Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: What do you think about the prospects for PetroBakken Energy? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

PetroBakken Energy, $10.97, symbol PBN on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 216.0 million; Market cap: $2.1 billion; www.petrobakken.com), produces and explores for oil, mainly in the Cardium area of west-central Alberta and the Bakken region of southeastern Saskatchewan. The Bakken formation covers parts of Montana, North Dakota and Saskatchewan, and could contain up to 500 billion barrels of oil or more. Oil was first discovered at Bakken in 1951, but it has always been hard to extract the oil from the rock. However, modern techniques, such as horizontal (or slant) drilling have made it easier to access hard-to reach deposits like those at Bakken. PetroBakken’s shares have moved down lately. Lower oil prices are part of the reason for the decline, but the company’s production has also fallen; in the three months ended June 30, 2011, production fell 16.5%, to 35,300 barrels of oil equivalent (including natural gas) from 42,263 barrels. The company is spending about $900 million in 2011 to increase its production…