Infrastructure Investments: Planning for Future Growth in the Bakken COMPLIMENTARY PLEASE TAKE ONE! Innovative Solutions for Using Excess Natural Gas Virus Will Require State to Re-Think Legacy Fund Plans BASIN BITSBASIN BITS Your Gateway to a Career in the Energy Sector Spring 2020 The Official Publication of the Western Dakota Energy AssociationTable of OPENING REMARKS 8 From the Desk of the Western Dakota Energy Association’s President 11 From the Desk of the Western Dakota Energy Association’s Executive Director ON THE COVER 14 Infrastructure Investments: Planning for Future Growth in the Bakken FEATURES 19 Tech Talk: Seeking Innovative Solutions for Using Excess Natural Gas 20 New Weather Stations Proactively Tackle Disruption in the Industry 24 Virus Will Require State to Re-Think Legacy Fund Plans: State Budget Outlook Puts Wish Lists on Back Burner 26 Urea Plant a Godsend for Growers 28 Today’s Lesson: Funding Education Expansion 30 Investment 101: Growing the State’s Workforce Will Fill Gaps in the Labor Pipeline & Help North Dakota Flourish* 31 Gateway to Science: Growing Future Scientists & Engineers 34 New Tax-Sharing Agreement Aims to Stimulate Investment on Fort Berthold Reservation 35 And the Winners Are... IN THE SPOTLIGHT 37 Kompleks Assessment Solutions: Providing Homegrown Solutions to Complex Problems WDEA NEWS 39 Regional Roundup 40 Tools of the Trade 41 The Bakken Top 20 42 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Spring 2020 Basin Bits is Printed for: The Western Dakota Energy Association Association Office 1661 Capitol Way Bismarck, ND 58501 www.ndenergy.org Geoff Simon, Executive Director Tel: (701) 527-1832 (cell) Email: geoff@ndenergy.org Printed by: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Please return undeliverable addresses to: 5605 Riggins Court, Second Floor PO Box 41270 Reno, NV 89504 Toll-free: (866) 999-1299 Toll-free fax: (866) 244-2544 www.matrixgroupinc.net President & CEO Jack Andress Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Publisher Jessica Potter Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Editor Alexandra Kozub akozub@matrixgroupinc.net Editors Jenna Collignon, Kaitlin Vitt Finance/Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager – Winnipeg Neil Gottfred Sales Manager – Hamilton Jeff Cash Sales Team Leader Tanina Di Piazza Account Executives Albert Brydges, Andrew Lee, Bonnie Petrovsky (in memoriam), Brenda McPhee, Brian MacIntyre, Cheryl Klassen, Colleen Bell, Frank Kenyeres, Jim Hamilton, Jon Beroud, Julie Welsh, Marlyn Beek, Michael Coutu, Rob Gibson, Sandra Kirby, Tenisha Myke Advertising Design James Robinson Layout & Design Cody Chomiak ©2020 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc. On the cover: This issue’s cover shows ONEOK’s Elk Creek Pipeline under construction. The 900-mile pipeline, completed in December 2019, runs through North Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado. It can transport up to 240,000 bpd of unfractionated NGLs and could be expanded to 400,000 bpd with additional pump facilities. Photo provided by Brad Borror, ONEOK. Infrastructure Investments: Planning for Future Growth in the Bakken COMPLIMENTARY PLEASE TAKE ONE! Innovative Solutions for Using Excess Natural Gas Virus Will Require State to Re-Think Legacy Fund Plans BASIN BITSBASIN BITS Your Gateway to a Career in the Energy Sector Spring 2020 The Official Publication of the Western Dakota Energy Association Disclaimer: The articles presented in this publication represent the opinions of the authors and the interviewees. Their inclusion does not directly or implicitly denote concurrence or support by the Western Dakota Energy Association. Articles were reviewed by WDEA staff and selected for inclusion as they represent issues of interest to professionals in our industry. BASIN BITS | Spring 2020 7 ContentsContents BASIN BITSBASIN BITS It is important to acknowledge that in these unprecedented times resulting from both the COVID-19 pandemic and the separate drop in oil price, we are dealing every day with the impact of the unknown. In these uncertain times, we must all work together to get through them and come out the other side. It could take months instead of weeks, and it is crucial we take each day as it comes, planning for both what we face next and for the future, when we eventually get back to our normal routines. While it might be difficult at times, we must stay safe, we must stay healthy, and we must stay positive, tough as it may be, during these trying times. SPECIAL NOTICE:8 The Official Publication of the Western Dakota Energy Association Opening Remarks From the Desk of the Western Dakota Energy Association’s President T ENORM. What is it? It’s one of those things that when people hear it, they tend to think the worst. TENORM stands for technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material. We know it’s associated with oil and gas production, but probably the biggest issue associated with handling it is a lack of public knowledge about what is NORM—all the natural materials around us that contain radioactivity. Many people do not realize how com- mon NORM actually is. NORM is every- where. In fact, it is about as natural and organic as it gets. Our air, water, food, and soil contain NORM. NORM associated with oil and gas production includes silt, sediment, and other particulates brought to the surface by drilling operations. NORM is not pro- duced by humans; it was put there by na- ture. Oil producers just bring it to the sur- face through extraction procedures. Pipes, tanks, treaters, and filter socks are some of the places it becomes concentrated. Filter socks seem to draw the most atten- tion from people who do not understand NORM. Radioactivity is measured in picocuries. North Dakota requires special disposal of any material exceeding 5 pCi/g (pico- curies per gram). The level is typically higher than that in filter socks. How does it get there? Produced water is filtered through the sock before it’s injected down a saltwater disposal well. The sock catches the sediment, silt, and other particulates, while allowing water to flow through. Like any other filter, the sock even- tually becomes plugged and is replaced with a new one. The used sock, which has concentrated the NORM, is temporarily stored in a special container on-site. After the container is full, it is hauled to a spe- cial landfill (currently out-of-state), where it is disposed of properly. How much radioactivity is concentrat- ed in filter socks? On average, the level in a filter sock is from 13.8 to 32.8 pCi/g. Comparing that figure to the level in some everyday items might surprise people. Fresh ground coffee contains 27 pCi/g, phosphate fertilizer has up to 127 pCi/g, and sunflower seeds contain eight pCi/g. Another product emitting low-level radio- activity is the granite countertops com- monly found in our homes. The very spot where people prepare their food has a level of 27 pCi/g, which is higher than most fil- ter socks. In addition to filter socks, TENORM is commonly found in tank sludge, pipe scale, filters, and other equipment at oil and gas producing operations. As noted, disposal of the material requires special treatment, but it’s essential the public understands the health risk associated with the material is extremely low. Radiation is everywhere, so we’re all ex- posed to it. But more important than the level of radioactivity is individual exposure Shannon Holter President Western Dakota Energy Association Production Foreman, Murex Petroleum Member, Bowbells City Council ABOUT THE WDEA The Western Dakota Energy Associ- ation (WDEA) is the trusted and unified voice for the betterment of the citizens of North Dakota and WDEA membership WDEA’S 2020 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SERVES WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA President: Shannon Holter, City of Bowbells Vice-President: Trudy Ruland, Mountrail County Past President: Supt. Gary Wilz, Killdeer Public School District Daryl Dukart, Dunn County Zach Gaaskjolen, City of Stanley Supt. Shon Hocker, Dickinson School District Mayor Lyn James, City of Bowman Doug Nordby, McKenzie County John Phillips, Coal Conversion Counties, Beulah Supt. Brad Rinas, Coal Conversion Counties, Washburn Radioactivity is All Around Us: Common Sense Required to Address TENORM Issueor the amount the body absorbs. To put this in perspective, a person could stand next to a dumpster full of used filter socks and receive the same or less exposure than a single day of the average exposure from naturally occurring background radiation. The bottom line is that all of us want to reduce our exposure, regardless of the source of radiation. The less time spent around radioactive material, the better. But proper protective equipment and handling, including the use of gloves and proper containers, are good industry prac- tices that further minimize the minor risk associated with the handling and disposal of TENORM. NORM is something we live with every day. So, to hear the word TENORM and instantly form a negative opinion is unfair. Learning what it is, and how to handle and dispose of it properly, will help us all understand the issue and manage it appro- priately. BASIN BITS | Spring 2020 9 *It is important to acknowledge that in these unprecedented times resulting from both the COVID-19 pandemic and the separate drop in oil price, we are dealing every day with the impact of the unknown. In these uncertain times, we must all work together to get through them and come out the other side. It could take months instead of weeks, and it is crucial we take each day as it comes, planning for both what we face next and for the future, when we eventually get back to our normal routines. While it might be difficult at times, we must stay safe, we must stay healthy, and we must stay positive, tough as it may be, during these trying times. “ The less time spent around radioactive material, the better... proper protective equipment and handling, including the use of gloves and proper containers, are good industry practices that further minimize the minor risk associated with the handling and disposal of TENORM.Next >