Comparing current predictions for oil production and related community growth to lower ones from just a year ago, economist Dick Gardner said the change between the years shows the boom is here to stay and hasn’t peaked yet.
Especially because of new fracking technologies, drilling efficiencies and multi-well pads, oil production is growing more and expected to last longer than most thought a year ago, said Gardner, from the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship.
Permanent population in the Dickinson region — which includes eight southwestern North Dakota counties — is projected to increase from about 43,300 now to about 66,400 in 2020 and 82,000 in 2039. Permanent housing units, meanwhile, will grow from approximately 23,000 now to nearly 45,000 in 2039. For both projections, the year-over-year growth will slow down a little after 2020, according to analysis.From The Williston Wire:
The oil boom that has pulled in construction workers and contractors from across the country to North Dakota has led to a building boom that now requires even more workers. The huge population growth has created a demand for new government buildings, schools, hospitals recreation centers and more quality-of-life projects, reports South Dakota newspaper the Rapid City Journal.
In response to the demand, a coalition of six labor unions called Dakota Construction Careers has launched a recruiting campaign to attract both current construction workers and people outside of the industry willing to learn a trade to western North Dakota.For those looking for specific work in the Bakken, check out the job-sites at the sidebar at the right, including the one most recently added: http://www.dakotaoiljobs.com/.
Also from The Williston Wire:
North Dakota officials are predicting a big surge in crude oil output in the next few months as the industry emerges from a tough winter.
About 650 wells had been drilled, but were not producing at the end of February because it was too cold to inject water and chemicals for the final step, called hydraulic fracturing, the state Department of Mineral Resources Oil and Gas Division said recently.
"As we see winter weather and road restrictions go away, we are going to see a big surge in well completion," Lynn Helms, the division's director and North Dakota's top energy production official, said on a conference call.Comment: North Dakota will blow through one million bopd by mid-summer. Remember: the "official" data is 45 days delayed. For example, production for the month of March, 2014, through the last day of March, 2014, will be posted on/about May 15, 2014. My hunch is we will get a pre-release of the milestone. [Note: "we" passed the 1.1 million bopd some time ago if the Montana/North Dakota Bakken is considered.]
From The Williston Wire, this is a must-read: the world's largest truck wash is located in the Bakken, reported in The Bismarck Tribune.
Old records get smashed just about every day in the oil patch, so it's no real surprise that it now may be home to the world's largest truck wash.
At least that’s owner Jeff Schutz’s take on the scale of the Kwik n Kleen at the corner of U.S. Highway 85 and N.D. Highway 68 just outside Alexander.
He’s developed wash stations throughout the Midwest and a fleet of mobile wash units and he’s sure there isn’t a bigger truck wash anywhere on the planet in terms of speed and water capacity. He opened Kwik n Kleen four days ago, good timing since just about every rig out there is sporting a few layers of mud and grime from greasy roads and springtime slush.
If the $6 million wash is one for the Guinness World Records book, like Schutz says his research finds, it stands to reason everything about it is sized off the charts.
Trucks roll through a 200-foot-long wash bay spaced with electronic eyes that start and stop all the wash, chemical and rinse cycles along the full length.
But besides the sheer length and height of the wash, which occupies the highway corner with same dominance an indoor sports arena would, for Schutz, it’s all about the water.With the well-received new recreation center in Williston, Watford City is looking to replicate the project. Again, from The Williston Wire: Imagine Watford City having a facility that would have an indoor swimming pool, two sheets of ice for hockey and figure skating, as well as a 3,000 seat venue that could hold concerts, sporting events and conventions. The facility would also include a walking/running track, meeting and conference rooms, and space for gymnastics and dance clubs and the Watford City Senior Citizens. All of that and much more is possible, according to Brent Sanford, Watford City mayor, if voters approve a half cent city sales tax increase June 10th.
This is something you don't see often. The owners of Fuddruckers in Williston are expanding to Minot. For newbies, it usually works the other way, if it happens at all.