Stories From Around the Oil Patch

News from around the oil patch:

1. Taxable sales continue to increase in oil counties fueled by the energy sector. Taxable sales increased 10 to 13% across various sectors across the state.

2. Dickinson company pursuing a 100-man camp. The Dickinson Press, like many newspapers-on-line, have open access the day the stories are published, but then require a subscription after the date has passed. I believe the Dickinson Press subscription is free; just sign up for a password. Others, such as the Wall Street Journal, release a small number of articles for free, but most require a subscription. If you can't get to these articles easily, don't spend too much time trying. If they have important news more than the headline, I will try to include that in the blurb. Also, Google searches will generally lead you to a "free" copy.

3. EPA to study fracturing in North Dakota. Don't worry. It will take at least two years for the study, and then lots of wrangling. But this site takes a lot of my time, and if the EPA shuts down the Bakken, then I shut down the site, and spend more time doing more useful things. Smile. I'm not concerned. As oil approaches $100/bbl, I doubt there will be much enthusiasm for shutting down domestic production, although under the current administration, nothing would surprise me.