Watford City Airport Update -- November 16, 2019

From Geoff Simon on Friday, November 15, 2019:

Plans were approved this week to begin construction work next spring on a longer, re-aligned runway at the Watford City Airport. But instead of attempting to finish the work in a single construction season, the work will be spread over two years to minimize downtime at the airport.

The Watford City Airport Authority approved design work for a 5,800 foot concrete runway, which carries an estimated price tag of $26.4 million. The city expects to bid the first phase of the project in February.

Construction of the new runway will eventually require the current 4,400 foot runway to be shut down, but airport officials decided to spread the work over two years to shorten the time the airport will be out of service. Next summer the city will complete grading and other dirt work that won't affect existing airport operations, and complete work on the concrete runway in 2021. The second phase of the project which will require shutting down all air traffic is expected to require about six months to complete.

Whiting to Build Northern Ops Regional Branch in Watford City -- Not Confirmed -- Also, Power Fuels -- Photos -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

As regular readers know, I have noted on numerous occasions, Whiting oil has a northern Bakken operation centered around New Town, North Dakota, in its Sanish oil field, just west of where the North Dakota Bakken first broke out, the Parshall oil field.

Whiting's southern Bakken operation is centered around Belfield.

Tea leaves tell me that Bakken activity is moving to McKenzie County in 2012, with the center of activity at Watford City. I've heard through the grapevine -- or would it be through the hops pasture -- that Whiting will be building a headquarters office in Watford City.

I've wondered when Whiting would be building a headquarters building in the area -- most likely a regional headquarters or a branch office, although the former would be more likely. BEXP built a new building over a year ago, quite a bit west of Williston. Oasis is putting up a huge new office complex west of Williston. I'm trying to remember if I've seen a Continental Resources regional headquarters in the area.

By the way, on the way back from Watford City yesterday, I saw two large man-camps being built just west of the city, right on US Highway 85. It appears there will be two, one right next to each other, if I read the signs correctly. One will be a 400-bed camp.

Incidentally, it appears Power Fuels is fueling the growth in Watford.

I would love to know more about Power Fuels, just for archival purposes: when it was founded; how it has grown (pre-boom to current boom). If Harold Hamm is the face of the Bakken, one almost gets the feeling that Power Fuels has become the face of Watford City. Everything I see about them, everything I hear about them, impresses me. And I could be wrong, but it looks like they used to be called Badlands Power Fuels, and if true, tells me a lot about their heritage. [Update: I was sent this link which provides background to Power Fuels.]

Wow, talk about a disorganized post: I start out with an unconfirmed story about Whiting, touch briefly on man-camps outside of Watford City, and end up talking about Power Fuels.

So, I guess if I have digressed this much, I might as well post photos of the Power Fuels housing complex northwest of the center of Watford:

Pretty impressive, huh? Watford City. I am told this complex will accommodate over 1,000 people. The population of Watford City in the 2010 census was 1,744.

I apologize for the quality of the photos; they were taken early morning on Saturday, November 5, shortly after dawn. It is amazing how much better the photo is when taken with the dawn behind me.

Missouri Basin Well Service to Build Headquarters in Watford City -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Link here (this regional link will break early).

Started in 1979 by Jim and Jody Arthaud, Missouri Basin Well Service (MBI) has branched out from a single truck water transportation business in Belfield, N.D., to a huge oil industry business in five states, with offices in Belfield, Ross, and soon, Watford City.

According to Kummer, Missouri Basin Well Service plans to be in Watford City for a long time, which is why they are investing in a headquarters, not a branch.

“We are building an office and shop to service our equipment,” states Kummer. “Construction of the new office is currently underway and we are hiring for all positions.”

And Chuck Steffan, chief operating officer for MBI, echoes further, “We will be doing all our data processing, processing tickets, and coordinating activities for our McKenzie County business at the Watford City headquarters.”

Because Missouri Basin Well Service plans on staying in Watford City, it will also be building apartment complexes to house their employees.

No place in the Bakken, not even Minot, will surpass the industrial base in Williston -- at least not in the foreseeable future, but the tea leaves suggest Watford City is going to be the center of activity in 2012. In addition to everything else, the community seems poised, ready, excited, and eager to expand. There seems to be a lot of community spirit in Watford.