior press release

Drilling Permits - May 9

2011-05-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

Source: North Dakota Industrial Commission

#20859 - PETRO-HUNT, L.L.C., CARLSON 159-94-4B-9-1H, LOT4 4-159N-94W, BURKE CO., 250' FNL and 1320' FWL, DEV., NORTH TIOGA, 'Tight Hole', 2374' Ground, API #33-013-01573

#20860 - PETRO-HUNT, L.L.C., HARTMAN 144-97-5A-8-1H, SWSE 35-145N-97W, DUNN CO., 400' FSL and 1650' FEL, DEVELOPMENT, LITTLE KNIFE, 'Tight Hole', 2399' Ground, API #33-025-01380

Keystone Closed After Spill in North Dakota

2011-05-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

Reuters reported late this afternoon that TransCanada Corp. has closed its Keystone pipeline after approximately 500 gallons of oil spilled at a pumping station southwest of Milnor, North Dakota. Officials said the pipeline, which transports approximately 591,000 barrels a day, will remain closed for a few days, according to the Reuters report. Read more...

USDA Program Promotes Bioenergy Feedstocks

2011-05-07T02:43:00.000-07:00

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week the establishment of the first Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Project Area to promote the production of dedicated feedstocks for bioenergy. This project will help spur the development of next-generation biofuels and is part of Obama Administration efforts to protect Americans from rising gas prices by breaking the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

Comprising 39 contiguous counties in Missouri and Kansas, the first BCAP Project Area proposes the enrollment of up to 50,000 acres for establishing a dedicated energy crop of native grasses and herbaceous plants (forbs) for energy purposes. Producers in the area will plant mixes of perennial native plants, such as switchgrass, for the manufacture of biomass pellet fuels and other biomass products to be used for power and heat generation.

The proposed crops also will provide long term resource conserving vegetative cover. The project is a joint effort between the agriculture producers of Show Me Energy Cooperative of Centerview, Mo., and USDA to spur the expansion of domestically produced biomass feedstocks in rural America for renewable energy.

Source: USDA press release

Grassley Introduces Ethanol Subsidy Legislation

2011-05-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Ia. has introduced legislation that would sharply reduce the federal subsidy for ethanol over the next two years and then tie it to the price of oil thereafter. The current 45-cent-per-gallon tax credit is scheduled to expire at the end of this year.

Grassley’s proposal would...

cut the credit to 20 cents in 2012 and to 15 cents in 2013. Thereafter through 2016 the credit could be as high as 30 cents if the price of oil is $50 a barrel or below but would fall as crude prices rise.
provide tax credits for retrofitting service stations to dispense higher blends of ethanol.
reduce the tariff on imported ethano from the current 54 cents a gallon to 20 cents in 2012 and then to 15 cents through 2016.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/05/04/ethanol-subsidy-cut-tied-to-oil-price-under-grassley-plan/

New Wind Farm Approved

2011-05-06T15:33:00.000-07:00

A site plan for a proposed 150-megawatt wind energy facility in north-central North Dakota was approved yesterday by the North Dakota Public Service Commission. The project, called Border Winds, is being developed by Sequoia Energy U.S. Inc., a unit of Winnipeg-based Sequoia Energy, which first announced the project three years ago. The project includes 66 2.3-megawatt wind turbines and will cover over 52 square miles of land in Rolette County near the Manitoba border. The company has said it plans to begin construction this summer and finish within a year. Read more...