Updates
Later, 6:41 p.m. CDT: see comments below. I mentioned this project a year ago in an earlier post. I had completely forgotten about it. I'm surprised no one wrote and asked for an update on this project. I have visited the Bakken three (or maybe four) times since September, 2013, and I have driven past that location every time, multiple times with my dad and never mentioned it to him, which means I had completely forgotten about it.
Original Post
New Frontier LLC, a Williston, N.D.-based developer has announced plans for a $250 million transload facility called the East Valley Rail Project. Jason Everett, lead developer for the company, announced the project at the recently held Williston Economic Development Summit. Once complete, the facility will provide inbound storage and handling of several energy related products, ranging from frack sand to tubular goods.I can't remember if I posted this or not, but I sent e-mail to another reader a few days ago: wit the problem they are having getting fracking sand to the Bakken, my hunch is we are going to see increased sand shipped during the relatively slower periods in the winter and then stored locally. This certainly looks what we might be seeing here.
The new facility, to be located east of Williston, will help centralize the oil activity in one location, says the company. The terminal will be located just east of the Halliburton-Sanjel complex east of Williston, just east of the 1804 Little Muddy Bridge, near the old salt mine.
“We looked at the location and determined that the rail only crosses the highway at four different spots between Montana and Minot, this [Williston] being one of the main areas that it crosses a major public road,” said Everett.
This project will be the first rail facility with public water and sewer and all utilities available to it. And according to Everett, designing the facility to be large enough to take on multiple tenants and with having most of the oil companies and oil field service companies having their main headquarters for the Bakken in Williston makes it “the opportune spot to be the logistical advantage from their home-base.”
The facility will be able to store about 160,000 tons of frack sand, will have a pipe and casing yard of about 30 acres, and will have an extra 90 additional acres of storage for things like large tanks or rail car storage.
More from the article:
This facility is the first unit train facility in western North Dakota approved by the BNSF, which allows them to land a full train and once those cars are needed, the facility will be able to switch cars internally verses waiting for the railroad to switch them.
“Right now, if you have 40 cars and can only get five cars switched per day, it takes eight days to unload them, but we’ll be able to do all of the 40 cars in about seven hours,” said Everett.
Eastern Valley Rail will be able to hold 18 to 20 tenants and Everett said they’ve already begun selecting clients for the facility.Much more at the linked article including Google satellite map.
How fast could we see this? The company hopes to break ground this fall, and have first shipments by March, 2015 -- that's only about 7 months from now. And much of that construction during the legendary, frigid, North Dakota winter.
Daily Operations Report
Wells coming off the confidential list Thursday:
- 27578, drl, BR, Sequoia 31-4TFH, Hawkeye, no production data,
- 27618, drl, Slawson, Whirlwind 3-31H, Big Bend, producing,
Nineteen (19) new permits --
- Operators: CLR (6), MRO (5), Hess (4), QEP (3), Whiting
- Fields: Avoca (Williams), Brooklyn (Williams), Big Stick (Billings), Grail (McKenzie), Baskin (Mountrail), Bailey (Dunn)
- Comments:
- 26763, 2,125, KOG, P Irgens 155-99-2-4-9-14H, Epping, t8/14; cum --
- 26765, 1,903, KOG, P Irgens 155-99-2-4-9-15H3A, Epping, t8/14; cum --
- 26767, 1,398, KOG, P Irgens 155-99-2-4-9-15H3, Epping, t8/14; cum --
- 28035, 1,199, Whiting, Ness 41-21-3XH, Sanish, t8/14; cum --
- 28343, 1,414, Whiting, Perry State 11-25-2H, Sanish, t8/14; cum --
| 9/10/2014 | 09/10/2013 | 09/10/2012 | 09/10/2011 | 09/10/2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Rigs | 199 | 184 | 192 | 199 | 141 |
Wow, this story will certainly compete for "story of the year of the Bakken." You are correct; this is a huge story. The possibilities are endless. Weatherford's huge new facility is on this side of town. Halliburton is also on this side of town.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention: the story is linked at this post:
ReplyDeletehttp://themilliondollarway.blogspot.com/2014/09/intermittent-wi-fi-connection-problems.html
Thank you for taking the time to write.
You mentioned this rail terminal about a year ago when the project was originally announced. Seems like the latest news is a "reannouncement" of sorts. http://themilliondollarway.blogspot.com/2013/09/saturday-news-views-and-links-new.html
ReplyDeleteWow, you have a great memory; I had completely forgotten that. I also note that at the post a year ago, I forgot to include the link. I wish I had included the link. The story obviously did not stick with me. Multiple trips to the Bakken since then; a better understanding of the Bakken; the high cost of transporting sand by truck; put this industrial / rail terminal in perspective. Yes, it does sound like a "re-announcement" or an update. I assume the news was the ground-breaking and mentioning when the project should be operational.
DeleteThe fracking sand story really puts this story into perspective for me. Again, I'm really impressed you remembered this story; I had completely forgotten all about it. (Sometimes I post stories in my sleep, I think.)
If someone could fill those empty railways formerly loaded with sand or set pipe, they could save a bundle in transportation costs. Granted, the railways would have to be tarped, but fertilizer or polyethylene pellets are products the Bakken could produce. Both are needed where the sand and pipes come from.
ReplyDeleteAgree completely. When this is all over, there's going to be some great infrastructure in place to support a lot of industries. This may be just the beginning.
DeleteThe difference between "then" and "now" is, "then" they were still working on getting approval and working on the platting and plan. "now" is they are planning to break ground this fall hoping to start using the facility next spring. So in my opinion, it is more than just a "re-announcement"
ReplyDeleteThis facility will obviously give the trans loading facilities in Minot and Bismarck a run for their money. My guess is this facility will get a lot more use than the other 2.
You said it much better than I did. A year ago "we" did not have an appreciation for how big this project was, and there was, I suppose, some uncertainty where it would really happen. Now, a year later, we see the groundbreaking, Google satellite views, graphics of how it fits into the local infrastructure, etc. It has "substance" now. And to think it will be operational, at least to some degree, by March, 2015. By the way, there is already a smaller, but busy, private (non-BNSF) rail yard/terminal just across the road from this new terminal.
DeleteExcellent data link. Thank you. I've added this link at "Data Links" page as well as moved this to a stand-alone post for easier access.
ReplyDelete