Sorted by date Results 233 - 257 of 258
When an oil boom comes to the area, we often see new companies popping up all around us. Pacific Steel and Recycling is not one of those companies. They've been serving the Basin area for over 74 years and have no intention of leaving. Their employee dedication and customer focus is bar none. Pacific's road to becoming one of the most well known and respected steel and recycling giants began as a one man (Joe Thiebes) operation in Spokane, WA in the late 1800s. It began as a fur and hide...
According to the recently released Census Bureau data, North Dakota is growing at a rate of nearly three times faster than the nation as a whole and Farmers Union Oil (Cenex) in Watford City is taking the steps to overcome the growing pains associated with being in the heart of that growth. A 31,000 square foot facility is in the process of being built on the truck route at 6th Ave SE. It’ll not only offer gas and diesel, but it’ll also offer clothing, hardware, a truckers lounge and del...
Oil and gas extraction practices are permanently removing at least seven billion gallons of water from the hydrologic cycle each year in just four arid western states, according to a new report, Gone for Good, published by the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC). The reason for the huge loss of water is that states have failed to place adequate protections on the use and contamination of fresh water in hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” the technology that has allowed the oil and gas industry to extract oil and gas from sha...
In the oil industry, most workers don’t have the luxury of a typical nine to five hour work schedule. They work long hours, both day and night. So, in their off-time, shopping for work related clothing probably doesn’t make the top of the list of things to do. For an oil worker needing to buy fire retardant clothing, one-stop shopping probably couldn’t sound better. Sonda Shandy, of Sonda’s Solutions, was betting that was the case when she opened her fire retardant clothing store at 2221 S....
Green technology is on the horizon, and in one of the most unlikely places; the Bakken oil patch. Innovative Montana co-founders of the Billings business G2G Solutions (Gas to Green) have created an ingenious solution for one of the Bakken’s “hottest” issues flared gas. Helena’s Mark Peterson took time from his busy day to explain over a cup of coffee more about the company which has created new opportunities for him and his family; G2G Solutions, which he is a co-founder of. Peterson, who own...
The Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday approved interim natural gas rates for Montana-Dakota Utilities, a decision expected to have little immediate impact on consumers as the winter heating season winds down, regulators said. The Commission granted the company, which has a pending natural gas rate case before the PSC, an interim increase of $850,620, significantly less than what the utility requested. MDU, which serves 78,910 customers in Billings and eastern Montana, initially sought $1.68 million in interim rates, but...
The 3rd Annual Bakken Investor Conference brings together oil and gas companies and investors along with real estate developers and investors to connect and explore emerging investment opportunities in the Bakken Shale play. The conference affords the attendees the advantage to: Discover high growth investment opportunities, identify investments with unique revenue models, obtain the latest data on market conditions and development activities in the Bakken, connect with high-level executives and company representatives and engage in valuable...
It's great to be a pop can these days. Or, a soda can, depending on what neck-of-the-woods you're from. Either way, I feel rejuvenated. Now, you may be wondering why a seemingly insignificant inanimate object such as me, an aluminum can, might take the time to write a letter for folks to read. Which, I might ad was no easy undertaking considering my slim cylinder like figure and lack of limbs. Alas, I simply had to let people know about a recent experience I had at Pacific Steel & Recycling, a...
Based in Belfield, ND. and formerly known as Missouri Basin Well Service, MBI Energy Services is one of the fastest growing service companies in the North Dakota petroleum industry. They began in 1979 with only one truck and have grown substantially to having a fleet of over 1000 contract and company trucks to meet the needs of their customers. Locations MBI has expanded its services to multiple locations throughout the Bakken oil field in North Dakota, in the Marcellus in Pennsylvania, the...
On Thursday, March 21, the Watford City Area Chamber of Commerce, QEP and MBI held their annual ‘Pick up the Patch’ meeting at the Outlaws Board Room in Watford City to coordinate Pick up the Patch 2013. Pick up the Patch is a community-wide effort to cleanup debris left behind once the winter snow melts in the Watford City and surrounding areas. It’s a great opportunity for people and businesses to come together and show their community support and a great opportunity to meet your neigh...
The oil and gas industry has seen record energy development and production while driving the economy in the Williston Basin yet faces continued challenges requiring further investment in and development of infrastructure and other assets. The oil and gas industry is driving the economy in the Williston Basin. The real estate developers and investors build out the housing, industrial, commercial and other infrastructure needed to sustain energy and economic development in the Bakken. The 3rd Annual Bakken Investor Conference brings together oil...
Senator Kendall Van Dyk (D-Billings) introduced legislation today putting a limit on the state’s 18-month oil and gas tax holiday and using the proceeds to address local impacts in communities facing the Bakken oil boom. SB 399 is modeled after North Dakota’s highly successful tax-holiday system, which reduces oil and gas production taxes on new wells whenever oil prices dip below a certain level. “Montanans have lived through oil booms and we have lived through oil busts,” said Van Dyk. “During each cycle of oil and gas production we pray for...
For those accustom to living in rural America it comes as no surprise that volunteer efforts and good’ol fashioned neighborliness are what keeps small communities thriving and prospering. It is generosity that serves as the backbone of many improvement projects that simply couldn’t move forward without those in-kind and monetary contributions not given a line-item in any departmental budget. In recognizing this, two major oil and gas companies and four service companies have joined together to...
Is your organization working on sustainability issues, and does it need help reaching out to clients and other community members? Energy Corps may be part of the solution. It is a national program developed and managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) that uses AmeriCorps members to provide hands-on energy assistance, energy education, and community recycling and other sustainability planning, to help communities. Host site opportunities are available in Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Pennsylv...
The MonDak Energy Alliance, which is made up of individuals and businesses interested in developing energy within the MonDak region, met Feb. 28th in Sidney. The alliance meets quarterly, switching between Sidney and Williston, and hosts speakers covering topics concerning the area. During the Feb. 28th meeting, the alliance heard speakers concerning topics including: highway concerns, rail depot development, oil lease advisement, the oil well drilling in Sidney, and a look into the...
In a state boasting some of the heaviest over-the-road trucking activity in the nation, the creation of a diesel refinery plant could be just what the western side of the state of North Dakota needs to help quench the insatiable thirst the area has for diesel fuel. As the demand for diesel fuel continues to be stretched passed the limits of local capabilities, two companies are taking part in a joint venture and making plans to help meets diesel consumption needs, while creating sustainable...
In small communities in Montana and North Dakota the funding for certain services just isn’t cutting it. On February 22, 2013, the Froid Volunteer Fire Department was presented with a $10,000 check from Energy Outreach Williston. The issue in Froid is definitely not the lack of volunteers, as they make up 10% of the community. As fire department chief Dave Clark stated, “It’s a really good group of guys, they all respond to most of the calls.” The real issue for the department is the lack of...
Rangeland reclamation is no easy task, and the need for more information on how to do it effectively is growing as the number of pipelines criss-crossing the open prairies of eastern Montana and western North Dakota continues to increase. To meet that need, a one-day workshop bringing together reclamation researchers, energy company representatives and ranchers and land managers to discuss the best methods for managing pipeline reclamation will be held Tuesday, March 5th in Sidney, MT. The workshop begins with scientific presentations in the...
Target Logistics held a ribbon cutting Feb. 21 at their new Watford City location. Pictured, cneter, (L-R) are Target Logistics Vice President Travis Kelly, McKenzie County Commissioners Chair Ronald A. Anderson and Watford City Chamber of Commerce President Kristen Bolken. (Photo by Roger Riveland)...
After months of hard work and uncooperative weather, InstaLodge will be opening phase I of their community in Arnegard. Approximately 200 rooms became available February 8th. The 30,000 square foot lodge, 4000 square foot health club and 24 hr food service with chef prepared meals are expected to open in April along with an additional 200 rooms. Each building in Phase I has four bedrooms, a large kitchen and combination living/dining room, washer, dryer, stove, dishwasher, refrigerator,...
The Eastern Montana Impact Coalition (Coalition) last week announced via meetings with eastern Montana legislators and government stakeholders that it has launched a study to identify how and when eastern Montana communities will be impacted by accelerating energy development. The study’s goal is to help local communities understand the timing and magnitude of these impacts and determine the priority issues to be addressed and investments required to benefit from energy development and build t...
Wolf Run Village in Watford City will soon house many essential services personnel including: emergency medical personnel, police officers, teachers and others who are committed to serving the needs of the community. 42 apartments: 24 one bedroom units and 18 two bedroom units will be constructed to the highest standards and will be available to rent furnished or unfurnished at affordable rates, some as early as August 2013. “The goal is to get the school teachers out of the portable trailers a...
Rangeland reclamation is no easy task, and the need for more information on how to do it effectively is growing as the number of pipelines criss-crossing the open prairies of eastern Montana and western North Dakota increase with oil and gas development in the Bakken. To meet that need, a one-day workshop that brings together reclamation researchers, energy company representatives and ranchers and land managers to discuss the best methods for managing pipeline reclamation is planned for Tuesday, March 5th in Sidney. The all-day workshop runs...
The message Wednesday at the Montana State Capitol in Helena was that it’s time for oil and gas companies to pay their fair share of taxes instead of getting a free ride on most of their production. At a press conference sponsored by the Northern Plains Resource Council, Senator Christine Kaufmann (D-Helena) outlined her Senate Bill 295, which would repeal the tax-free holiday Montana gives oil and gas companies on the first 12 to 18 months of production. A typical Bakken formation well yields 57% of its production in the first 18 months, b...
Target Logistics, the largest turnkey workforce housing provider in the United States, will hold the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of its Watford City Lodge on Thursday, February 21 at 5:30 PM. The lodge is designed to accommodate the ever-growing workforce in the Bakken and now provides much-needed housing for 334 oil, gas and pipeline workers – with an additional 300 bedrooms planned for this summer. “Keeping workers comfortable, well fed and safe comprise what we describe as ‘The Economics of Comfort™’,” says Target Logistics Founder and...
