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Friday, March 15, 2013

Bakken Oil Express -- Reuters Video - A Must-Watch

Updates

March 15, 2013: Upon seeing the video linked below, one reader was surprised to see only two truck unloading stations at the terminal. See comments below. Apparently that is incorrect. Here are the data points regarding the Bakken Oil Express west of Dickinson:
BOE presently has 15 truck unloading stations, from which crude is transferred to large tanks capable of storing >400,000 barrels (and over 600,000 barrels by June, 2013). The storage tanks also receive oil coming directly by pipe from the oil fields. Outbound loading capacity onto rail cars through two railcar loading racks now exceeds 200,000 bopd. 
Simply incredible.
Original Post
A huge "thank you" to a reader.

This is huge.

I have mentioned many, many times that there is seldom a day when I am not impressed or surprised or excited by something in the Bakken.

And today it is this video, a Reuters video: the Bakken Oil Express west of Dickinson. From the Reuters website:
For his video diary, Reuters correspondent Ernest Scheyder drove into the Bakken Oil Express, a sprawling project at the heart of the state's booming oil economy.
For an earlier post on the Bakken Oil Express, click here.

Two takeaways from the video:
  • the railroad infrastructure all financed privately, no government money
  • not one bucket of oil spilled in all these hundreds of thousands of barrels

8 comments:

  1. Given the size and scope of the facility was surprised to see only two unloading docks for trucks. Truck owners probably like it as the hour meter on the truck is running with no wear and tear on the truck while it is sitting in line.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The real question is whether the only source of incoming oil is by truck. I would assume that the goal is to have "all" oil piped in eventually.

      My hunch is these facilities are continually being upgraded, if necessary. Obviously, it won't be that difficult to put in more unloading stations, even a mile or two away and then pipe it in from there. I think folks forget how fast things are moving in the Bakken. Folks aren't waiting for the 100% solution; once they get the rails in, and the rail road tank cars there, they are ready to have the oil loaded and shipped. I, too, would be surprised if more unloading stations aren't added, unless the goal is to switch to pipe. Eventually, I would assume most of the oil will arrive by pipeline.

      We saw the same thing with long lines of trucks waiting to get water for fracking when the Bakken boom first began. But more and more water depots were put in and then WAWS came along, and the lines are shorter than they would otherwise be.

      In late 2009, there were no crude-by-rail terminals (the first was the EOG terminal at Stanley, on-line December 31, 2009); in less than three years about 20 terminals; considering all the planning, permitting, shortage of labor, etc. etc. it is quite amazing how far they have come.

      The long line of trucks in this video reminded me how fast the Bakken is moving; takeaway capacity simply can't keep up. But, every day, more and more infrastructure is being put in.

      But it was an incredible video, wasn't it?

      Delete
  2. I enjoyed the video very much. Thanks for posting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really was a great video. Thank you for taking the time to post.

      Delete
  3. I have visited BOE, impressive facility. I was told that most of the oil comes by pipe. Don't know how many truck stations they have but it was a lot more than than 5 or 6 and they said they were expanding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you.

      That makes a lot of sense.

      Delete
    2. BOE presently has 15 truck unloading stations, from which crude is transferred to large tanks capable of storing >400,000 barrels (and over 600,000 barrels by June,2013). The storage tanks also receive oil coming directly by pipe from the oil fields. Outbound loading capacity onto rail cars through two railcar loading racks now exceeds 200,000 bopd.

      Delete
    3. Thank you. I will put this data in the post itself so it's more easily found/reaches a larger audience.

      This is much appreciated. I am still impressed by that video.

      Delete

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