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Thursday, June 14, 2012

Fracking For Growth in the Williston Basin

It looks like we are about to see a series of great stories coming out of the Bakken at MarketWatch.com.

A reporter from Milwaukee is on a cross-country drive to Williston to see for himself what all the excitement is about. He said that he had trouble finding a hotel room in Jamestown which is nowhere near the Williston Basin, in one sense. Jamestown is in North Dakota, but that's about all.
Intriguing to me is that there is downtown real estate still available in Jamestown, only about a mile from the college. In talking to the very sweet Cathy at the front desk, of the very comfortable Gladstone Inn & Suite's where I am staying, it is apparent that Jamestown is going through some changes. Located along Interstate 94, within a few hours of a major oil boom, a few other nearby job catalysts and with a charming downtown, the Buffalo City appears to be a town on the come. 

While eating dinner at Grizzley's, I had the opportunity to talk to a few truckers. Each of them made the point that Williston was a little wild right now, but that the money was flowing. One gentleman hauled fracking mud from Michigan, which he described as being used to water proof the piping used in the drilling process. He was quite knowledgeable about the process and believed that, from an environmental standpoint, the drilling companies were being very diligent about protecting the ground water, if nothing else to protect their golden goose. 
This is going to be fun. Stay tuned. And go to the link. 

2 comments:

  1. "Fracking mud" "to water proof the piping used in the drilling process"

    Not quite.

    But he seems well intentioned, so I will just suggest that he have someone explain it again. He has a lot to learn. he needs to have someone knowledgeable check his writing to see if he got it right. There will be lots more mistakes.

    Jamestown is a good last stop before the boom. In the summer it might be full and there may be no rooms west of Jamestown. Reserve ahead or sleep in your car. There will be nights with all rooms in the state full, at least on the interstate. Really.

    anon 1

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    Replies
    1. I still have a lot to learn. I assume I know, maybe, 1% of how the technology all works.

      I have noticed the same thing among other Bakken "experts" at other discussion groups.

      All I know is I wish I were back in the Bakken giving some guided tours. It was a real hoot when I did that last summer/autumn.

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