North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties

The NDAOGPC Executive Committee has recently selected the recipients of its 2014 scholarship awards. Over 40 qualified and talented individuals submitted applications this year for the six available scholarships totaling $10,000. The funds for the Association's scholarship program are supplemented from Basin Bit magazine advertising fees. Thank you to our advertisers for helping these students!

This year's top scholarship winners, Daniel Berg and Jonathan Olson, both attend the University of North Dakota and were awarded $2,500 each. Berg is a native of Dickinson, ND. As mechanical engineering student, he plans to become a drilling engineer after graduating in May 2015. Olson hails from Ray, ND and is majoring in civil engineering. He plans to graduate in May 2017 and then work as an engineer in western North Dakota.

Lucas Schaaf, an electrical engineering student at North Dakota State University, was awarded a scholarship in the amount of $1,500. Originally from Glen Ullin, ND, Schaaf plans to pursue a career in natural gas after his graduation in May 2015. Also receiving a $1,500 scholarship this year is William Eerdmans, a junior petroleum engineering student at the University of North Dakota. Eerdmans would like to be an engineering supervisor in drilling, production, or completions after his graduation in May 2016.

Bismarck State College's Wade Rath-Wald was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to continue his studies toward a bachelor of applied science in energy management. Rath-Wald will graduate in May 2016 and plans to continue his work with ONEOK, where he has interned and worked since 2013. A second $1,000 scholarship was awarded to NDSU student Joseph Zikmund. Zikmund is pursuing a degree in civil engineering. He plans to graduate in May 2015 and work as a petroleum engineer in the midwest.

Congratulations to all of this year's NDAOGPC scholarship winners, and best of luck to them and all who applied in their future endeavors!

Is the Clean Water Wildlife and Parks Amendment right for North Dakota? 

The Clean Water Wildlife and Parks Amendment (CWWPA) is currently being circulated for inclusion on the November 4 General Election ballot.  If approved, the amendment would change the Constitution of North Dakota and set aside 5% of the state's oil extraction tax each year for twenty-five years for conservations purposes.  Conservative estimates indicate this would amount to $3 million a week or $150 million a year that would go into this new fund, amounting to almost $5 billion over the twenty-five year life of the fund.  And, at least 75% of the fund is required to be spent each year. 

Backers of the proposed amendment say we need this money to fund conservation programs in North Dakota.  Opponents say it's too much money and mandates spending in the state's constitution for conservation efforts that are already adequately funded through existing federal, state, and local programs.

 

Next week, Tuesday, July 22, there will be a Community Forum at the ND State Fair in Minot concerning the proposed amendment.  The forum is from 2:30 to 3:30 pm CDT and will be on the Dakota Talent Stage in the Fairgrounds.  This discussion will be moderated by Jim Olson of KXMC.

The state's Legacy Fund will be receiving its largest infusion of cash since its creation this month, according to the state agency that oversees the multi-billion-dollar fund.

 

On Thursday the state treasurer's office announced it anticipates a deposit of $112 million to make its way into the Legacy Fund before the end of July.

 

It is the first monthly deposit of more than $100 million since funds began being placed in the fund monthly in 2011. Through June the Legacy Fund totaled more than $2.2 billion in deposits.

 

Since its creation monthly deposits have been as low as $32 million and as high as $93 million.

 

The Legacy Fund was approved by voters in 2010. Thirty percent of all oil and gas production and extraction tax revenue go into the Legacy Fund, which can't be accessed until June 30 2017.

 

Click here to continue reading Nick Smith's story. 

North Dakota's preliminary May oil production numbers indicate an all-time high at 1,039,635 barrels per day according to the most recently released Director's Cut publication from the ND Department of Mineral Resources (DMR).

 

DMR Director Lynn Helms notes in the 'Comments' section that "the number of well completions increased 14% to 227, but weather continued to impact activity in May with 2 days of heavy rain near Dickinson and 5 to 6 days with wind speeds in excess of 35 mph (too high for completion work)." Over 95% of drilling still targets the Bakken and Three Forks formations, he added. Regarding crude take away capacity, Helms said it "is expected to remain adequate as long as rail deliveries to coastal refineries keep growing". Finally, Helms notes that "drilling permit activity continues to increase as operators begin their summer programs and are already planning location construction for next winter". 

The ND Pipeline Authority's July 2014 monthly updatehas also been released. You can view the issue here.

 

Please visit www.northdakotapipelines.com for monthly updates, maps, presentations, reports, data, and more.

 

To receive the Pipeline Authority's quarterly Pipeline Publication directly by email, you can sign up here.

 

WTI Crude: $103.43

Brent Crude: $108.25

Natural Gas: $3.97

ND Rig Count: 196

 

Please take your time to review all materials and links provided for your convenience. We at the ND Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties will continue to provide you up-to-date information on upcoming events and news happening in North Dakota's oil and gas producing counties!

Sincerely,

400 East Broadway Avenue
Suite 304
Bismarck, ND 58501