Bismarck, N.D. – Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke will deliver the keynote address at the 26th Annual Williston Basin Petroleum Conference (WBPC) at 9:10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23 at the Bismarck Event Center in Bismarck, N.D. More than 2,000 people from 34 states and 4 Canadian Provinces have pre-registered for the conference.

“The Williston Basin is an important piece in achieving President Donald Trump’s goal of American energy dominance,” said Secretary Zinke. “I look forward to joining the conference and speaking with law makers, regulators, and the private sector about how the Trump Administration is working to unleash North Dakota’s full energy potential.”

“We are very excited to host Secretary Zinke to North Dakota,” said Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council (NDPC). “In his service as a Congressman and in his current role, Zinke has been a champion for the hard-working men and women in the energy and agriculture industries. Our state has benefitted greatly from his work to allow for the safe and responsible development of commodities while remaining an ardent steward of our natural resources. We look forward to hearing more about what the future holds for our state and nation.”

Zinke was sworn in as the 52nd Secretary of the Interior on March 1, 2017. A fifth-generation Montanan and former U.S. Navy SEAL Commander, Zinke built one of the strongest track records in the 114th Congress on multiple use land management and championing sportsmen’s access, conservation, regulatory relief, forest management, responsible energy development, and smart management of federal lands. Ryan Zinke represented the state of Montana in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2014. Before that, he served in the Montana State Senate from 2009 to 2011.

Zinke will join the more than 70 presenters at the WBPC, including eight Bakken executives, six of whom represent the top ten producers of oil and natural gas in North Dakota. The conference will also feature a nearly sold-out trade show of more than 270 booths. Registration for the conference will remain open through May 24. For more information, visit WBPCND.org.

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About the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference
The WBPC is the largest conference and expo focused on the Williston Basin, including the Bakken. The conference alternates between North Dakota and Saskatchewan, Canada every other year and is sponsored by the North Dakota Petroleum Council, North Dakota Geological Survey and Government of Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy. For more information and to register for the whole conference, visit www.wbpcnd.org.

About the North Dakota Petroleum Council
Since 1952, the Petroleum Council has been the primary voice of the oil and gas industry in North Dakota. The Petroleum Council represents more than 500 companies involved in all aspects of the oil and gas industry, including oil and gas production, refining, pipeline, mineral leasing, consulting, legal work, and oil field service activities in North Dakota, South Dakota, and the Rocky Mountain Region. For more information, go to www.ndoil.org.

Media Contact:
TESSA SANDSTROM
Director of Communications
NORTH DAKOTA PETROLEUM COUNCIL
T. 701.223.6380

More Than 400 Industry Professionals Set to Gather in Bismarck, North Dakota

BISMARCK, ND – (July 11, 2017) – The 3rd Annual Bakken Conference & Expo will begin Monday, July 17th at the Bismarck Events Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. Produced by BBI International and North American Shale magazine, the event is expected to draw 400+ shale oil industry professionals, including representatives from major operating producers, completion companies and active drillers. The event will include nearly 70 exhibitors, making this the largest Bakken-focused conference in North America this year.

The conference agenda includes more than 60 speakers, focusing on operator updates, investor perspectives and technology trend explanations. “The diversity of speakers we’ve assembled will provide attendees with a full overview of what is currently happening in the Bakken,” says John Nelson, director of marketing and sales at BBI International. “In the past two years, the Bakken play has experienced some exciting changes despite low crude prices. This event will highlight what’s new in the Bakken and how to navigate the play in the future.”

The 2017 program will provide in-depth analysis and timely presentations from speakers focused on the following:

• exploration and production trends
• new completion strategies for improved production
• infrastructure and construction updates
• logistical challenges
• investor perspective
• new product and technology offerings

“As Bakken-focused businesses continue to navigate this new era of shale energy development, three themes continue to emerge: how to find efficiencies, how to reduce operating costs, and how to thrive in an ever-changing oil and gas market. We’ve worked with industry leaders to find the stories and presentations that show what efficiency and cost-reduction efforts look like,” says Luke Geiver, program director of The Bakken Conference & Expo and editor of North American Shale magazine. Featured throughout the agenda are multiple case studies and perspectives offering proven results by operators, service providers and new technology firms. “Because the event mimics the content of our print publication, attendees will receive valuable insight on multiple elements of the Bakken play.”

New this year is a pre-conference seminar titled, The Bakken Vs. The World. The one-day event includes perspectives from multiple entities that are currently working in and out of the Bakken. The agenda is designed to give attendees perspective on what investors, businesses, jobseekers, regulators and others think about when they think of the Bakken, Permian or other shale plays. Presentations from investor analysts, regulators, multi-play service and operations firms, job service personnel and community leaders will highlight what’s better, what’s different and what needs to change in the Bakken.

To view the agenda, visit www.TheBakkenConference.com.

19th Annual Dickinson API Gumbo Cookoff – hosted by Dickinson API Chapter
18 teams will square off for best gumbo. Prizes, raffles, live music, dancing and more!
When:          Saturday, February 20
11:00 a.m.   Teams start cooking; public is welcome to attend and watch;
6:30 p.m.     Gumbo tasting starts until gone
8:30 p.m.     Live Music and dance with EZ Street Band
Where:         Quality Inn & Suites, Dickinson, ND
More Info:    http://apidickinson.org/event/api-gumbo-cookoff/?instance_id=30

4th Annual Bakken BBQ
Industry teams join forces to BBQ for Make-a-Wish Foundation!
When:          June 17, 2016
Where:         West River Ice Rink
More Info:   https://www.facebook.com/BBQ4Cause/?fref=ts

North Dakota Oil Can! Teacher Seminar
Teachers are invited to attend a seminar to learn the ins and outs of the oil industry, tour a well site and other facilities, and take lesson plans back to their classrooms all while earning continuing educatoin credits.
When:         June 20-23, 2016
Where:        Bismarck, ND
More info:  The seminar is limited to just 50 teachers, but there are still spots available. Learn more and apply at http://www.ndoil.org/events/teacher_education/.

Bismarck, N.D. – The North Dakota Petroleum Council (NDPC) will host the Oil Can! Community Day on Monday, Sept. 16 during its Annual Meeting at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. The Community Day will include two Bakken Basics Education Sessions, a barbecue, activities for kids, and access to the NDPC Members-Only Showcase.

“We are able to host educational sessions about the oil and gas industry in western North Dakota throughout the year through our Bakken Rocks CookFests and other events, but many residents in the eastern half of the state haven’t had the opportunity to attend these kinds of events,” said Tessa Sandstrom, NDPC communications manager. “By holding our Annual Meeting in Grand Forks, we are bringing the Bakken east and giving residents of the Red River Valley the chance to learn more about the Bakken and ask industry experts about oil and gas development in North Dakota.”

The Bakken Basics Education Sessions are scheduled for 2:30-4 p.m. and 4-5:30 p.m. and will include talks by Ron Ness, president of the NDPC; Lynn Helms, director for the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources; and Kathy Neset, president of Neset Consulting Service. A community barbecue featuring smoked pulled pork, smoked sausage and BBQ chicken, courtesy of Halliburton, will follow the educational sessions and go until 7:30 p.m. NDPC member exhibits and activities for kids, including a face painter, balloon artist and bounce house and slide will be open from 3-7:30 p.m. Exhibitors include Grand Forks businesses, as well as leading oil and gas producers and service companies operating in the Bakken. A pumping unit, workover rig, wireline truck, crane and ONEOK’s Natural Gas Mobile Museum will also be on display.

The Oil Can! Community Day is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.northdakotaoilcan.com/events/2013CommunityDay/.

The NDPC Annual Meeting will run from Monday, Sept. 16 to Wednesday, Sept. 18, and will feature a keynote address from legendary Notre Dame coach, Lou Holtz. An agenda and costs for attending the full meeting are available at https://annualmeeting.risprojects.org. Members of the media wishing to attend may contact Tessa Sandstrom at tsandstrom@ndoil.org or 701-557-7744.

Since 1952, the Petroleum Council has been the primary voice of the oil and gas industry in North Dakota. The Petroleum Council represents more than 420 companies involved in all aspects of the oil and gas industry, including oil and gas production, refining, pipeline, mineral leasing, consulting, legal work, and oil field service activities in North Dakota, South Dakota, and the Rocky Mountain Region. Our members produced 98% of the 243 million barrels of oil produced in North Dakota last year. For more information, go to www.ndoil.org.

BISMARCK, ND – The North Dakota Petroleum Council (NDPC) today announced that legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz will provide a keynote address during the NDPC’s Annual Meeting to be held Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, ND. Holtz took his Notre Dame teams to nine straight New Year’s Day bowl games from 1987 through 1995 and remains 11th on the NCAA all-time win list for Division I-A coaches.

“The petroleum industry has had incredible success in helping our economy and our country, and I am delighted to be joining the North Dakota Petroleum Council and its members in Grand Forks,” said Holtz. “There are a great deal of similarities between being a coach and one of the many industry leaders who have seized this tremendous opportunity to help move our state and nation forward. Just as on the athletic field, the ability of leaders to adapt, find solutions for evolving challenges and issues, and capitalize on opportunities makes for a winning proposition.”

“We are excited to have a legend like Coach Holtz join us at our 32nd Annual Meeting,” said Ron Ness, president of the NDPC. “Coach Holtz’s record as a coach demonstrates his ability to motivate others, and there is no doubt his talk will be an inspiration for our attendees and the leaders of our state and the industry.”

Also joining Holtz as a featured speaker at the Annual Meeting will be Statoil’s General Manager of North America, Bill Maloney; Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s CEO Matt Rose; and North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple.

In addition to the business meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 18, this year’s Annual Meeting will feature a Community Education Day and BBQ on Sept. 16. The event will be free and open to the public and will include two Bakken Basics Education sessions, which will be held from 2:30-4 p.m. and 4-5:30 p.m. in Ballrooms 4 and 5 in the Alerus Center. A free BBQ will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. and the community is invited to attend and visit the Members Only Showcase, which will be open from 3:30-7:30 p.m.

“We are excited to take our Annual Meeting to Grand Forks this year and showcase the support, products and services that many of the businesses in the Red River Valley provide for the Bakken,” said Terry Kovacevich, NDPC chairman and regional vice president for Marathon Oil. “Many business leaders in eastern North Dakota have capitalized on the opportunities provided by the petroleum industry in western North Dakota, which has created jobs and helped the economies of communities from Pembina to Wahpeton.”

NDPC members will also have an opportunity to showcase their products and services during a Members Only Showcase to be held for Annual Meeting attendees on Tuesday, Sept. 17. For a full schedule and agenda of speakers, visit https://annualmeeting.risprojects.org/agenda.aspx. 

Since 1952, the Petroleum Council has been the primary voice of the oil and gas industry in North Dakota. The Petroleum Council represents more than 420 companies involved in all aspects of the oil and gas industry, including oil and gas production, refining, pipeline, mineral leasing, consulting, legal work, and oil field service activities in North Dakota, South Dakota, and the Rocky Mountain Region. Our members produced 98% of the 243 million barrels of oil produced in North Dakota last year.  For more information, go to www.ndoil.org.