Northern Oil & Gas Inc.

12/15/2011 | Press release | Archived content

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. Provides Operations Update and 2012 Capital Expenditure Budget

WAYZATA, Minn., Dec. 15, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE/AMEX: NOG) ("Northern Oil") today provided an operations update and established its expected 2012 capital budget.

ACREAGE AND DRILLING UPDATE

During the fourth quarter of 2011 through December 12, 2011, Northern Oil has acquired leasehold interests covering approximately 7,600 net mineral acres for an aggregate cost of $19 million, or approximately $2,500per net acre. As a result, Northern Oil controls over 160,000 net acres in the WillistonBasin Bakken and Three Forks play as of December 12, 2011.

Northern Oil has spud approximately 11 net wells during the fourth quarter of 2011 through December 12, 2011, bringing the cumulative net wells spud in 2011 to approximately 37 through December 12, 2011. Northern Oil reaffirms that it expects to spud approximately 40 total net wells in 2011.

During the fourth quarter of 2011 through December 12, 2011, Northern Oil has added production from 98 gross (9.9 net) wells. Northern Oil is currently participating in an additional 203 gross (21.4 net) Bakken or Three Forks wells drilling, awaiting completion or completing as of December 12, 2011. Northern Oil reaffirms that it expects to exit the fourth quarter of 2011 with production volumes of approximately 10,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

2012 DRILLING AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Based on recent rig activity and pace of drilling in the WillistonBasin, Northern Oil currently expects to spud approximately 44 net wells and spend approximately $325 millionin drilling capital expenditures during 2012. Northern Oil anticipates average completed costs per net well will approximate $7.4 millionduring 2012, primarily due to its exposure to more long lateral wells, which are increasingly drilled on 1,280 acre spacing units using synthetic proppants.

Northern Oil also expects to continue deploying additional capital toward strategic acreage acquisitions throughout 2012, generally consistent with past practices. Northern Oil currently expects to fund all 2012 capital expenditures with cash flows and borrowings.

2012 DERIVATIVES ACTIVITY

Northern Oil currently has approximately 1.4 million total barrels of oil subject to derivative contracts for 2012, including one million barrels swapped with a weighted average price of $90.87, and 400 thousand barrels collared with a weighted average floor price of $88.28.

RECENT COMPLETION HIGHLIGHTS

The following table illustrates certain highlighted well completions in which Northern Oil has recently participated with a working interest ("WI").

WELL NAME

OPERATOR

COUNTY, STATE

WI*

IP**

ROSE 147-99-28-2H

CONOCO

MCKENZIE, ND

50.00%

628

MUSTANG 2-22H

SLAWSON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

39.56%

1,135

OLSON RANCH 1-21-16H

G3 OPERATING

ROOSEVELT, MT

33.00%

607

STAMPEDE 2-36-25H

SLAWSON

WILLIAMS, ND

25.00%

666

LYNN 5502 11-10H

OASIS

WILLIAMS, ND

15.68%

669

EN- JORSTAD 157-94-0904-1

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

11.89%

1,558

GABRIEL 3-36-25H

SLAWSON

MCKENZIE, ND

10.94%

3,525

* The WI noted above are based on Northern Oil's internal records and are subject to verification by operators' third-party legal counsel in connection with the preparation of final division order title opinions.

** The "IP" means the initial production ("IP") rate expressed in barrels of oil equivalent per day. The IP rate is the 24-hour "Peak Production Rate." Peak Production Rates may be established following the initial day of production, depending on operator design or well flowback profiles. The IP rate may be estimated based on other third party estimates or limited data available at this time. The IP is computed using barrels of oil equivalent.

CURRENT DRILLING ACTIVITY

The following table illustrates the Bakken or Three Forks wells drilling, awaiting completion or completing in which Northern Oil is participating with a working interest of at least one percent (1%) as of December 12, 2011.

WELL NAME

OPERATOR

COUNTY, STATE

WI*

1

MENACE 1-17-20H

SLAWSON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

59.56%

2

KNUDSVIG 12-1-160-100H 1PB

BAYTEX

DIVIDE, ND

57.11%

3

HIGHLAND 2-9H

SINCLAIR

MOUNTRAIL, ND

54.57%

4

PROBE 1-19-30H

SLAWSON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

50.06%

5

JOHNSON 30-31-161-99H

BAYTEX

DIVIDE, ND

47.93%

6

COLETTE 21X-18

XTO

WILLIAMS, ND

46.46%

7

JOHNSON 25-36-160-100H 1BP

BAYTEX

DIVIDE, ND

45.10%

8

TITAN 36-25-164-99H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

42.67%

9

SORCERER 1-14-15H

SLAWSON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

42.16%

10

SCOUT 1-18H

SLAWSON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

41.29%

11

TURBO 2-21-16H

SLAWSON

DUNN, ND

36.43%

12

CONDOR 1-36-25H

SLAWSON

MCKENZIE, ND

35.94%

13

CHARLIE SORENSON 17-8 2-H

BRIGHAM

MOUNTRAIL, ND

33.58%

14

DENALI 13-24-163-98H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

32.45%

15

HOLLAND 9-19H

NORTH PLAINS

WILLIAMS, ND

32.40%

16

LIDO 11-2-162-98H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

29.83%

17

CROSBY CREEK 1-5H

SINCLAIR

DUNN, ND

29.63%

18

STARLING 11-2-163-96H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

29.27%

19

AV-SCHWARTZ-163-93-1102H-1

HESS

BURKE, ND

29.08%

20

RAVEN 1-13H

SLAWSON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

28.47%

21

OAKLAND 151-103-29B-32-1H

PETRO HUNT

MCKENZIE, ND

28.47%

22

OPPEGAARD 9-9H

NORTH PLAINS

WILLIAMS, ND

28.12%

23

VANVILLE 21-2635H

EOG

BURKE, ND

28.08%

24

VANVILLE 22-2623H

EOG

BURKE, ND

28.08%

25

DORADO 14-23-162-98H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

27.83%

26

PELICAN 26-35-162-96H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

27.30%

27

ZI CLIFFSIDE 12-11H

ZENERGY

MCKENZIE, ND

26.80%

28

REGAL 12-1-162-98H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

25.89%

29

PIGEON 30-31-162-96H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

24.63%

30

PHEASANT 14-23-163-96H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

24.03%

31

PERSON 24-35H

MARATHON

DUNN, ND

23.03%

32

STALLION 2-1-12H

SLAWSON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

22.41%

33

KANDIYOHI 19-2932H

EOG

BURKE, ND

21.88%

34

HORSE CREEK 5004 42-35H

OASIS

MCKENZIE, ND

21.87%

35

GORHMAN 14-31TFH

CONOCO

DUNN, ND

21.36%

36

GORHMAN 24-31MBH

CONOCO

DUNN, ND

21.36%

37

MARAUDER 13-24-162-98H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

21.30%

38

THOMTE 8-5-163-99H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

21.30%

39

CUTTHROAT 1-22H

SLAWSON

RICHLAND, MT

20.00%

40

ROVER 1-20H

SLAWSON

RICHLAND, MT

20.00%

41

CPEC JURASIN 32-29-163N-100W

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

19.95%

42

OBENOUR 150-99-21-16-1H

NEWFIELD

MCKENZIE, ND

18.75%

43

REGETH 22-1H

HESS

DUNN, ND

18.75%

44

EN-LONETREE FARMS 156-94-0805H-2

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

18.71%

45

CRESCENT FARMS 7-6 1H

ZAVANNA

MCKENZIE, ND

17.88%

46

SEVRE 1-22H

CONTINENTAL

WILLIAMS, ND

17.19%

47

STATE JAEGER 1-16-21H-142-94

OXY

DUNN, ND

15.63%

48

EN-KIESEL 155-94-1918H-2

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

15.03%

49

ANDROID #1-6H

SLAWSON

RICHLAND, MT

14.78%

50

GO-SOLBERG 15-31H

HESS

WILLIAMS, ND

14.76%

51

NOMAD 6-7-163-99H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

14.71%

52

BW-R PETERSON 149-99-0211H-1

HESS

MCKENZIE, ND

13.95%

53

MONTCLAIR #1-12-163-99H

SAMSON

DIVIDE, ND

13.29%

54

RHODA 24-31H

MARATHON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

12.82%

55

HILLY 22-15 1H

BRIGHAM

MCKENZIE, ND

12.66%

56

MIRAMAR 1-32AH

CONTINENTAL

MCKENZIE, ND

12.63%

57

EN-PERSON 156-94-1102H-2

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

12.55%

58

EN-PERSON 156-94-1102H-3

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

12.55%

59

LOSTWOOD 1-1201H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

12.52%

60

LOSTWOOD 18-1224H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

12.52%

61

STANLEY 28-21-156-91H

SAMSON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

12.50%

62

CHITWOOD 34-36H

WHITING

MCKENZIE, ND

12.50%

63

MATTER STATE 3-17H

CORNERSTONE

BURKE, ND

12.50%

64

MOE 19-18-162-100H 1PB

BAYTEX

DIVIDE, ND

12.24%

65

FERTILE 28-26H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

11.88%

66

LOSTWOOD 16-3526H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

11.52%

67

LOSTWOOD 21-1402H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

11.51%

68

LOSTWOOD 22-1423H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

11.51%

69

EN-POSTOVIT 157-93-0706H-1

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

11.35%

70

BURESH 34-10TFH

WHITING

STARK, ND

11.32%

71

LOSTWOOD 25-1510H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

11.20%

72

LOSTWOOD 10-2227H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

11.19%

73

EN-SELBY 157-93-0805H-1

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

11.18%

74

SIDONIA 9-35H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

10.78%

75

CLEARWATER 25-3202H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

10.29%

76

EN-SABLE 157-93-3534H-1

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

10.23%

77

LESLIE 42X-13

XTO

MCKENZIE, ND

10.16%

78

SHORT PRAIRIE 2-1011H

EOG

WILLIAMS, ND

9.94%

79

ELSIE DVORAK 1-8-17H-141-96

OXY

DUNN, ND

9.74%

80

JOHNSON 1-3H

SINCLAIR

MCKENZIE, ND

9.42%

81

GJOA LYNN 10012H

ARSENAL

MOUNTRAIL, ND

9.38%

82

SQUADRON 1-15-14H

SLAWSON

ROOSEVELT, MT

8.78%

83

ANDERSON 12-18H

TRUE OIL

MCKENZIE, ND

8.66%

84

CHRISTIANA 21X-06

XTO

WILLIAMS, ND

8.12%

85

STATE JABLONSKY 1-12H-141-95

OXY

DUNN, ND

7.97%

86

CITADEL 2-11-2H

SLAWSON

ROOSEVELT, MT

7.79%

87

SCHILKE 16-21-1H

NORTH PLAINS

WILLIAMS, ND

7.69%

88

QUALE 1-1H

CONTINENTAL

MCKENZIE, ND

7.69%

89

1-H OSMOND 3-10

NEWFIELD

WILLIAMS, ND

7.51%

90

BURIAN 1-27H

CONTINENTAL

BILLINGS, ND

7.36%

91

INGEBRET 1-8H

CONTINENTAL

DIVIDE, ND

7.33%

92

BLACK HAWK USA 31-16H

MARATHON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

7.05%

93

THORVALD 2-6H

CONTINENTAL

DUNN, ND

6.70%

94

HALLIDAY 2-25-36H

HUNT OIL

DUNN, ND

6.38%

95

GO-BIWER 15-35H

HESS

WILLIAMS, ND

6.25%

96

EN-JOHNSON -A 155-94-2932H-2

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

6.25%

97

KANDIYOHI 21-3427H

EOG

BURKE, ND

6.25%

98

DULETSKI 21-30TFH

WHITING

BILLINGS, ND

6.25%

99

LONETREE 2758 43-9H

OASIS

ROOSEVELT, MT

6.25%

100

DAVID SADOWSKY 1-11-14H-142-96

OXY

DUNN, ND

6.25%

101

KOSTENKO 30-138-97 A 1H

CHESAPEAKE

STARK, ND

6.22%

102

KATE 2-19H

CONTINENTAL

DUNN, ND

6.15%

103

HAUGE 13-21H

SM ENERGY

DIVIDE, ND

6.08%

104

CLEARWATER 16-3301H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

6.07%

105

FOREST 26-35 #1H

BRIGHAM

MCKENZIE, ND

6.00%

106

1-H HUNTER 17-20

NEWFIELD

WILLIAMS, ND

5.55%

107

SETTERLUND 159-94-28B-33-1H

PETRO HUNT

BURKE, ND

5.31%

108

KELTER 7-6H

ZENERGY

MCKENZIE, ND

5.02%

109

BRUCE 5-8 1H

ZAVANNA

WILLIAMS, ND

4.69%

110

SONOMA 19-30-161-92HOR

SAMSON

BURKE, ND

4.23%

111

OXY OLSON 160-90-10-P-1H

OXY

BURKE, ND

4.17%

112

AMBUSH 1-31-30H

SLAWSON

WILLIAMS, ND

3.96%

113

EN-JOHNSON 155-94-2017H-2

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

3.91%

114

WILLY 31X-3

XTO

WILLIAMS, ND

3.90%

115

ZEPHYR 2-36H

SLAWSON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

3.76%

116

EN-STENBAK 157-94-1324H-1

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

3.65%

117

CHALMERS 5300 31-19H

OASIS

MCKENZIE, ND

3.45%

118

GO-GOLDEN VALLEY 157-96-2833H-1

HESS

WILLIAMS, ND

3.13%

119

HARDSCRABBLE 10-2536H

EOG

WILLIAMS, ND

3.13%

120

EAST GRIZZLY FEDERAL 3-25-13-3H

KODIAK

MCKENZIE, ND

3.13%

121

HALLIDAY 1-30-31H

HUNT OIL

DUNN, ND

3.09%

122

WOLTER 15-8H

SM ENERGY

DIVIDE, ND

3.08%

123

GLENDON 1-17H

CONTINENTAL

WILLIAMS, ND

3.05%

124

DAKOTA-3 BEAR DEN 24-13H2

DAKOTA

MCKENZIE, ND

2.92%

125

EN-THRONSON 154-94-2029H-1

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

2.88%

126

MOE 29-32-162-100H 1BP

BAYTEX

DIVIDE, ND

2.79%

127

ABELMANN STATE 21-16 2H

BRIGHAM

MCKENZIE, ND

2.73%

128

JORGENSON 158-94-12C-1-1H

PETRO HUNT

BURKE, ND

2.57%

129

EN MOORE 157-93-1819H-1

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

2.51%

130

EN-NORSTEDT 157-93-1720H-1

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

2.50%

131

EN-SORENSON B-155-94-3526H-1

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

2.35%

132

LEISETH 1-24H

SM ENERGY

MCKENZIE, ND

2.34%

133

SMOKEY 3-6-7-14H

KODIAK

MCKENZIE, ND

2.20%

134

EN-HYNEK155-93-0112H-2

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.82%

135

EN-HYNEK155-93-0112H-3

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.82%

136

JOYCE REPP 21-17H

MARATHON

DUNN, ND

1.70%

137

LIBERTY LR 12-11H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.59%

138

OVERLAND #1-8H

CONTINENTAL

BURKE, ND

1.57%

139

OBRIGEWITCH 11-17TFH

WHITING

STARK, ND

1.56%

140

SKUNK CREEK 2-8-17-14H3

KODIAK

DUNN, ND

1.56%

141

SKUNK CREEK 2-8-17-15H

KODIAK

DUNN, ND

1.56%

142

FRASER FEDERAL 5300 24-34H

OASIS

MCKENZIE, ND

1.52%

143

SCHILKE 1-30H

CONTINENTAL

DIVIDE, ND

1.51%

144

PALERMO 2-6-34H

HUNT OIL

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.47%

145

KLEFSTAD 24-25H

WHITING

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.46%

146

TIM ECKELBERG 44-22H

MARATHON

DUNN, ND

1.39%

147

HARDSCABBLE 8-0409H

EOG

WILLIAMS, ND

1.33%

148

HOVDEN 15-1H

HESS

DUNN, ND

1.30%

149

OSTLUND 11-14H

MARATHON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.30%

150

OSTLUND 11-14TFH

MARATHON

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.30%

151

JAMES HILL 10-0112H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.25%

152

RAYMOND 21X-5

XTO

WILLIAMS, ND

1.16%

153

SIDONIA 15-1102H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.13%

154

DAWSON 5494 13-1H

OASIS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.13%

155

EN-RHODE 157-94-3625H-1

HESS

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.07%

156

CLIFFORD BAKKE 26-35 4H

BRIGHAM

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.04%

157

CLIFFORD BAKKE 26-35 3H

BRIGHAM

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.04%

158

CLEARWATER 4-11H

EOG

MOUNTRAIL, ND

1.04%

159

RON 28-33 1H

BRIGHAM

MCKENZIE, ND

1.04%

160

BRUNDTLAND 1-15H

CONTINENTAL

DIVIDE, ND

1.04%

* The WI noted above are based on Northern Oil's internal records and are subject to verification by operators' third-party legal counsel in connection with the preparation of final division order title opinions.

MANAGEMENT COMMENT

Michael Reger, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We believe our growing asset base in the WillistonBasin Bakken and Three Forks play will provide for another excellent year in 2012. Given the continued industry-wide investments being made in this play, we believe Northern Oil is well positioned to continue to drive its share value in 2012."

ABOUT NORTHERN OIL AND GAS

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. is an exploration and production company based in Wayzata, Minnesota. Northern Oil's core area of focus is the WillistonBasin Bakken and Three Forks play in North Dakotaand Montana.

More information about Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. can be found at www.NorthernOil.com.

SAFE HARBOR

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report regarding our financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, industry conditions, and indebtedness covenant compliance are forward-looking statements. When used in this report, forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as "estimate," "project," "predict," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "plan," "intend," "seek," "goal," "will," "should," "may" or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Items contemplating or making assumptions about actual or potential future sales, market size, collaborations, and trends or operating results also constitute such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors (many of which are beyond our Company's control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including the following: general economic or industry conditions, nationally and/or in the regions in which our Company conducts business, oil and gas prices, changes in the interest rate environment, legislation or regulatory requirements, conditions of the securities markets, our ability to raise capital, changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines, financial or political instability, acts of war or terrorism, and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technical factors affecting our Company's operations, products, services and prices.

We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control.

CONTACT:

Investor Relations
Erik Nerhus
952-476-9800

SOURCE Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.

Released December 15, 2011