November 22, 2019 -- Fade to Black
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A glimpse of the setting sun framed by a tank battery on the wellpad adjacent
to the Wise Roads weather station southeast of Epping in rural Williams County.
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Back to Normal in the ND Oilpatch
Soggy September a Temporary Setback
North Dakota oil producers could be headed for another record month of production in October after a "soggy September" caused a modest decline.
Lynn Helms, director of the Department of Mineral Resources, said wet weather caused September production to fall to an average of 1,443,275 barrels per day, a drop of about 37,000 bbl/day from the state record set in August. Helms said he was relieved because he feared the decline was going to be much worse.
Click
here to listen to Helms' comments.
Helms said the state's oil production is also constrained because there is not adequate natural gas processing capacity to handle the gas associated with oil production. But he said additional plants are coming on line, and that means more oil will be produced.
Click
here to listen to Helms' comments.
Helms said the drop in September production caused by wet weather was about equal to the constraints caused by the lack of gas processing. But he noted that both problems are being addressed.
Click
here to listen to Helms' comments.
Helms said gas capture improved slightly in September, with producers putting 82% of produced gas in a pipeline. That's short of the state's 88% capture target, but Helms expects the additional processing infrastructure coming on line will get the state on target in the next few months.
Click
here to read or download Helms' Director's Cut. Helms made his comments during an interview on the radio program
Energy Matters. Click
here and advance to the 2:25 mark to listen to the full interview.
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Wise Roads Receives API Award
WDEA's Wise Roads weather station project to improve the movement of oilfield truck traffic was recognized by the Williston API Chapter with its Industry Innovation Award last week.
The award was accepted by WDEA consultant Brent Bogar and WDEA meteorologist Jonathan Rosencrans during API's annual banquet. The Wise Roads project (Weather Information System to Effectively Reduce Oilfield Delays and Disruption) was launched in response to justifiable industry complaints that county-imposed weight restrictions on gravel roads during and after rain events were sometimes overly broad, unnecessarily disrupting oilfield trucking operations. The gist of the Wise Roads project is to place additional scientific-grade weather stations in areas with the heaviest oilfield traffic to provide counties more information, especially precipitation data, to guide their road management decisions.
WDEA installed 10 stations in Phase I of the project, and is now in Phase II which will site an additional 15 weather stations. WDEA has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Oil & Gas Research Council that will allow it to double the project, so another 25 weather stations will be installed next spring and summer. The total of 50 stations should effectively cover the major oil-producing counties in the state.
API's Industry Innovation Award recognizes significant achievement for advancements in technology, systems, processes and the application thereof in the oil and gas industry in the Williston Basin. Click
here to read about other API award categories and this year's winners.
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What's Next for the Clean Energy Rule
DEQ Ponders the State's Implementation Plan
The EPA's new Affordable Clean Energy rule aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions is better than the regulation it replaced, but state environmental regulators say a lot of uncertainty still remains.
The ACE rule, as it's known, replaced the Obama-era Clean Power Plan, which state DEQ Director Dave Glatt described as "untenable." The CPP mandated a 45% reduction in the state's carbon dioxide emissions, which Glatt said could not have been achieved without shutting down several coal-fired power plants.
Glatt, who discussed the status of ACE this week with the EmPower Commission, said the new rule stays "inside the fence," meaning it considers the emission rates of individual power plants, rather than setting a reduction target for the entire state. He said ACE will recognize "heat rate improvements" in the operation of plants, which means the plant is operating more efficiently. But because there's much more wind energy dispatched to the grid these days, it means plants don't run on a consistent basis. Glatt said that makes it much more difficult to establish, monitor and enforce emission limits, considering "variable operational conditions and variable load scenarios."
Click
here to listen to Glatt's comments.
Glatt said the state is obligated to file its ACE implementation plan by July 8, 2022, but is in no hurry to put its plan together. He said "if we're the first one out there we're going to end up in court," so it makes more sense to wait and see if the EPA comes up with additional guidance.
Click
here to listen to Glatt's comments.
Glatt said a DEQ staffer pointed out that "it's always the second the mouse that gets the cheese," so, "we're not going to be the first mouse." For one thing, Glatt wants to make sure North Dakota power plant operators get credit for their emission reduction efforts, even if they were done before the new regulations are fully implemented.
"Does the ACE rule set a date that everything you've done prior to that point isn't eligible?" Glatt asked. "And if you've done everything you can, then you may have nothing to show going forward."
Glatt said the DEQ expects to arrange additional meetings with affected utilities to figure out a plan.
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Reservoir Releases Finally Going Down
After weeks of above normal releases, the volume of water discharged from Garrison Dam and other reservoirs on the Missouri River finally started dropping this week.
Releases from the mainstem dams began to fall on Wednesday, and will continue to decline throughout November and into December. In response to abnormally high precipitation in September and October, the US Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing water from Lake Sakakawea at between 46,000 and 48,500 cubic feet per second. But on Wednesday the Corps dropped the discharge rate to 45,000 cfs, it will drop below 40,000 cfs this weekend and continue to decline through Wednesday before settling at between 22,000 and 24,000 cfs through the middle of December.
The pool elevation on Sakakawea fell below 1,840 feet above sea level this week for the first time since runoff began to fill the reservoir last spring. Runoff from rain and snowmelt in the Garrison to Oahe Dam stretch was more than six times the long-term average in October.
“Overall releases from the Missouri River system will still be higher than normal through the winter to ensure flood control zones are emptied before the next runoff season," said John Remus, chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.
Reductions are also geared toward lowering river stages in areas where the Missouri River ices over.
“The river in the Bismarck area can rise as much as 6 feet during ice-in which means the river stage needs to be lower to prevent flooding during this time. Once the ice has formed, then releases can be gradually increased to smooth the underside of the ice and carry a little more water. Trying to push more water under the ice or dropping releases too much can cause the ice to break up and jam,” said Remus.
Click
here to see the Corps' three-week regulation forecast.
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Williston Basin Petroleum Conference
Coming to Bismarck May 19-21, 2020
The Williston Basin Petroleum Conference is coming to Bismarck in May 2020. The popular conference brings together energy industry personnel from all over the world.
A
conference website has now been established including links to learn about exhibiting opportunities as well as limited and exclusive sponsorship.
Conference organizers are once again expecting a sold-out event so they encourage attendees to book lodging arrangements soon. The conference has arranged courtesy rates at hotels through the Bismarck-Mandan metro area. Click
here to view hotels in the area along with the rates.
Booth registrations and conference sponsorships will open on Monday, December 16.
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2018 North Dakota Crash Summary
Preventable Human Behavior is Leading Cause
According to the recently released
North Dakota Crash Summary, the state experienced 105 motor vehicle fatalities in 2018. About 48% of the individuals involved were not wearing seat belts. Another 32% of the fatalities were alcohol-related, and 45% involved speed and/or aggressive driving.
“Research shows 94% of motor vehicle crashes can be attributed to preventable human behavior,” said North Dakota Department of Transportation Director Bill Panos. “Let’s all arrive at our destination safely by always wearing a seat belt, transporting children in child passenger safety seats appropriate for the child’s age, height, and weight, driving distraction-free, not driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and obeying posted speed limits and all other traffic laws.”
Panos encourages all state residents to take an active role in the Vision Zero campaign which is a NDDOT strategy to eliminate motor vehicle crash fatalities and serious injuries. According to the campaign website, “the goal of zero fatalities is not only attainable, but also vital. When it comes to your life, or the lives of your family and friends, is any other number acceptable? We’re aiming for zero fatalities because every life matters.”
To learn more about the Vision Zero strategy, click
here.
For more information on the ND Crash Summary, click
here for a story from KXMB-TV.
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Roads Roundtable Set for December 18
Counties & Industry to Discuss Road Policies
The Western Dakota Energy Association and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute/NDLTAP will co-host a western roads roundtable December 18 to bring county road managers and oilfield trucking interests together to discuss common issues and concerns.
The gathering will be held at the new McKenzie County Public Works Facility, 1300 12th St SE, in Watford City.
A similar event held last year attracted more than 70 individuals representing counties, townships, oil producers and oilfield trucking companies. The key portion of the meeting will be a roundtable discussion of local road restriction policies facilitated by NDLTAP Program Director Dale Heglund.
The
draft agenda includes legislative and regional community updates, an update on WDEA's Wise Roads project, and updates from MHA Nation and federal highway officials.
There will be NO fee to attend the event, but registration will be required. Click
here for additional details of the meeting. Click
here to register.
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Annual Meeting Presentations On Line
Links to slide presentations shared during the WDEA 2019 Annual Meeting have been uploaded to the WDEA web site. Presentations are available at this
link.
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Auditors Launch “I Voted” Sticker Contest
North Dakota 4th Graders Asked to Submit Ideas
-- DECEMBER 20 SUBMISSION DEADLINE --
The North Dakota County Auditors Association has launched a contest for fourth grade students to design a new “I Voted” sticker for use in the 2020 Election and into the future.
The project is intended to raise awareness of the importance of elections and the role counties play in elections. In addition, it provides a new updated sticker for voters to receive on Election Day.
North Dakota County Auditors will be reaching out to schools across the state in an effort to engage 4th grade classrooms and encourage student participation. The student can create a color design using the form distributed to schools or found directly
here. The design must include the words: “I Voted” and the design must fit in the oval on the form.
Entries can be provided to the county auditor or emailed directly to
contest@ndaco.org by December 20. County Auditors will select one submission from their county to forward onto the statewide competition. The winning design will be announced in April 2020 during County Government month. The “I Voted Sticker” will be used starting in the June 2020 election.
Soliciting the help of fourth graders is a perfect fit for the project. Fourth graders across the state have a North Dakota Studies unit, which includes the right and responsibility of citizens over the age of 18 to vote in elections. The contest provides an opportunity for county auditors and teachers to work together to get kids interested in voting and educated on the election process.
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Quick Connect
- U.S. and Canada at odds over oil and natural gas pipeline volumes -- KFYR-TV
- Propane prices bounce up from regional shortage; increase 30 cents/gallon -- Fargo Forum
- Public faults Marathon's communication during March leak of mercaptan -- Bismarck Tribune
- State Engineer files appeal in disputed Lake Sakakawea minerals case -- Williston Herald
- Top U.S. Democrats request review of Keystone pipeline operator after leaks -- Fargo Forum
- Project Tundra: Stabilizing CO2 levels with carbon capturing innovation -- Dickinson Press
- Drones, media attention make Walsh County nervous as pipeline cleanup continues -- GF Herald
- Propane: While gas production booms in the South, Midwest goes cold -- Dickinson Press
- Watchdog Group: North Dakota gets top marks in financial transparency -- Bismarck Tribune
- Proposal advances barring higher ed schools, employees from political activities -- Fargo Forum
- Commission tables TENORM permit pending review of additional restrictions -- Williston Herald
- District 8 superintendent, Rob Turner, is ending his employment contract early -- KFYR-TV
- District 8 hears about process for changing boundaries, dissolving -- Williston Herald
- East Coast, Medora meetings set for Roosevelt library board next year -- Fargo Forum
- Watch out for utility scams; efforts becoming much more sophisticated -- KXMB-TV
- UND, NDSU to try again for $100 million from Legacy Fund to fuel research -- Fargo Foru
- Dickinson airport awards contracts for final phases of temporary runway -- Dickinson Press
- North Dakota Children's Cabinet looks to improve children's services -- Bismarck Tribune
- Climategate's 10th anniversary this month; the stain continues from PR mistake -- IER
- Saskatchewan: 600,000 bpd production by 2030; takeaway capacity constraints -- Pipeline News
- U.S. natural gas leads all energy sources in CO2 emission reductions -- Energy in Depth
- Helping consumers: More global production is expected to lower world oil prices -- IER
- California intensifies fossil fuel fight with new drilling ban and independent reviews -- Bloomberg
- Energy Trend: Natural gas ban on new construction appears on East Coast -- S&P Global
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Factoid of the Week
North Dakota lignite provides low-cost electricity to people in every part of the state. Coal-fired plants in North Dakota provide electricity to more than 2 million consumers and businesses in the Upper Midwest. Over the past 40 years, North Dakota taxpayers have benefited from more than $1 billion in taxes paid by the lignite industry.
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November 25
Bismarck
November 26
Bismarck
December 3
Bismarck
December 3
Bismarck
December 3 - 4
Fargo
December 10
Bismarck
December 10
Bismarck
December 12
Bismarck
December 17
Bismarck
December 18
Watford City
December 18
Bismarck
January 15
Minot
January 29 - 31
Fargo
February 24 - 27
Bismarck
May 19 - 21
Bismarck
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Oil prices and rig count
November 22, 2019
WTI Crude: $57.77
Brent Crude: $63.39
Natural Gas: $2.67
North Dakota Active Rigs: 57 (unchg)
11/22/2018
-- 62 rigs
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Geoff Simon
Editor/Executive Director
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