For Immediate Release
Contact: Jessica Sena, 590-8675

In response to Tom Power’s, “Drill, Baby, Drill”: The Ongoing Economic Fantasy

In light of a recent commentary by Tom Power (former Economics Professor at the University of Montana) it’s apparent that much education is needed on the issue of America’s energy revolution.

Today, Americans are reaping the benefits of readily available, affordable energy. The United States has just been announced the number one energy producer in the world by Wall Street Journal. Last year, families saw energy savings of $1,200 per household thanks to technological advances in unconventional methods of extraction, according to a September IHS report. The Federal Government’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program spent $3.5 billion dollars on 9 million people last year to help pay energy bills, amounting to just under $400 per person. That being said, America’s private energy sector saved families three times more than taxpayer funded government subsidies.

Power points out that oil and gas production have increased three-fold in Montana since 1990. He fails to mention in 1990, production levels were tanking. Tax changes throughout the 90’s, including a production incentive passed by the legislature, stopped the decline & led to an increase in oil and gas production, especially via horizontal wells.

Improved horizontal drilling technology partnered with proven hydraulic fracturing released billions of barrels of oil and gas previously thought to be uneconomic to produce. The production increase led to surpluses of new tax revenues at the state and county levels.

In 1990, state and local tax revenues from oil and gas production totaled just over $30 million dollars for cash starved state and local governments, and schools. Almost twenty years later, in 2008, the total production tax revenue from oil and gas was more than $300 million, with over half that amount returning to the counties for school funding, infrastructure, and public programs. Since 2009, oil and gas production levels have remained relatively constant, providing more than $200 million dollars a year in production taxes alone to the state.

According to Power, Montana’s oil and gas industry “was directly responsible of about one-half of one percent of all jobs in the state” in 2011. As of 2012, Montana’s oil and gas activity actually accounted for roughly 3% of jobs in Montana, or almost 30,000 (direct & indirect jobs) according to economist Patrick Barkey of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Oil producing counties represent the state’s lowest areas of unemployment, according to the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. The report from August of this year lists the following Eastern Montana counties at the top of the list; Fallon County, at 1.5%, Richland County comes in second at 2.2%, Sheridan County at 2.2%, McCone County at 2.3%, Carter County 2.3%, Garfield County 2.7%, Wibaux County 2.8%, and Custer Co. at 3%. Compare those numbers to the hardest hit areas; Sanders County at 10.2%, Lincoln County at 12.1% and Big Horn County with the highest unemployment at 14.3%.

Power criticizes the payroll associated with oil and gas jobs, and claims that, “Oil and gas development is not a likely candidate for substantial job creation.” Really?

On the contrary, the Montana Department of Labor classifies natural resource jobs, along with health care and business services, as one of the fastest growing industries in Montana, with a forecasted growth rate of 2.3% between 2014-2021. In terms of wages, Montana’s oil and gas industry paid an average of $56,581 per worker, 75% above the state average in 2012.

One of the most ludicrous statements in Power’s write up, is the assumption that “few people hold up that phenomenon [Eastern Montana oil boom] as an example of how most Montanans would like to live and raise their kids.”

The Montana Petroleum Association has spent the last year on the road and on the phone speaking with families who express the exact opposite sentiment. Many have claimed that without the oil activity, their families “wouldn’t have made it” through the recession. For some, it’s a family affair, with one or more family members working in the oil field; like Robin Schiele of Helena, and his 22 year old son who lives in Missoula, but works in the Bakken.

Before Robin, the family’s patriarch, was hired for a water trucking company in the Williston Basin, the Schiele family, including Robin’s wife and three children, worked 16 hour days caring for lawns just to pay the bills. The Schiele’s are one of many families who’ve said the Bakken opportunities are what saved their family.

As for those living closer to the bulk of the activity, the sentiment’s the same.

At the Montana Economic Development Association’s fall conference on October 3rd in Sidney, Richland County Commissioner Shane Gorder told attendees, “I want to make one thing very clear. I am excited about our economy. I am glad that our children can return home to work in our area. Growth is positive — bringing jobs and opportunities for our communities.”

Last week, Tracy Kessel, a wife and mother living in the oil patch wrote in to the Sidney Herald, “For those of you who are new to our community…Welcome, you couldn’t have picked a better community to be a part of or raise your children.”

After setting the stage to undermine how prolific the recent expansion in energy production has been, Power defends federal agencies, saying, “Whatever federal energy policy has done, it has not restrained energy production in the United States.” The reality is, though, the federal government and environmental agencies have done nothing to increase energy production either, though they love to take credit for the recent success of the private energy sector.

The federal government leases less than 6 percent of its onshore lands for oil and gas development. Under the Obama Administration, the rate of leasing has slowed by about half. According to the Energy Information Administration, in fiscal year 2011, production on federal lands dropped 13 percent from fiscal year 2010 levels, led by a drop in federal offshore production of 17 percent. The majority of oil production on federal lands (around 80 percent) is located in offshore waters. Furthermore, the rate of permitting has also declined by more than one-third.

These facts show that the trend during the current administration has been toward fewer leases and permits for oil and gas drilling and a longer processing time before approval, in contrast to state programs where permits can be obtained in less than a month.

Additionally, federal agencies like Fish and Wildlife Services, and the Bureau of Land Management, are proposing widespread conservation efforts throughout western states which will have a direct negative impact on current and future development.

In Montana, the BLM has released three resource management plans that call for millions of acres to be restricted from oil and gas leases along the Hi-line and in Eastern Montana. The lack of consideration for the economic impact these management plans would have on Montana’s workforce and budget is egregious. Though new management areas will require funding, BLM Director of Montana/Dakotas, Jamie Connell, says she doesn’t know where new money will come from (Sept. 26th TSRIA meeting, Big Sky).

The record is clear that the current administration under President Obama has been a poor steward of our national energy supplies and our economic security. Take the five year delay on the Keystone XL pipeline approval, for example, which is a project that would provide thousands of U.S. jobs, including ample work for labor unions.

Power’s efforts to downplay the economic contribution of oil and gas to state economies is laughable, but what’s worse, is that he completely misses the point of advocating for multiple use access to federal lands.

Our government is at a standstill because of a massive debt problem and the inability of Congress to agree on how to manage the budget. Last year alone, oil and gas production contributed $283 billion in GDP and $74 billion to state and federal revenues, including more than $200 million to Montana’s general fund (in production taxes alone).

A 5% increase in Montana drilling activity would create 366 more direct jobs, 1,025 indirect jobs, and over $20 million a year in additional state and federal revenue.

As the largest economic driver since the recession, the energy sector is poised to help the federal government alleviate the debt crisis; the opportunity to do so might be a “fantasy”…but the ability…that is a reality.

The Montana Petroleum Report provides information of interest to Montanans. We encourage you to forward this to your friends. — Dave Galt, Executive Director  www.montanapetroleum.org

By Mark Barnes, Des-Case Corporation
Based on a Customer Testimonial by Jim Pezoldt, Lubrication Engineers, Inc.

From dozers to graders and loaders to haul trucks, diesel engines are everywhere. For companies that rely on diesel power to make their living, there’s no greater emphasis than diesel engine reliability. But when it comes to diesel engines, they also have some of the shortest life expectancies.

Compared to fixed equipment, where mean-time-between-rebuilds is measured in years, most diesel engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) recommend an engine overhaul or rebuild every 12,000 to 15,000 hours. Even with oil analysis, which allows the rebuild interval to be optimized, 20,000 to 25,000 hours is about as good as it gets for engine life in off-highway applications.

So why is it that an engine has such a short life expectancy? The issue is less about maintenance than it is about the operating conditions and environment of a typical engine. With temperatures close to 200 degrees F, severe duty and shock loads, internal contaminants like soot, acids and wear debris, and the possibility of fuel or glycol leaks, engines have a tough life.

But perhaps the biggest engine killer is external contamination in the form of dust and dirt sucked into the engine through the air intake each minute of operation. Particle contamination can be lethal for engines –even microscopic particles no bigger than a red blood cell can result in a significant reduction in an engine’s life expectancy. In fact, studies by General Motors, Cummins Inc., and other engine OEMs have proven that particles in the 0–to–5 and 5–to–10 micron size ranges are three times more likely to cause wear in critical piston rings and bearings than larger particles (Figure 1). To put that into context, particles that are less than a tenth of the diameter of a human hair are enough to reduce an engine’s life expectancy by one half or more! These particles, which are often called silt-sized particles, are so small that a large percentage of those ingested into the engine air intake manifold pass straight through the air filter, which, by comparison, is really only equipped to take out rocks and boulders.

Figure 1: Relative wear rates for engine rings and bearings versus particle size distribution (Ref: Cummins, Inc.).

Armed with these facts–which are widely known by OEMs, lubrication engineers and filter manufacturers alike–why is it that most full-flow engine oil filters are at best 70 percent efficient at removing 10 micron particles and are effectively useless at removing silt-sized particles? The answer is largely a question of flow. With any filter, there is always a balance between flow rate and filter efficiency. With most filters, as the micron rating and filter efficiency improves, the flow rate drops off significantly. This should be fairly obvious: the smaller pore sizes necessary to trap smaller particles create a greater barrier to oil flow. But the problem is exacerbated by simple physics: For most mechanical filters, halving the micron rating, say from 10 to 5 microns, would require a fourfold increase in filter surface area to maintain the same flow rate. Because of this and due in part to the physical limitations in the size of an engine filter, it is almost impossible for filter manufacturers to reduce the micronrating to be more efficient at removing silt-sized particles while maintaining adequate flow rates.

So that’s it, right? We’re stuck with accepting the fact that the most harmful particles to an engine are going to be present in an engine with no hope of removing them? Wrong! By thinking outside the box a little, silt particles can be removed from engines effectively, with a dramatic impact on engine life. To illustrate the effect, consider the following example:

Figure 2: Projected engine life, with oil analysis.

Case Study
A maintenance team at a 25,000-acre surface coal mining operation in Montana was seeking to improve profitability by lowering direct maintenance costs and extending the operational life of the engines. They were well aware that the service life of their engines was being cut short by particles that the OEM fullflow filtration was not designed to remove. They contacted Jim Pezoldt from Lubrication Engineers to help them improve their engine life. Starting with their CAT 992G bucket loaders equipped with CAT 3508B engines, the mine developed an approach to reduce silt-sized particles from the engines. Initial oil analysis data on one 992G in the mine’s fleet indicated a particle count of 22/21/18, with copper and iron levels at 118ppm and 53ppm respectively, levels commonly found across the rest of the fleet. Maintenance personnel also indicated that a typical engine “top end” overhaul interval was approximately every 12,000 hours, and when engines were torn down, they were typically very dirty inside with evidence of scuffing on the cylinders. The team set about lowering in-service contamination levels through an aggressive contamination control strategy, as well as switching to an enhanced diesel engine oil – LE’s Monolec Ultra® Engine Oil (8800).

Figure 3: Schematic illustration of engine oil side stream filtration.

Exactly 931 hours after improving their oil filtration, an oil analysis was conducted to evaluate if any improvements had been made in oil cleanliness. To their surprise, ISO cleanliness levels went from 22/21/18 (c) to 17/16/13 (c), soot levels were maintained at or below 0.1% volume and iron levels dropped from 53ppm to 7ppm. Based on this and the standard life-extension tables (Figure 2), the mine has projected a four-fold life extension, resulting in a savings of $129K over five years, equivalent to a 216 percent return on their investment (Table 1). This is just one of many examples that demonstrate the effect of improving slit particles in engines.

Table 1: Oil analysis data and investment analysis for CAT 992G (3508B engine).

Bypass Filtration
So how did they do it? The answer is fairly straightforward as illustrated in Figure 3. Without changing the flow of oil within the engine, a small slipstream of oil is taken after the full-flow filter using a flow control valve. By regulating oil flow through the valve, only 10 percent of the total oil flow is removed at any given time, which is not high enough to cause any harm to the engine. This side stream of oil is passed at normal engine oil pressure through a depth media filter with an efficiency rating of 99.9 percent at 3 microns (β3(c)>1000). The oil is then returned to the sump. For safety, a relief valve is included to avoid over pressurization of the bypass filter during start-up.

Conclusion
Engine overhaul and rebuilds are a significant cost to diesel engine maintenance budgets. With few exceptions, significant improvement in engine life can be achieved by controlling silt-sized contaminants.

Note: Originally published in the December 2011 issue of Uptime magazine. Bypass Filtration Lubrication consultant Jim Pezoldt, MLT I & MLA II, has represented Lubrication Engineers, Inc. since 1992. His company, Pezoldt Petroleum Products, services portions of Montana and North Dakota and has significant experience working with mining and drilling operations. www.LElubricants.com

U.S. OIL BOOM podcast Interview of  Bob van der Valk, Senior Editor of the Bakken Oil Business Journal, by Brandon DeShaw, PE, Lab Director, Global Energy Laboratories

I recently chatted with a man that I’ll refer to as the “Yoda” of the U.S. Oil boom.
You remember Yoda from the Star Wars movies, right?

• Spoke in riddles…
• Elderly and ancient…
• Hidden humor…
• Extremely wise…
• Um, well my guy didn’t really speak in riddles.

But he was very wise and had some fantastic insight into the current shale oil boom going on here in the U.S.

This guy is also a highly paid consultant and gives guidance on where fuel prices are headed.

He is the editor and chief guru for the Bakken Oil Business Journal.

His name is Bob van der Valk, and you can actually listen to all his guidance and the interview that I did.
Yes, I finally have published my first podcast episode, and I’m giving you backstage access before I post it on my website.

I interviewed Bob on topics like the next big oil play (hint: it’s in California of all places). We also talked about how to work your way into the oil business.

He talked about where fuel prices are headed in late 2013, and many other topics that will be interesting to you.

Here is the link to the interview:
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=G_ZJ.&m=3jNCFuKQwtqoeBp&b=ZFaLTd.kGLEyYooNJp4uvg
If you go there, you can click on the title and the podcast should autoplay. Or you can hit the download link on that page.

Oh yeah, by the way it’s complimentary. I don’t even sell anything (yet) on the podcast.
It should also be listed on iTunes soon, if you want to go there and search for “oil boom” podcast.

Anyway, this interview was a real gem, and I wanted you to get first “dibs” on it.

Later.
Thank you,
Brandon DeShaw, PE
Lab Director
Global Energy Laboratories
200 Technology Way
Butte, MT

By Robyn L. Erlenbush, robyn@eralandmark.com
See NAI/ERA Landmark in the Oct/Nov issue of the Bakken Oil Business Journal

One of the more challenging personal experiences I had during the “Great Recession of 2008-2011” was watching hard working families in Southwestern Montana lose their homes to short sales and foreclosures. Through circumstances not of their own choosing, many lost jobs, had medical challenges, or could not find work, and they were left with no choice but to walk away from their homes. As I spent many hours listening to their stories and trying to advise them on options, I felt like a grief counselor, watching the different stages of emotion – first denial, then anger, sadness and finally acceptance. For many, their personal identity and self-worth was attached to where they lived and how they kept their home. Their family unit was defined by their street address. We sold countless distressed homes that were left in perfect condition down to murals on the children’s bedroom walls and well-tended gardens.

This property was listed for $3,625,000 in 2009.  We re-listed  it for a national bank for $1,499,900.  Sold at auction at undisclosed price.

There were three glimmers of hope that caused many Montana homeowners to live to see another day. First, the economic mini-boom of 2008 (The Big Hail Storm) helped put many unemployed construction workers back on roofs to bring in enough income to cover house payments. We experienced another mini-boom in 2010 (Big Hail Storm #2) with broken windows, marred siding, and destroyed roofs adding up to big business for workers and construction related industries. The third saving grace for many of the unemployed was the robust job market in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. We are finally experiencing positive strides in our local job market with Gallatin County’s 2012 annual unemployment rate down to 5.3% after a high of 6.5% in 2010. This follows the trend of the statewide 2012 rate at 6.0% down from 6.8% in 2010. Even more impressive is Richland County’s data, which is from eastern Montana including Sidney, where 2012 weighed in at 2.7% last year.

In the Bozeman and surrounding areas during in the time period between January 2007 and December 2012, there were 320 short sales and 386 foreclosures reported through our MLS data. This includes single family homes, condos and townhomes in the Bozeman area, Park County, Big Sky and west to Three Forks. These numbers are most likely lower than the actual amount since mandatory reporting of these categories did not exist for the entire time period. Furthermore, many of these sales can take place on the courthouse steps or between private parties. So where are some of these previous homeowners and what are their options for future ownership? Well, many have moved back to the Gallatin Valley and are gainfully employed in a booming construction industry. And as far as their opportunity to buy a home, the outlook continues to improve.

In the ever changing world of mortgage lending, it is often hard to keep up to date. As recently as mid-July, the headlines were full of information about “Boomerang Buyers” – people who lost their homes due to short sales, foreclosures, and bankruptcy and were just beginning to show a presence in the real estate market once again. At that time, Realtor Magazine anticipated that almost one in five sales in the metro Phoenix area (one of the hardest hit short sale and foreclosure markets nationwide) was a boomerang buyer. These buyers worked on saving down payments and want to own again before interest rates and housing prices gain momentum. Typically, buyers needed to wait 5 to 7 years before even considering applying for a new mortgage. Those who participated in a short sale generally had a shorter wait than foreclosures.

Skip ahead to mid-August to captions such as “Boomerang Homebuyers Get a Shorter Ride Home.” On August 15, 2013, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) made changes in its guidelines for those who lost their homes due to financial stresses. The new rules under “Back to Work – Extenuating Circumstances” have reduced the amount of time to be eligible for financing from 36 months to as few as 12 months for many. If the boomerang buyers can provide documentation that a “specific Economic Event” caused a 20% or greater decline in their income for at least 6 months which resulted in a short sale, foreclosure, or bankruptcy, they may be back on the road to home ownership. Buyers must be able to show that the hardship was a one-time event which is not likely to happen again and proof of stability for the prior 12 months must be provided. For those whose losses were truly due to the status of the economy versus personal financial choices, this is extremely good news in that they may be able to become homeowners again sooner than anticipated.

Among the frequently asked questions is where to start this process. The first step is to find an FHA-approved lender and check mortgage rates. The lender will require documentation of the 20% loss of household income; therefore, if only one wage earner had decreased income, the household may not be eligible. The loan size is only dictated by the local area’s FHA loan limit. Borrowers must take a housing counseling course. Once many of these first steps are completed, it is time to start house shopping – though the program will be in effect until September 30, 2016.

Robyn L. Erlenbush is a third-generation Montanan who lives in Bozeman, MT. She is the broker/owner of ERA Landmark Real Estate (with offices in Bozeman, Big Sky, Livingston and Clyde Park), NAI Landmark Commercial and Intermountain Property Management. She can be reached at robyn@eralandmark.com.

By: Bob van der Valk

Steve Unterseher of Smiley’s Energy Service was traveling from Williston, North Dakota back home to Fairview, Montana. He did not know his friend was on the train involved in am accident until after another co-worker told him when came upon the scene of the Amtrak train stalled on the track with major damage to the front portion of the diesel locomotive. About a half a mile further was a bulldozer lying on its side with its operator still trapped underneath. Rescuers were already on scene extracting the wounded man from the wreckage.

A construction company is rebuilding a section of ND Hwy 1804 between Trenton, ND and ND Hwy 58. It appears as though they may be building it into a four lane road. The road runs south of and parallel to 1804 until about 5 miles west of Trenton where the highway turns north then northeast and crosses the tracks. Apparently the bulldozer operator was attempting to cross the train tracks from the north side of the highway going toward the highway facing south. The tracks to the west curve around a hill so it is essentially a blind curve for the train engineer. No injuries were reported on the train by Amtrak officials; however, the train passengers were not allowed to get off the train pending the arrival of a replacement diesel engine.

The dozer operator was transported to Mercy Hospital in Williston, North Dakota by Life Flight helicopter, where he passed away.

(Photo) Damage to Amtrak diesel locomotive right after the accident – 7-30-13

The accident was caused by the Amtrak train coming around a blind corner and the engineer not seeing the bulldozer on the track ahead of him. Road 1804 is under construction and parallels the tracks between Trenton and Highway 58. No one on the train was hurt but passengers were not allowed to disembark to get rides with waiting friends. Amtrak waited for another diesel engine to arrive to take over for the damaged one.

A hole in the front of the diesel locomotive of the train was observed along with severe damage to the bulldozer, which landed on its side next the railroad track.

Dick Reed and his wife, who live in McMinnville, Oregon, were on the train while Amtraking to Little Rock, Arkansas via Chicago. Dick Reed stated that it got pretty hot inside the coach because of the lack of HEP*. After the night air started cooling off the train the crew opened doors to try to get an air circulation to the passengers.

*Head End Power is a system of electrical power distribution on a passenger train in which a power source in a central location on the train (usually a locomotive or a generator car) generates all the electricity for “hotel” power (non-traction, or non-motive power uses) needed by the train. Virtually all modern passenger trains have their electrical needs met in this fashion. The acronym HEP is its common usage.

(Photo) Temporary repairs made to damaged Amtrak diesel locomotive parked in Trenton, ND
Pictures by Steve Unterseher
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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.

NEWS Release

Call in registration 1-800-574-4852 for discount: mention code BBOJ-25

We invite you to attend the OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IN MONTANA conference to be held October 2, 2013 at the Billings Petroleum Club in Billings, Montana.

This seminar presents an overview of several important areas of oil and gas law, including: leasing considerations from the lessor and lessee perspectives, mineral conveyancing, state regulation of oil and gas development, environmental protection/regulation, and contracting. In addition, you will hear a discussion on the future of oil and gas development in Montana.

This program is a must for anyone involved in the oil and gas industry, whether as an attorney, landman, government official or developer. Our distinguished panel consists of experienced and well-known oil and gas attorneys, together with top government officials and industry representatives. By attending, you will learn from the foremost experts on oil and gas development in Montana.

Thank you to the Seminar Sponsors: Bakken Oil Business Journal, The OGM & Montana Energy Review.

Want to promote your company by becoming a Sponsor of this seminar? Call The Seminar Group at 800-574-4852 for more information.

Who Should Attend:

• Attorneys/Legal Staff
• Landmen
• Government Regulators
• Energy Representatives
• Developers/Landowners
• Risk Management Workers
• Corporate Planners
• Engineers & Land

The Seminar Group, an educational organization providing quality professional education throughout the United States, sponsors this conference. This seminar is approved for the following credits

This course has been approved by the Montana State Bar for a total of 5.5 CLE credits. (Live Credits for Attending & Webcast) Up to 5.0 self-study hours are available.

This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 6.0 credit hours. (Live Credits for Attending & Webcast)

This course may qualify for architect, engineer and land surveyor credit through the Montana Board for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors. (Live Credits for Attending & Webcast)

If this seminar has not been approved for the credits you require, let us know and we will look into it for you.

For more information and registration, please call toll free (800) 574-4852. Or visit us online at:

http://www.theseminargroup.net/seminar.lasso?seminar=13.OagmT

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.

Grand Forks area businesses are growing to meet demands in the Bakken region of North Dakota.

The Chamber – Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, on behalf of the region’s Bakken Initiative, surveyed its members, which revealed businesses are attributing both revenue and employment growth to business activity related to the oil and gas industry.

Of respondents, 67 percent attribute some of their revenue in the past two years to Bakken activity. In the past two years, 23 percent of respondents have added staff to support related business growth.

“Anecdotally we knew the region’s business community is being impacted by our state’s oil and gas industry,” said Barry Wilfahrt, The Chamber’s president and CEO. “These results are exciting for our region, demonstrating a much greater impact.”

The Bakken Initiative, a collaborative marketing effort launched last year to enhance awareness about the region’s business and community support assets, draws wide support among respondents as well, with 53 percent indicating they find the initiative valuable for their businesses.

Grand Forks Region EDC President and CEO Klaus Thiessen said, “Our region’s effort to recruit new businesses expanding because of the Bakken is also attracting new customers for our existing businesses. At the end of the day, we can undeniably say the oil and gas industry is helping this region grow and create new jobs.”

Wilfahrt said the survey also demonstrates the variety of opportunities the region’s businesses have to serve Western North Dakota demands. Respondents experiencing business growth related to the Bakken activity included automotive services, real estate, construction, and manufacturing.

“We also hope this survey demonstrates to companies that they can expand east to our region to meet demands of company growth in the Bakken. It can be done. Our business base is proving that,” said Thiessen.

Contacts:
Barry Wilfahrt,
President/CEO
The Chamber-GF/EGF
701-772-7271(P)
barry@gochamber.org

Doris Cooper
Marketing Associate
Grand Forks Region EDC
701-738-0238
dorisc@grandforks

The Bakken Oil Worker’s and Oil Service Expo may just be one of the biggest happenings of the summer in North Dakota. Just three weeks after the North Dakota State Fair, the Expo, nicknamed the “Bakken Oil Expo” will debut on August 20 – 22 at that North Dakota State Fair Center in Minot, ND. The event features networking opportunities, seminars and workshops, privately hosted meals, a reception, job opportunities, and the ability to set up one-on-one appointments in advance with current and prospective business clients and employers. Along with these opportunities, the show has a huge indoor and outdoor exhibit show with companies and organizations coming from 36 states and Canada. Taking up over 400 booth spaces, this is this one of the largest oil industry event in the northern U.S.

Seminars will run concurrently in the mornings and afternoons all three days offering attendees the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in training sessions and hands on classes. Oil producers and other regional employers can enhance their employees’ skills and knowledge by purchasing tickets for their employees. Recent newcomers, both businesses and individuals, will also benefit from the wide range of seminars. Classes range from hands on winter defensive driving classes by the Center for Transportation and Safety, to talks on the economic boom and the resulting challenges and opportunities by the Williston and Minot Economic Development Groups, to seminars on finding the best employees and the best jobs in the industry by RTS Corporation, and a variety talks by the North Dakota State Extension Services on living, surviving, and excelling in the North Dakota boom towns. For a complete list of seminars and descriptions, visit http://www.usasymposium.com/bakken/seminars.htm.

A job board featuring oil sector jobs in the Bakken region is available to anyone who visits the Expo website at http://bakkenoilworkers.jobamatic.com/a/jobs/find-jobs. The site allows you to search by job title, company, location and job type (full time, permanent, etc.) There is no cost to search the site or apply for jobs. Employers can post jobs for a nominal fee. At the expo, companies that are hiring will be easily identifiable and you will have the opportunity to talk with employers real-time about job opportunities. Additionally, anyone who registers for the event in advance has the opportunity to set up one-on-one appointments with others attending the event. This tool which can be accessed with the purchase of a $5 expo pass, creates additional opportunities for business to business sales and marketing.

Along with the educational, sales, job, and marketing opportunities at this event, the Expo has been structured to give back directly to the community. Three local charities will be the recipients of 50% of the proceeds from the sale of Expo passes. Attendees who purchase the $5 tickets in advance will have the opportunity to choose which charity they would like to direct their donation to. Featured charities at the 2013 event include the Dakota Boys & Girls Ranch (www.dakotaranch.org), Hope Village (www.hopevillagend.org), and The Williston Salvation Army (www.salvationarmynorth.org/community/williston/).

The event has garnered a lot of momentum and support both in the region and nationally. Expo sponsors include The Associated Press, Bakken Breakout, Bakken Cable Connection, Bakken Field Guide, The Bakken Magazine, Bakken Oil Business Journal, The Bakken Post, BakkenShale.com, The Bella Dangelo Show, The Bismarck Tribune, BW Insurance Agency, Clover Global Solutions, Del Communications, The Drill, ERM Weekly Update, Gravel Products, Inc., Hyatt House Minot, KX News, Minot Area Development Corp., Montana Energy Review, North Dakota State Fair, The Oil Field Efficiency Newsletter, Oiltizer, PennEnergy, Perry Brothers Trucking, Petroleum News Bakken, ShaleMarkets.com, Visit Minot, and World Oils.

For more information on the event, or to register, visit www.usasymposium.com/bakken.