April 3, 2020 -- Winter's Not Done Yet
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Thanks to warm weather in March, most of the Winter snow had melted earlier this week. But the North Dakota Capitol was coated with six inches of
Spring
snow the past couple days.
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Full Court Press to End Oil Price War
Congressional Delegation Urging Action
With North Dakota's economy already reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, members of the state's Congressional delegation are pressing President Trump to help end a global oil price war that is compounding problems for oil producers.
The result of their efforts was a meeting today between President Trump and top oil executives, many of whom have operations in North Dakota.
Senator John Hoeven said he spoke with the president and several cabinet heads, delivering a message about the urgency of the impact of low oil prices on the state's oil producers.
Click
here to listen to Hoeven's comments.
Senator Kevin Cramer has also been applying pressure, calling on the administration to withdraw U.S. military forces that are in Saudi Arabia to protect the country's oil assets, at a time when the Saudis have essentially declared war on American oil producers.
Click
here to listen to Cramer's comments.
The Trump administration is taking flak for its efforts to raise oil prices when the nation's economy is in a tailspin. But Cramer said it's vital that oil prices are restored to a level that will allow producers to weather the storm, or the United States may again be forced to depend on foreign sources for energy.
Click
here to listen to Cramer's comments.
Congressman Kelly Armstrong said too many Americans fail to appreciate the relative price stability that Bakken shale producers have brought to the domestic and global energy market.
Click
here to listen to Armstrong's comments.
Optimism that a deal could be reached to end the oil price war had an immediate impact on oil markets. After President Trump tweeted yesterday about a possible agreement with Russia and Saudi Arabia, the price of oil surged about $5.00 per barrel, and continued its upward surge today.
Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette also said this week that the U.S. is still planning to buy oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Previously, DOE
suspended its oil purchase program after $3 billion in funding for the project was left out of the $2 trillion stimulus package.
Senators Hoeven and Cramer and Congressman Armstrong made their comments during interviews this week with Scott Hennen on the radio program,
What's on Your Mind. Click
here for WOYM podcasts.
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Drive-In COVID-19 Testing Planned Tomorrow
Pilot Program to be Conducted in Amidon, Gladstone
The number of North Dakota citizens infected with the coronavirus continues to creep upward, and the associated COVID-19 disease has spread into rural parts of the state.
Slope County, which has the smallest population in the state, saw its first case confirmed today. The ND Department of Health reported 14 new cases in all, bringing the state's total to 173.
In an effort to "amp up testing," Governor Doug Burgum announced plans for a pilot program this weekend called Operation Drive-In. The program will be conducted in two southwestern North Dakota communities - Amidon and Gladstone - and is aimed at people who may not be exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19.
Click
here to listen to Burgum's comments.
The testing in Amidon will be conducted tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. MDT at the Slope County Fairgrounds. Burgum said the testing is being offered to everyone who lives in Slope County.
Click
here to listen to Burgum's comments.
Testing will also be offered at the Gladstone Fire Station from 1:00 to 4:00 MDT, and is available to all residents of the Gladstone Fire District.
The state is continuing to urge citizens to exercise "social distancing" to slow the spread of the virus. The governor has ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants, as well as barber shop and beauty salons, but has not ordered other businesses to close. Burgum said he's heard calls from some people who think the state should do more, but said he will expand the lockdown order only if he feels it's necessary.
Click
here to listen to Burgum's comments.
Burgum said he understands that social distancing guidelines may cause individuals to experience feelings of despair and isolation. He said it will help to keep things in perspective, and to reach out to others who are also trying to cope with the constraints on social interaction.
Click
here to listen to Burgum's comments.
Governor Burgum continues to conduct daily news conferences which can be viewed on the Facebook pages of the
Department of Health and
ND Response. The session today was held at 3:30 p.m. CDT.
Click
here to read a news release about Operation Drive-In.
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DPI Approves All K-12 Distance Learning Plans
The ND Department of Public Instruction, in cooperation with Governor Doug Burgum's office, has approved all of North Dakota's school distance learning plans.
Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said a number of plans required back-and-forth work with the review teams at DPI and the governor's office, but the goal of everyone having an approved distance learning plan has been reached.
To slow the spread of the coronavirus, Burgum on March 15 ordered all K-12 schools to close. The announcement was followed the next week by an
executive order directing all public and non-public schools to develop age-appropriate distance learning plans based upon guidance from DPI. The directive required a total of 171 public school districts and 39 private schools to submit a plan to the department.
Superintendents are hoping for the best as their students head to virtual classrooms. Click
here for a Bismarck Tribune article about distance learning and
here for a Grand Forks Herald article.
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PSC Okays Denbury Resources Pipeline
The North Dakota Public Service Commission has granted a construction permit to Denbury Resources to build a pipeline that will bring carbon dioxide to Bowman County as part of an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project.
The 12-inch diameter welded steel Denbury Green Pipeline will be about 18 miles in length, with about 8.5 miles in Fallon County, Montana, and the remaining 9.2 miles in Slope and Bowman Counties. The pipeline will enter the state nearly due west of Marmarth in southwestern Slope County, and terminate about six miles south where the CO2 will be injected into existing wells producing oil from the Cedar Creek Anticline.
In granting approval, Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said she expected the pipeline and EOR project would bring significant economic benefits to southwestern North Dakota.
Click
here to listen to Fedorchak's comments.
PSC Chairman Brian Kroshus agreed. He said the project could be a huge boost to the economy of Bowman County, which at one time was the state's leading oil-producing county.
Click
here to listen to Kroshus' comments.
Commissioner Randy Christmann voted to support the project, but expressed concern during the PSC proceeding about the potential danger associated with a pipeline transporting carbon dioxide, which can be lethal in high concentrations.
Click
here to listen to Christmann's comments.
The CO2 for the project will come from the Exxon Mobil Shute Creek Gas Plant in LaBarge, Wyoming, and the ConocoPhillips Lost Cabin Gas Plant in Lysite, Wyoming, and be transported to Denbury’s Bell Creek EOR Development in Powder River County, Montana. Denbury estimates the price tag for the North Dakota portion of the pipeline will be $9.2 million.
Click
here to read or download the 346-page application. Click
here to read the PSC's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in approving the project.
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ONEOK Bakken NGL Pipeline Approved
The ND Public Service Commission has given its approval to a plan by ONEOK Inc. to build a 75-mile pipeline that will transport natural gas liquids across Williams County.
The 16-inch steel pipeline will have the capacity to move 90,000 barrels of NGLs per day at a maximum operating pressure of 1,480 psi. The pipeline will begin at Hess Corporation's gas processing plant in Tioga, and snake its way past other gas processing plants to pick up additional NGLs in the county before terminating at ONEOK's Stateline facility on the Montana border.
Noting that 58 percent of the pipeline will be co-located within the corridor of an existing pipeline, PSC Commissioner Julie Fedorchak applauded ONEOK for minimizing the project's environmental impact.
Click
here to listen to Fedorchak's comments.
Commissioner Randy Christmann said the project was welcome news at a time when many workers in the oil and gas industry have lost their job due to the downturn in oil prices.
Click
here to listen to Christmann's comments.
PSC Chairman Brian Kroshus said the pipeline will be a key component in improving the state's efforts to meet natural gas capture targets.
Click
here to listen to Kroshus' comments.
ONOEK hopes to have the pipleline in service in the 4th quarter this year. Click
here to view or download ONEOK's 1,009-page application. Click
here to see the PSC's Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law.
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Burgum: Build Roads During Downturn
Budgets are bound to be tight in the coming months, but Gov. Doug Burgum said if the state can come up with the resources to do it, this summer would be a great time to do more road projects.
Burgum said the state is likely to see a reduction in gas tax revenue because people are traveling less, and those dollars support the state's highway fund. But with the economic downturn, the governor believes the state should take advantage of low construction costs.
Click
here to listen to Burgum's comments.
Burgum said if the DOT budget falls short, it would be a good time to issue bonds or borrow money for road projects because interest rates are low.
Click
here to listen to Burgum's comments.
The 2019 Legislature rejected a bonding proposal that was part of
SB 2268, a "Corridors of Commerce" bill, that would have provided funds for construction on Highway 85. Burgum said despite that action, there may be alternatives through the Bank of North Dakota that would accomplish the same purpose.
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DOT Reinstates Load Limits on Hwy 22
The ND Department of Transportation re-imposed load restrictions this week on Highway 22 from the junction of Highway 12 near Reeder to the Junction of Highway 21 near New England due to road damage.
The seasonal load restriction was added in accordance with Gov. Burgum’s Executive Order requiring NDDOT to monitor and re-implement restrictions when damage is occurring. The NDDOT will continue to monitor roadways and will update load restrictions as necessary.
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CDL Services By Appointment Only
The North Dakota Department of Transportation announced that CDL services are available by appointment only and walk-ins will not be accepted until further notice. NDDOT is now scheduling appointments for CDL knowledge and road tests along with adding endorsements.
The CDL appointments are only available to CDL drivers and temporary agricultural works (H-2A).
Appointments can be scheduled by calling NDDOT at 701-328-3489 or toll free 1-855-633-6835. Hours for scheduling appointments are Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended CDL expirations until June 30 across the U.S. for CDLs due for renewal on or after March 1, 2020.
Governor Burgum’s Executive order 2020-07, waives the expiration date on all driver's licenses which expire from March 1, 2020 until the disaster declaration has ended.
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REAL ID Deadline Extended One Year
The deadline for states to comply with federal REAL ID requirements will be extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Homeland Security will extend the deadline to October 1, 2021.
The REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for license issuance and production, and prohibits federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver’s licenses and ID cards from states not meeting the act’s minimum standards. The purposes covered by the act are: accessing federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants, and boarding federally-regulated commercial aircraft.
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Workshop: The 3 P's of Gravel Quality
The North Dakota Local Technical Assistance Program of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute is offering training designed for anyone who works with gravel or gravel roads including motor grader operators, county road superintendents, county and township officers, contractors and gravel suppliers.
Among the many topics to be discussed by the instructors include identifying what is good gravel, how to balance gravel quality with local resources, solving gravel deficiencies, prospecting tips, a review of production practices and enhancing gravel quality.
The registration deadline is one week prior to the workshops and each class is limited to 30 attendees. The registration fee is $50 per attendee.
Click
here for the training description and registration.
Training sessions:
- April 28: 9 to 4 pm (CT); Casselton City Auditorium
- April 29: 9 to 4 pm (CT); Community Center; Granville
- April 30: 9 to 4 pm (MT); Stark County Highway Department; Dickinson
Click
here for more information about this valuable workshop.
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Write it Down on Your Calendar!
WDEA 2020 Annual Meeting
Get this date on your calendar! The Annual Meeting of the Western Dakota Energy Association will be held:
October 7-8, 2020
The Grand Williston Hotel & Conference Center
Williston, ND
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Quick Connect
- Whiting begins Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding as prices drop -- Reuters
- Supply/Demand: World may soon run out of places to store oil -- KXMB-TV
- Oilpatch companies must design COVID measures consistent with guidelines -- Williston Herald
- North Dakota gasoline prices running about 15 cents below national average -- KFYR-TV
- Sen. Cramer phone call: Trump considering crude oil import limits for US refiners -- S&P Global
- ND senators hopeful about oil after 'encouraging' call between Trump, Putin -- Bismarck Tribune
- US Customs and Border Protection reducing hours at some ports of entry -- Minot Daily News
- Xcel Energy exercises extra safety precautions for essential workers -- Minot Daily News
- Community Service: North Country Oil power washes businesses in Parshall -- KFYR-TV
- Coronavirus leads to oil patch pullback and increasing jobless claims -- Tioga Tribune
- Several North Dakota groups want evictions and foreclosures blocked -- Associated Press
- Officials provide business assistance but warn programs are not yet final -- Fargo Forum
- North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem warns of increased scams -- KFYR-TV
- Dr. Connell, ND's field doctor, the science behind COVID-19 recommendations -- Williston Herald
- Survey suggests pandemic is draining vigor from the Midwest economy -- Associated Press
- ND has adequate hospital bed capacity for virus; 171 deaths anticipated -- Bismarck Tribune
- Gov. Burgum: State’s COVID-19 presidential disaster declaration approved -- Associated Press
- County education study shows multiple possibilities for future of districts -- Williston Herald
- U.S. Forest Service land eyed for Theodore Roosevelt presidential library -- Bismarck Tribune
- Remarkable Women: Tioga resident Kathy Neset, geologist and entrepreneur -- KXMB-TV
- Human Services changes are expanding addiction, recovery support -- Williston Herald
- What happens if hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas was banned? -- RealClear Energy
- Electricity is the silent friend as we battle the silent enemy, COVID-19 -- Inside Sources
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Factoid of the Week
The North Dakota Department of Health has created an easy-to-read flow chart with tips on what to do if you may have been in contact with somebody who has tested positive for COVID-19. Click
here
to view the flow chart.
OTHER RESOURCES:
- Take this risk assessment to see if your symptoms are related to COVID-19.
- For the latest information on COVID-19, click here.
- To view the Governor’s daily media briefing at 3:30 p.m. CDT, click here.
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April 7
State Water Commission - Conference Call
April 8
Bismarck
April 9
Bismarck
April 28-30
Casselton, Granville and Dickinson
April 28-30
Watford City
April 30
Bismarck
May 19
Bismarck
June 1
Bismarck
June 2
Bismarck
June 8-11
Bismarck
June 19
Williston
September 1-3
Bismarck
September 30 - October 1
Bismarck
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Oil prices and rig count
April 3, 2020
WTI Crude: $28.34
Brent Crude: $34.11
Natural Gas: $1.62
North Dakota Active Rigs: 44 (down 1)
4/3/
2019
-- 62 rigs
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Geoff Simon
Editor/Executive Director
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