Eight (8) New Permits -- The Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA

Daily activity report, March 1, 2012 --

Operators: Hess (3), BEXP (2), XTO (2), SM Energy

Fields: Manitou, Ragged Butte, Beaver Lodge, West Capa, Colgan

Eighteen (18) wells released from "tight hole" status; ten reported IPs, including:

• 20732, 1,718, Zenergy, White 6-7H, McKenzie, t11/11; cum 111K 9/12;
• 20903, 1,294, Denbury Onshore, Loomer 21-4SWH, McKenzie, t11/11; cum 112K 9/12;
• 21041, 1,415, KOG, 20711 State 1621 1H, Williams, t12/11; cum 55K 9/12;
• 21162, 50, Crescent Point Energy, Divide, Bakken,  t12/11; cum 18K 9/12;
• 21213, 240, GMX Resources, Frank 31-4-1H, Stark, t12/11; cum 15K 9/12;

I haven't heard of Ragged Butte oil field before (if I have, I've forgotten); so I was surprised to see that it is straight south of Williston, and directly north of Alexander. In fact, the western border of Ragged Butte is US Highway 85 as it runs into Alexander.

Ragged Butte is one-half section short of a full 18 sections, a small field. But it's directly west of the bull's eye of the Bakken and will turn out to be a great field.

There are two long laterals in that field:

• 19369, 3,206, BEXP, Bratcher 10-3 1H, Bakken, Ragged Butte, t12/10; F; cum 144K 9/12; still producing about 5,000 bbls/month
• 20655, 2,217, BEXP, Raymond 17-20 1H, Bakken, Ragged Butte, t8/11; cum 85K 9/12; produced 3,000 bbls over nine days in its seventh month online;

I highlighted the Manitou oil field not too long ago; another great field, pretty much "owned" by Hess.