Charles Gorecki Selected to Lead EERC
Charles Gorecki will become the new CEO of the Energy and Environmental Research Center at UND on August 1.
Gorecki, who has been director of subsurface research and development the past four years, will succeed Tom Erickson who is stepping down to lead the State Energy Research Center initiative at the EERC.
Gorecki has been with the EERC a total of 12 years, beginning his career as a research engineer in 2007, working on carbon dioxide storage, enhanced oil recovery-related projects and reservoir engineering. He then served as a research manager and senior research manager, leading the Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership.
Gorecki said he enjoys working on energy research projects, and said it's especially rewarding to see some of EERC's efforts becoming commercially viable.
Click
here to listen to Gorecki's comments.
Gorecki served in the Minnesota and North Dakota Army National Guard for nine years. He’s a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to Iraq with the 141st Engineer Battalion’s Company B out of Jamestown. He holds a B.S. degree in geological engineering from UND.
Gorecki was interviewed this week on the radio program, Energy Matters. Click
here and advance to the 31:25 mark to listen to the full interview.
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Armstrong Legislation to Streamline Federal Infrastructure Permitting
North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong and two House colleagues have introduced a bill to expedite the federal infrastructure permitting process.
The bipartisan Federal Permitting Reform and Jobs Act builds upon permitting reforms included in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) that was signed into law in 2015, Armstrong said. Other sponsors are Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minnesota.
“Anyone who's dealt with the federal government knows the frustration that the slow bureaucratic process can bring," Armstrong said. "Necessary infrastructure improvements have been suffocated by environmental litigation and a convoluted permitting process for far too long."
Armstrong said the FAST Act reformed the federal infrastructure permitting process but left environmental protections in place. He said the legislation introduced this week removes the seven-year sunset on the FAST Act, making it permanent, and makes it applicable to more projects in need of completion.
During his tenure as a state senator, Armstrong sponsored the "Surge Bill“ in 2015 to build necessary infrastructure to cope with rapid growth in western North Dakota.
Click
here for a one-page Fact Sheet on the bill. Click
here to read the bill.
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Heavy Rains Raise Level of Lake Sakakawea
Water Expected to Remain High through Summer
The level of Lake Sakakawea increased about eight inches in a single day this week after heavy rain fell across much of northwestern North Dakota.
The lake surged from 1851.8 feet above sea level on Tuesday to 1852.5 feet the following day, putting the lake within a foot and half of its full level. Rainfall amounts of three inches or more were common throughout the northwest corner of the state. The Karlsruhe station in McHenry County set its single day rainfall record with 4.72 inches falling on Tuesday.
Despite the surging lake level, Corps of Engineers officials said there are no plans to ramp up releases from Garrison Dam. The discharge rate is currently at 46,000 cubic feet per second, a level which the Corps expects to maintain at least through the end of August.
Click
here to see the Corps of Engineers three-week reservoir forecast. Click
here to see a map from
NDAWN of accumulated precipitation that fell July 9th through 6:40 a.m. on July 10.
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GNDC Policy Summit Set for Sept 10
The Greater North Dakota Chamber has scheduled its annual policy summit for September 10 in Bismarck.
This event brings together business and government leaders to discuss policies impacting North Dakota’s business climate and address issues impacting the state’s future growth.
This policy forum is a non-partisan event open to both members and non-members of GNDC. The event includes several panel discussions and presentations, with networking opportunities interspersed in between. The gathering concludes with a keynote entitled, “Big Federal Issues and Why We Should Care,” presented by Ronald Eidshaug, VP of the US Chamber’s Congressional & Public Affairs Division.
Topics to be discussed during the sessions include:
- Trade and Tariffs – A Changing Landscape
- Should North Dakota Raise the Gas Tax?
- Health Insurance – Why Does It Cost So Much?
- Should North Dakota Get Rid of the Income Tax?
“This year’s sessions were generated from topics that either had relevance to this past legislative session or will be influencing dialogue and discussions over the coming year,” said Arik Spencer, GNDC CEO. “The goal of the policy summit is to encourage collaboration and communication between business leaders and elected officials to connect the dots.”
The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center. Registration to attend is $130 for members and $160 for non-GNDC members. Early discount rates are available until August 9.
Click
here for additional details or to register.
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Minot, Hettinger Airports Get Federal Grants
Total of 19 ND Airports to Receive FAA Support
The Federal Aviation Administration announced nearly $10 million in grants for North Dakota airport projects this week, including a nearly $2.2 million grant to Minot and nearly $1 million to Hettinger.
Funding earmarked for Minot International Airport will be used to rebuild an apron, build a taxiway, expand an apron and rebuild a taxiway. The $970,803 grant going to the Hettinger Municipal Airport will be used to build a taxiway and rebuild a taxiway.
FAA funding will cover 90 percent of the cost of the projects. The remaining 10% is split between state and local contributions.
Several other western North Dakota communities will receive grants from the FAA including:
- $180,000 to Mercer County Regional Airport in Hazen to rehabilitate a taxiway, apron and runway.
- $150,000 to Bottineau Municipal Airport to build a terminal building.
- $81,000 to Washburn Municipal Airport to build a fuel farm.
- $67,500 to Tioga Municipal Airport to rebuild a taxiway and rehabilitate an apron.
Click
here to read the FAA announcement.
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Cookfests Set for Bowman, Van Hook
Bakken Rocks Cookfest community celebrations of the oil industry will be held next week in Bowman and Van Hook.
The events organized by the North Dakota Petroleum Council are held each summer in two communities impacted by oil industry development. The cookfests offer area residents the opportunity to learn more about the ins and outs of the oil and gas industry.
The events begin with an information session where attendees can listen to and visit with industry experts. The gatherings, which are free of charge, also feature all variety of BBQ served up by oil producers and oilfield service companies.
The
Cookfest in Bowman will begin at 2:00 p.m. MDT on Tuesday, July 16, with a Bakken Basics info session, followed by BBQ and music at 4:00 p.m. on the city's main street. The
Cookfest in Van Hook will begin with an info session at 2:00 p.m. CDT on Thursday, July 18, followed at 4:00 p.m. by the BBQ and music by Dave Diffley in the American Legion Park.
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UMary Offers "Work Smarter" Training
The University of Mary’s Workforce Development Program is offering a series of training sessions that will begin this month in Watford City.
Called “Work Smarter,” the three-part series focuses on creating smarter work habits that develop better organizational outcomes and greater personal satisfaction. The training will be offered in a bi-weekly format designed for employees at any career stage. The three sessions will engage participants in interactive experiences designed to improve communication, manage change and conflict, and develop effective writing and messaging strategies.
Cost per session is $350 and can be taken individually or as a series of three for $900. Lunch is included with each session.
Dates for the sessions:
- Session 1: Communicating at Work – Tuesday, July 30
- Session 2: Managing Change and Conflict While Building a Team – Tuesday, August 13
- Session 3: Effective Writing and Messaging Strategies – Tuesday, August 27
All sessions will be held at the University of Mary campus facilities at Watford City High School, located at 2209 Wolves Den Parkway, Suite 129A.
For more information or to register, click
here.
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U.S. Ranked 54th in Flaring Intensity
Natural gas production in the United States has reached historic highs yet the country ranks as one of the lowest countries for flaring intensity (volume of gas flared per barrel of oil produced).
A
fact sheet produced by Energy in Depth shows that the U.S. ranks 54th in flaring intensity. Flaring is a temporary and necessary practice in the oil and natural gas production industry, but it often receives negative media attention that lacks important context. Production companies continually strive to find innovative ways to reduce the need to flare and the results have been clear.
In North Dakota, natural gas production continues to grow, challenging producers to build facilities to capture and process all the gas. Lynn Helms, director of the Department of Mineral Resources, said in last week’s WDEA
newsletter that a lot of midstream gas processing facilities are under construction this summer and fall that will allow the state’s producers to get back into compliance with the state’s 88% gas capture target.
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ND Oil PAC Sporting Clays Event
The public is invited to join oil and gas industry professionals for the 2019 ND Oil PAC Sporting Clays event scheduled for Thursday, August 8, at Capital City Sporting Clays near Bismarck.
The event is limited to 150 people and is open to North Dakota Petroleum Council members and non-members. The event begins at 2:00 p.m. with a legislative review featuring highlights of the just-finished North Dakota legislative session. A rules meeting follows at 2:30 p.m. with the Sporting Clay shoot beginning at 3:00 p.m. The event concludes with a social from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The entry fee is $100/person for NDPC members and $150/person for non-members. The fee includes ammunition. Click
here for detailed information about the event. Click
here to register and
here if you are interested in a sponsorship. For directions to Capital City Sporting Clays, click
here.
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WDEA Offering Energy Scholarships
The Western Dakota Energy Association will award five $1,000 scholarships this fall to students in an energy-related field at a North Dakota college, university or technical school.
WDEA President Gary Wilz said the association is offering the scholarships to help the industry and western communities meet the workforce challenges now being experienced with the surge in oil industry activity.
“We recognize that North Dakota will see benefits from higher oil prices only if the industry is able to attract the workforce it needs,” said Wilz, who is Superintendent of the Killdeer Public School District. “We want to do everything we can to encourage young people to explore the many opportunities for a rewarding career in the energy industry.”
Funding for the scholarship program is generated by sponsorships of WDEA’s annual meeting, as well as royalties from advertising in Basin Bits magazine.
Click
here to learn more about the selection criteria and how to apply.
Click
here to view or download an application form.
The application deadline is August 31, 2019. Scholarships will be awarded in September.
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Quick Connect
- Williston to open medical marijuana dispensary on Friday -- KXMB-TV
- Expanded roundabout planned for Beulah intersection -- Beulah Beacon
- EPA finalizes the Affordable Clean Energy rule, replacing Clean Power Plan -- IER
- Williston’s realistic full-size simulator in TrainND well-control program is back -- KFYR-TV
- 2019 Field Day in Williston features pipelines’ potential damage to agriculture -- KFYR-TV
- Parshall Main Street construction doesn’t cost local taxpayers any money -- KX News
- Main Street Initiative gathers leaders to discuss solutions to common issues -- Minot Daily News
- North Dakota remains one of the best states in which to start a business -- KXMB-TV
- Indian Education Summit aims to improve outcomes of native students -- Bismarck Tribune
- ND royalty association has website for action on unfair royalty deductions -- Williston Herald
- Energy committee chair says lobbyist relationship unrelated to legislative work -- Fargo Forum
- NDLTAP: Road sign vandalism is a continued problem across North Dakota -- KX News
- Dickinson students, 6th through 12th grade, to get Chromebooks this fall -- Dickinson Press
- Marmarth Ambulance Service desperate for volunteers, could shut down -- Bismarck Tribune
- Health foundation director looks to impact health care in Stanley -- Minot Daily News
- Moose numbers, reports are growing in North Dakota, big animals moving south -- KX News
- Oren Cass, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, on climate change economics -- IER
- Northeast pipeline opposition threatens to choke economy, increase emissions -- Inside Sources
- Members of Congress renew oil and gas attack with “frack pack” legislation -- Energy in Depth
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Factoid of the Week
According to a new National Park Service study, visitors to North Dakota's national parks spent nearly $50 million in nearby communities in 2018. Approximately 733,000 people visited Fort Union Trading Post, Knife River Indian Villages and Theodore Roosevelt National Park supporting 695 area jobs with a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $65.5 million.
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July 16
Bowman
July 16-17
Bismarck
July 17
Bismarck
July 17
Bismarck
July 17
Bismarck
July 17
New Town
July 18
Van Hook
July 22
Bismarck
July 23
Bismarck
July 26
Bismarck
July 30
Bismarck
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Oil prices and rig count
July 5, 2019
WTI Crude: $60.21
Brent Crude: $66.72
Natural Gas: $2.45
North Dakota Active Rigs: 56 (down 2)
7/5/2018
-- 67 rigs
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Geoff Simon
Editor/Executive Director
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