Is the Bakken Running on Empty?
Interview: Lynn Helms, director, North Dakota Department of Minerals, Bismarck, ND Helms recites some lyrics from Jackson Brown’s Running on Empty to describe many oil companies’ cash flow situation.
jason spiess
UAS Missions in ND and Arctic
Interview: US Senator John Hoeven Objects to President Obama’s suggestion of a $10-barrel tax on oil. Hoeven also talks about future Unmanned Aerial Systems or drone missions in North Dakota and the Arctic.
NDSU President Dean Bresciani (Part 1 of 4)
In this episode, Dean Bresciani and Jason Spiess discuss the Bakken Oil Field’s impact on the University system and economy. Bresciani goes into detail about the economics and introduction of technology and research as new centers of innovation. Dr. Dean L. Bresciani was named the 14th president of North Dakota […]
Bakken out-of-towner leadership growing
According to Deb Nelson, Vision West, Dickinson, ND, the Vision West consortium has grown since the Bakken slowdown and oil price drop. Nelson said one of the big reasons for the growth is Vision West opened their membership doors to associate members. Since then local, county and state agencies have […]
Bakken still needs child care, emergency services
Deb Nelson, Vision West, Dickinson, ND, says the mood is much better now in 2016 than it was last year. Nelson says the downplay allowed them to look at their priorities and they are very much the same. According to Nelson, the oil and gas producing counties still need transportation, […]
ND official says flaring up in Bakken
According to Lynn Helms, director, North Dakota Department of Minerals, Bismarck, ND, there has been an increase in flaring from October to November. Helms said a large reason for this was a unique issue involving the sulfur treating equipment at the Tioga gas plant. He said this caused a six […]
Helms sees staff reductions in ND
Interview: Lynn Helms, director, North Dakota Department of Minerals, Bismarck, ND Helms gives an overview of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources staff additions and reductions over the past several years. During the peak of the drilling activity, the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources was full staff with […]
Oil CEO sees $60 by year end
In the recent episode of the MonDak OilField Review, Lynn Helms, director, North Dakota Department of Minerals, spoke of oil supply from the lease perspective. Helms said North Dakota is looking at about one year of leases, which is average for lead time. Helms said industry tries to keep drilling […]
Even at $30 oil, M&A activity and shale plays look promising in 2016
Over the past year, while oil prices and interest rates remain low, the oil and gas industry has been hot with M&A activity. According to recent data from Thomson Reuters, 2015 will go down as the biggest year ever for mergers and acquisitions, with an announced $4.7 trillion. An amazing […]
Trickle Down Bakken Economics
Monday 1/18 Interview: Dr. Loren Scott, president, Loren Scott & Associates, Baton Rouge, LA. Dr. Scott explains how low oil prices end up trickling down from oil companies to the service companies.
More M&A Activity in the Bakken?
Wednesday 1/20 Interview: Robert Bryce, senior fellow, Manhattan Institute, Austin TX. Bryce explains why oil prices and other commodities will remain low for awhile – like copper, crude oil and steel. Bryce also shares his opinion on North Dakota and the how the Bakken plays in the global economy.
The acceleration of executive orders
Recently, I sat down with Doug Goehring, who I often argue is the state’s most powerful elected official. During our conversation, at the North Dakota Petroleum Council’s Annual Meeting, Goehring had just dealt with a new increasing and accelerated federal issue – analyzing and implementing executive orders. “You hit the […]
Best Bakken Big Picture Bytes of 2015
As 2015 winds down and the Bakken gears up for 2016, many companies and employees are wondering what energy futures will hold. Many believe the best way to understand and predict the future is to look to the past. This week’s column looks at the top sound bytes that have […]
The Dakota Prairie Refinery celebration was quite the Ventech
As I drove into Dickinson, taking a moment to soak in the event I was about to experience, I noticed diesel was selling for less than gasoline. At the time, I was more interested in understanding why the Dakota Prairie Refinery was the first greenfield refinery in the United States […]
MonDak OilField Review: November 26
Thursday 11/26 Interview: Tim Fisher, CEO, Bakken Energy Services Fisher talks about why the Bakken is the testing ground for the globe and compares Texas energy plays.
MonDak OilField Review: November 25
Wednesday 11/25 Interview: Tim Fischer, CEO, Bakken Energy Services Comments on the changing technology and cost at the wellhead.
MonDak OilField Review: November 24
Tuesday 11/24 Interview: Al Anderson, commissioner, ND Department of Commerce Comments on the 2-year trade schools and how some companies in the oil and gas industry are paying employees to go back to school.
MonDak OilField Review: November 23
Monday 11/23 Interview: Economist Robert Bryce, senior fellow, Manhattan Institute Bryce gives an update on the natural gas industry and how it is growing within the coal power generation side of the business.
MonDak OilField Review: November 20
Monday 11/16 Interview: U.S. Senator John Hoeven Talks about defense funding going to Minot Air Force Base and a proposal to include oil exports in the Nov 20 Highway Bill.
MonDak OilField Review: November 2
Monday 11/2 Interview: William Ruhle, completions specialist, Halliburton Gives results of their ReFrac ACTIVATE pilot program in the Bakken and their cash flow positive results for oil and gas companies.
MonDak OilField Review: October 30
Friday 10/30 Interview: William Ruhle, completions specialist, Halliburton Talks about the new technology of refrac and how it is being used in the Bakken.
MonDak OilField Review: October 29
Thursday 10/29 Interview: US Senator Heidi Heitkamp Explains a resolution, if enacted into law, it would nullify the Clean Power Plan, including any portions of the regulations that have already gone into effect.
MonDak OilField Review: October 28
Wednesday 10/28 Interview: Ryan Rauschenberger, ND Tax Commissioner Explains how the eastern taxable sales are up balancing out the missing tax revenue in western ND.
MonDak OilField Review: October 27
Tuesday 10/27 Interview: Ryan Rauschenberger, ND Tax Commissioner Talks about the savings in oil and gas equipment and the “deflation” happening in the Bakken.
MonDak OilField Review: October 26
Monday 10/26 Interview: Ryan Rauschenberger, ND Tax Commissioner Rauschenberger gives an update on sales tax in the oil and gas producing counties.
MonDak OilField Review: October 23
Friday 10/23 Interview: US Senator Heidi Heitkamp Heitkamp discusses the impacts of Clean Energy in North Dakota.
MonDak OilField Review: October 22
Thursday 10/22 Interview: Ryan Taylor, USDA Rural Development Talks about how most of the towns in the oil and gas producing counties in North Dakota fit under USDA rural development for loans and grants.
MonDak OilField Review: October 21
Wednesday 10/21 Interview: Ryan Taylor, USDA Rural Development Talks about the investments into oil and gas communities and how upgrades are aiding in spill prevention.
MonDak OilField Review: October 20
Tuesday 10/20 Interview: Tony Clark, Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Talks about electricity and natural gas being intertwined in the energy market and will be for the foreseeable future.
MonDak OilField Review: October 19
Monday 10/19 Interview: Tony Clark, Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Clark talks about how the rule of law is the real victim in the Keystone Pipeline issue.
MonDak OilField Review: September 9
Wednesday 9/9 Interview: Lynn D. Westfall. U.S. Energy Information Administration, director of energy markets and financial analysis, Washington DC Gives an overview of the Crude Oil Export Restriction Report EIA released last week.
MonDak OilField Review: September 8
Tuesday 9/8 Interview: Jim Semerad, manager permitting and compliance at North Dakota Department of Health Semerad explains why flaring is the preferred method of gas release in the Bakken.
MonDak OilField Review: September 7
Monday 9/7 Interview: Jim Semerad, manager permitting and compliance at North Dakota Department of Health Semerad talks about vapor recovery in the Bakken and how it is used to heat water and fuel furnaces in a clean manner.
MonDak OilField Review: September 4
Friday 9/4 Interview: US Senator John Hoeven Talks about the emerging tech sector in oil and gas as well as the investments into small community airports.
MonDak OilField Review: September 3
Thursday 9/3 Interview: Travis Jordan, president, MT Rig Mat, Charlo, MT Jordan compares the old rigs with the walking rigs and how oilfield matting works with the new generation of oil.