Update On Diamond Crude Oil Pipeline And How It Affects US Pipeline Routing, Infrastructure -- September 2, 2014

RBN Energy is reporting: northbound Capline crude oil flow may be living on borrowed time.

Two weeks ago (August 21, 2014) Plains All American announced their proposed “Diamond” crude pipeline project from Cushing, OK to Memphis, TN that will feed the Valero Memphis refinery starting in late 2016.

The new pipeline will provide more direct access from Cushing to supplies of the light sweet crude this refinery processes that are being produced these days in the Williston, Denver Julesburg, Permian and Anadarko basins.

Presumably the Diamond pipeline will replace existing arrangements where crude is shipped up the Capline pipeline to Memphis. That development looks to be another nail in the coffin for the northbound Capline crude trunk route between St James and Patoka, IL. Today we discuss the proposal and its consequences for Capline.
This is another incredible story of how the Bakken is transforming the pipeline infrastructure across North America. 

Highly recommend folks save this article for future reference. RBN Energy generally archives their articles at a later date requiring a subscription to access.

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Cattle

Traveling cross-country from north Texas to North Dakota, I noted my observations regarding cattle on earlier posts. It was my impression that the cattle herds were larger.

The Dickinson Press is reporting:

While the U.S. continues to lose cattle, North Dakota is moving up to the head of the herd.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture study released in July revealed a nationwide cattle inventory of 95 million as of July 1. Those numbers were down 3 percent from the 2012 count of 97.8 million. This count was the lowest for July since the series began in 1973.

There was some good news for North Dakota. Producers expanded the state’s inventory to 943,000, the highest since 2005. This helped North Dakota jump in rank from the 13th producer of cattle to ninth.

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Notes to the Granddaughters

The most noticeable change in the Bakken this year compared to last year: the changing demographics. I've wrote about that several times during my most recent visit. It was truly heart-warming to see all the young women, the families, the couples, the children. It was the first time in my life that I really "saw/experienced" the "wheel of life."

Before the boom, the one constant in Williston was noting the aged population at the grocery stores, the coffee shops, at Wal-Mart.

During the first few years of the boom, one saw a new phenomenon: all these young, male workers coming up to the Bakken. 

But now, in the seventh year of the boom, children and lots of them. It was really heart-warming. It brought back a lot of memories from my own youth. The biggest memory: children don't complain about the weather or the "remoteness" of North Dakota. Generally, children are optimistic and having lots of fun, whatever they are doing. 

Coincidentally, my sister gave me a book that she had forgotten to give me 18 months earlier. A reader of the blog sent me a copy of The Muddy River Boys. Also at Amazon.com. Interestingly enough, someone actually mentioned it to me sometime ago, and I had forgotten all about it. At the link, look at the first comment. It's a must-read for those with nostalgic memories of North Dakota back in 1930 - 1960. The book covers the period, generally, from 1944 - 1948. If I recall, very little mention, if any, was made of WWII. 

Perhaps more later. It's time to pick up our granddaughters from school.

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Waiting for a Sonic to open in the Bakken

Prairie Biz is reporting:

FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University football game wasn’t the only big event Fargoans experienced Saturday, as the area’s first Sonic Drive-in opened with some early fanfare.

The parking lot and stalls, where customers can order from their car, were full when the restaurant opened at 6 a.m. Cars were lined up for two blocks at times during the day, and even though it was a cool and windy morning, people sat outside.

There were so many cars, members of the Fargo Rotary Club were even on hand to help control the traffic flow.

The first 15 customers received free Sonic for a year.