Williston Sweet

After NYMEX WTI climbed higher all last week, topping $90/Bbl, euro-zone worries yesterday caused a 4 percent fall in crude to close at $88.14/Bbl. That is a still a long way above  estimates of $50/Bbl break-even prices for crude produced from Eagle Ford shale. Oil production in the Eagle Ford is now close to 600 MB/d and estimated by Bentek to rise to over 700 MB/d by the end of this year. This South Texas play is attracting producers like bees to a honey pot. Midstream infrastructure projects are springing up left right and center. In the first of a series we look at how Eagle Ford crude prices compare to the Bakken.

Refiners ultimately determine crude price values. Refining margins vary by location, crude quality, product prices and refinery configuration. Today we return to the Bakken to conclude our series: The Bakken Buck Starts Here – Bakken Crude Pricing Part IV - to discover that a longer journey to market might just be the most profitable.