The latest "Director's Cut" from the North Dakota Department of Department of Mineral Resources reports that North Dakota oil production in August was more than 444,000 barrels per day, an "all time high" according to the report. Gas production was more than 461,000 million cubic feet per day, and producing wells at 5,951, also all time highs. The report notes that there is a backlog of 300 wells waiting for fracturing services. Read the full report here.
1.5 years he means that if we only used oil from the ANWR, to the exclusion of all other soruecs (OPEC, North Sea, etc), that it would meet US domestic consumption for only 1.5 years. I have seen this figure quoted elsewhere. But in reality the ANWR resoruecs would be drilled at a rate that would probably allow for gradual extraction over several decades.But I agree with the spirit of Duane's comment. In the scheme of things, the ANWR is a drop in the bucket, and will do little to contain the cost of gas for consumers, which the boogeyman used to sell the program. As Maria Cantwell indicated, due to the low value of the dollar, it will be more profitable for oil companies to sell the product to Europe at least in the short term.
Posted by: Ida | Saturday, August 04, 2012 at 05:52 PM