Williston Makes Top-Ten List of Ranked North American Oil Capitals

Williston voted #9 among North American oil capitals

In North America --- Canada, USA, and Mexico -- oil executives vote Williston #9 of 10 oil capitals, ahead of Edmonton, in 10th position.

The Tulsa World conducted an informal and mostly anonymous poll asking oil and gas insiders to rank the so-called Oil Capitals of North America. The group included executives and analysts in Tulsa, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Houston and on the East Coast. 

When you see the list, it is amazing Williston is even on the list (considering the food shortage, lack of water, sewer, electricity, and no more room on the highways). Ten years ago, nay, five years ago, who would have guessed.

But it explains why Williston is getting two daily flights to Minneapolis: more and more corporate (and not just oil industry) execs are flying into Williston. Sure, some of the CEOs have their own corporate jets, but not all, and certainly not the mid-level managers.

Here's the list (be sure to look at the honorable mention list; those cities that did not make the list):

1. Houston: HQ for almost every major company

2. Calgary: Center of Canadian oil and coal industries

3. Oklahoma City: Devon, Chesapeake, SandRidge, Continental Resources

4. Tulsa: Energy diversity, Williams, ONEOK, manufacturing

5. Dallas-Fort Worth: Barnett Shale, Exxon Mobil offices

6. Denver: Cimarex, gateway to Piceance, Niobrara Shale

7. Midland, Texas: Permian Basin hub

8. New Orleans: Hub of Gulf Coast operations and shipping

9. Williston, N.D.: Bakken Shale. Can you say "Boomtown!"

10. Edmonton: Hub for Alberta oil and gas activity

Honorable mentions: New York, Cushing, Los Angeles, Casper, Wyo. 

Population of each city:

Houston: 2.1 million
Calgary: 1.1 million
Oklahoma City: 600,000
Tulsa: 400,000
Dallas-Ft Worth: 6.4 million
Denver: 600,000
Midland, TX: 140,000
New Orleans: 1.2 million --> 350,000
Williston: 13,000 --> 20,000 (best estimate)
Edmonton, Alberta: 1 million

No city in Mexico or Wyoming made the top-ten list; Salt Lake City didn't even make honorable mention, nor did Billings, Montana. 

A big "thank you" to a reader for alerting me to the story.