North Dakota Petroleum News

From: North Dakota Petroleum Council [mailto:ndpc@ndoil.org]
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 9:59 AM
To: NDPC Members
Subject: NDPC February E-News



Attached and below is this month’s Petroleum Council E-News.



North Dakota Petroleum Council E-News

February 2010







New Members – Thank you to new Petroleum Council members Bartlett & West, Inc.; ENGlobal; Patchfolks, Inc.; PennPacific Onshore, LLC; Rangeland Energy, LLC; Spartan Engineering, Inc.; Tec, Inc.; TriTec Steel Fab; and, UMC Automation.



Bakken VOC Emission Control Solutions Session – The Bakken VOC Task Force, in partnership with the North Dakota Department of Health, is conducting an important informational meeting on March 23 concerning the venting of Bakken gases from crude oil production storage tanks. The gases contain potentially harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which contribute to ground level ozone. This informational meeting will define unacceptable VOC levels and discuss measurement techniques and options for controlling these emissions. Industry is working collaboratively with the ND Health Department on this issue. The session will run from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The cost is $35, with lunch included.



To register, complete the PDF “Bakken VOC Meeting form” on the Petroleum Council website at www.ndoil.org and click “Submit Form.” If paying by check, mail $35/person to: NDPC - Bakken VOC,

PO Box 1395, Bismarck, ND 58502.



Session Agenda (available on the www.ndoil.org homepage)



Petroleum Council Social in Denver on March 16 – Denver-based Petroleum Council members will host a social at the Brown Palace on March 16 from 5-7 p.m. Industry members with an interest in North Dakota are invited to attend. RSVP to kristy_bennett@eogresources.com.



Petroleum Council Education Scholarships Available – The Petroleum Council will provide four $500 scholarships to students attending a North Dakota college who are pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering, geology or a related field, or who have work/internship experience in the oil and gas industry. Scholarship applications must be submitted to the Petroleum Council by April 1, 2010. Scholarship information is available on the Petroleum Council website.



Changes to EPCRA Tier II reports – Please see the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services materials. This information relates to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Tier II reports for Reporting Year 2009, which are due March 1, 2010. There are several major changes required this year, including the use of a state specific software program; the furnishing of latitudes and longitudes for facility locations instead of just section, township and range; and, the reporting of annual storage capacity in pounds. These changes, combined with the March 1 deadline, may present some challenges to industry.



REGISTER NOW for the 2010 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference & Expo – The 18th Annual Williston Basin Petroleum Conference & Expo is quickly approaching and we would like you to be part of the excitement. Register now! A tentative Conference agenda, packed with more than 70 outstanding presenters on key topics, is available online.



Indoor expo booths and outdoor exhibit spaces are SOLD OUT; but, sponsorships are still available online. Be sure to reserve your hotel room and flight soon. A list of hotels with Conference rates is available on the Conference website. When making reservations, state you are with the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference room block. Flight schedules are available on the Bismarck Airport website.



Teacher Education Seminar – The 2010 NDPC Teacher Education Seminar will be held June 7-10 in Bismarck, ND. This event expands participating teachers' knowledge of the North Dakota oil and gas industry from its prehistoric beginnings to the final product. Two hours of graduate level continuing education credit is available from UND for a small fee. Seminar information and registration forms are available online. Space is limited – Register Now!



United Adds Flights to Minot – United Airlines announced it will add Minot, ND, to its global network with twice daily nonstop service to Denver beginning June 9, 2010. United Express carrier SkyWest will operate the service using 50-seat Bombardier CRJ aircrafts. The two daily flights will begin June 10, 2009. “Service to western destinations in the United States is important to individual travelers, but it is also important as we continue to build our energy industry and other businesses in North Dakota,” said ND Gov. John Hoeven. We agree! This is big news for the oil industry. Delta has also added flights to Salt Lake, UT, from Minot and Bismarck, which provides options to Denver and other areas for industry members.



Williston Job Service Holds Job Fair – Due to high demand for employees with various CDL licenses and endorsements, Job Service North Dakota and Williston Economic Development will be sponsoring a CDL Job Fair on March 4 and 5 at the Airport International Inn in Williston, ND. This job fair is exclusively for individuals who possess a commercial driver’s license or permit. For more information, visit the CDL Job fair article on jobsnd.com or call Ginger or Tanya at (701)774-7900 or (800) 247-0989.



Montana Hosts Keystone XL On-ramp Meeting – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and North Dakota Governor John Hoeven are hosting a special Keystone XL “on-ramp” meeting in Billings, MT on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 from 10:30 until 3:00 PM at the Lewis and Clark Room in the student union building at Montana State University Billings. The meeting will provide the opportunity for oil producers in Montana and North Dakota to discuss the possibility of an on-ramp for the TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Jackie at jacwilliams@mt.gov or call 406-444-5634.



New ND Energy Website – The Great Plains Energy Corridor website is available for viewing at www.energyND.com. The web site brings most of the elements of North Dakota’s energy development activity onto one site.



Ad Hoc Committee Participation Growing – Thank you to all who have volunteered to be a member of one or more Petroleum Council ad hoc committees. We appreciate your interest in issues facing the oil and gas industry, and we are still accepting volunteers. If you are interested in any of these committees, visit the Petroleum Council website and complete the Ad Hoc Committee Sign-Up Form.



Washington On-Slaught – The oil and gas industry is being bombarded with proposed taxes, regulations, and limitations on access to public lands. The Obama budget included $80 billion in tax hits for industry. EPA is out of control with what seems to be a new regulation every day as it tries to impose climate legislation through new rules, and the Department of Interior continues to add new fees, regulations, and time delays to make access to federal lands more burdensome. Attacking an industry that is creating high-wage jobs and increasing domestic oil and gas production while creating great wealth without needing subsidies, TARP funds, or stimulus dollars doesn’t make much sense. We will provide more information and urge you to contact your Congressman as details unfold.



Mark Your Calendars!

June 8 Petroleum Council Teacher Field Tour – Stanley, ND

July 27 Bakken Rocks CookFest – Tioga, ND

July 29 Bakken Rocks CookFest – New Town, ND

Aug. 26 Legislative Tour Day – Stanley, ND

Sept. 21-23 Petroleum Council Annual Meeting – Holiday Inn, Minot, ND





For more information on any of these issues, or to be removed from the mailing list, contact the North Dakota Petroleum Council at
(701) 223-6380, ndpc@ndoil.org, or see www.ndoil.org.



North Dakota Petroleum Council

PO Box 1395

Bismarck ND 58502

701.223.6380

701.222.0006 fax

www.ndoil.org

ndpc@ndoil.org