Bakken Shale

Strong Week for Eagle Ford, Williston Sends U.S. Rig Count Sharply Higher

Strong Week for Eagle Ford, Williston Sends U.S. Rig Count Sharply Higher

The Eagle Ford Shale and Williston Basin led a surge in U.S. onshore drilling activity during the week ended Friday as the domestic rig count rose nine units to an even 500, according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR). Ten oil-directed rigs were added in the United States for the week, offsetting…

August 13, 2021
MDU Resources Sees ‘Multi-Year Opportunities’ from Infrastructure Legislation

MDU Resources Sees ‘Multi-Year Opportunities’ from Infrastructure Legislation

Bismarck, ND-based MDU Resources Group Inc. sees growth in its infrastructure businesses building natural gas pipelines and supplying construction services and materials as the Biden administration’s omnibus infrastructure bill passed the U.S. Senate Tuesday. The Biden administration’s “infrastructure proposals will provide additional multi-year opportunities to some of our core businesses, such as surface transportation improvements,…

August 11, 2021
Devon CEO Not Ruling Out More Acquisitions as Rumors Swirl about Shell’s Permian Assets

Devon CEO Not Ruling Out More Acquisitions as Rumors Swirl about Shell’s Permian Assets

It’s already completed a big Lower 48 takeover this year, but Devon Energy Corp. isn’t ruling out making a bid on more oil and natural gas assets, the CEO said Wednesday. Over the last couple of weeks, rumors have swirled that Royal Dutch Shell plc may sell its Permian Basin portfolio, estimated to be worth…

August 5, 2021
Ovintiv Holding Line on Lower 48 Capex as Raw Materials, Labor Costs Escalate

Ovintiv Holding Line on Lower 48 Capex as Raw Materials, Labor Costs Escalate

Ovintiv Inc., whose portfolio stretches from Western Canada to West Texas, is seeing costs for materials and labor rising, but inflationary pressures and capital guidance are being kept in check with operational efficiencies, executives said Wednesday. CEO Doug Suttles, who is retiring, presided over his final conference call on Wednesday, ushering in a new era…

July 29, 2021
Hess Moving Forward with Bakken Ramp-Up on Strong Oil Prices

Hess Moving Forward with Bakken Ramp-Up on Strong Oil Prices

U.S. independent Hess Corp. said Wednesday it was moving forward with plans to ramp up drilling activity in the Bakken Shale amid continued commodity price strength. Hess plans to add a third rig in the Bakken in September, something it previously said it would consider if oil prices continued to improve. “We have been operating…

July 29, 2021
Higher Commodity Prices Driving Crestwood’s Activity, Enhanced Margins

Higher Commodity Prices Driving Crestwood’s Activity, Enhanced Margins

Crestwood Equity Partners LP expects the higher commodity prices that drove increased drilling and completion activity in the second quarter of 2021 to fuel even higher utilization of its assets in core areas for the remainder of the year. The Houston-based midstreamer’s gathering and processing (G&P) segment, which was hit hardest during last year’s Covid-induced…

July 29, 2021
North Dakota Oil Production Flat, But Gas Increases 1%

North Dakota Oil Production Flat, But Gas Increases 1%

North Dakota’s Bakken Shale oil production under-performed in its most recent monthly statistics, reflecting a “serious shortage of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) crews,” the state’s chief oil/natural gas regulator Lynn Helms reported Tuesday. Helms told a webinar with reporters that he expects to see improvement in the summer months, but the May statistics — 34.9 million…

July 22, 2021
Whiting Petroleum Bets on Bakken While Divesting DJ Basin Assets

Whiting Petroleum Bets on Bakken While Divesting DJ Basin Assets

Citing the current oil and natural gas commodity price environment and what makes the most sense on a capital investment basis, Whiting Petroleum Corp. on Wednesday doubled down on its exploration and production operations in the Bakken Shale of North Dakota. At the same time, it jettisoned all of the company’s oil and natural gas…

July 22, 2021
MDU Begins Work on Bakken Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion

MDU Begins Work on Bakken Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion

An MDU Resources Group Inc. subsidiary has started construction on nearly 100 miles of new natural gas pipeline and other infrastructure that would boost takeaway capacity from the Bakken Shale in northwestern North Dakota. FERC on July 8 gave the all-clear for WBI Energy Inc. to begin work on the 250 MMcf/d North Bakken Expansion…

July 21, 2021
Ranger Further Expands Wireline Footprint with PerfX Acquisition

Ranger Further Expands Wireline Footprint with PerfX Acquisition

Ranger Energy Services Inc. has further boosted its wireline presence in the Lower 48 following the acquisition of PerfX Wireline Services, its second takeover since May.  The Houston-based oilfield services company said last week it had acquired Minot, ND-based  PerfX in an all-stock deal. The deal follows the acquisition of Patriot Completions Solutions LLC in…

July 12, 2021