Williston Makes Top-Ten List of Ranked North American Oil Capitals

Williston voted #9 among North American oil capitals

In North America --- Canada, USA, and Mexico -- oil executives vote Williston #9 of 10 oil capitals, ahead of Edmonton, in 10th position.

The Tulsa World conducted an informal and mostly anonymous poll asking oil and gas insiders to rank the so-called Oil Capitals of North America. The group included executives and analysts in Tulsa, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Houston and on the East Coast. 

When you see the list, it is amazing Williston is even on the list (considering the food shortage, lack of water, sewer, electricity, and no more room on the highways). Ten years ago, nay, five years ago, who would have guessed.

But it explains why Williston is getting two daily flights to Minneapolis: more and more corporate (and not just oil industry) execs are flying into Williston. Sure, some of the CEOs have their own corporate jets, but not all, and certainly not the mid-level managers.

Here's the list (be sure to look at the honorable mention list; those cities that did not make the list):

1. Houston: HQ for almost every major company

2. Calgary: Center of Canadian oil and coal industries

3. Oklahoma City: Devon, Chesapeake, SandRidge, Continental Resources

4. Tulsa: Energy diversity, Williams, ONEOK, manufacturing

5. Dallas-Fort Worth: Barnett Shale, Exxon Mobil offices

6. Denver: Cimarex, gateway to Piceance, Niobrara Shale

7. Midland, Texas: Permian Basin hub

8. New Orleans: Hub of Gulf Coast operations and shipping

9. Williston, N.D.: Bakken Shale. Can you say "Boomtown!"

10. Edmonton: Hub for Alberta oil and gas activity

Honorable mentions: New York, Cushing, Los Angeles, Casper, Wyo. 

Population of each city:

Houston: 2.1 million
Calgary: 1.1 million
Oklahoma City: 600,000
Tulsa: 400,000
Dallas-Ft Worth: 6.4 million
Denver: 600,000
Midland, TX: 140,000
New Orleans: 1.2 million --> 350,000
Williston: 13,000 --> 20,000 (best estimate)
Edmonton, Alberta: 1 million

No city in Mexico or Wyoming made the top-ten list; Salt Lake City didn't even make honorable mention, nor did Billings, Montana. 

A big "thank you" to a reader for alerting me to the story.

Human Interest Story: Laid-Back Lifestyle in Williston

Here's a great feel-good story from Detroit to Williston, link to the Dickinson Press.

The family went through home foreclosure and was behind on rent and other bills. “We were in some dire straits there,” Rhonda said.

Then they saw an ad for truck drivers in Williston. At first, they thought the job was only for the summer, but it turned out to be a permanent position.

With their two daughters and one son grown and on their own, Rhonda, 46, and Charles, 49, decided the timing was right to relocate to North Dakota.

Charles works 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. hauling water to oil sites for Key Energy.

Rhonda joined him in Williston a little more than a year ago and liked the small-town feel and the laid-back atmosphere.

“To come from the hustle and bustle of Detroit where you always had to be suit and tie, skirts and stockings to just jeans and slacks … this is wonderful, this is marvelous,” Rhonda said.

Read the entire story at the link. 

Rhonda didn't mention anything about the food shortage in Williston, or lack of water, sewer, or electricity as noted by the Williams County commission. And somehow, despite no room on the highway for anyone else, both Rhonda and her husband were able to find room.

But....

“We’re still out of water, we’re still out of sewage capacity, we’re short of electricity and there’s no room on the highways for anyone else,” Kalil said.

A big "thank you" to a reader who alerted me to the story. I apologize for adding my editorial two-cents worth, but it points out the difference between those who "have" and see the cup half empty; and those who "don't have" and see the cup half full.

South Dakota Wind Farm Developer Not Happy With Handout

Link here to Rapid City Journal.

The developer for a Belle Fourche-area wind farm said South Dakota’s pro-wind farm bill now on the governor’s desk should have a lower threshold for refunds from state tax on construction costs.

Mark Eilers said that as it stands now, House Bill 1228 will hurt smaller projects such as the one northwest of Belle Fourche.

The Rapid City native said his concern is for the $50 million capital costs threshold before the refunds would kick in.

“Our Belle Fourche project is targeted at 20 megawatts and will fall under the $50 million threshold,” Eilers said.

Advice: build a bigger wind farm.

Better advice: from South "Daschle" Dakota? Invest in ethanol. 

What a racket. I don't know of one redeeming aspect of whooping bird and golden eagle killing wind turbines. They are an eyesore; they are a nuisance for utilities; and, they increase the cost of one's utility bills. The Netherlands, Spain, and Germany have pulled the plug on wind and/or solar renewable projects. They too have seen the light. Canada has withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol.

Angerer Back in the News -- Oil For America --

This time natural gas processing plants

Link here to the Dickinson Press.

A major oil player needs to “get his act together” before he can build a natural gas processing facility near Patterson Lake, said Jay Elkin, Stark County Zoning Board commissioner.

It has been more than a year since Bob Angerer dug up six oil sites near Taylor, Elkin said Saturday, and the developer has yet to close reserve pits that threaten surrounding farmland, livestock and heavily-used water sources.

"A major oil player"?  I don't think Mr Angerer / Oil for America has any successful Lodgepole reef wells in North Dakota, but I could be wrong. I've long lost interest in Oil for America. I was surprised to see that he is still making the rounds. Quite a promoter it seems.

Not to be confused with Ken Anger. Although both may have used the same formula: "dream logic."




Kenneth Anger Interview and Clips

24-Hour Wendy's and Chester's Chicken Coming to Williston -- Love's Truck Stop North Of Williston

Williston Herald on-line edition.

Where, oh where, do they find all these workers to staff these new restaurants?

Originally, Love's planned to have a Subway restaurant, but there are already two Subway restaurants in Williston. This will be the first Wendy's restaurant in Williston.

Chester's Chicken is headquartered in Birmingham, AL. According to MapMuse there are 65 Chester's Chicken locations around the continental United States. I do not see one in North Dakota. The nearest one appears to be in/near Minneapolis, MN.