Tappin' the Bakken

WHAT CAN MILLIONS OF IDEAS,thousands of patents, and hundreds ofnationalities deliver? Success.Listening to the ideas of our clients andcolleagues around the globe has madeSchlumberger the world’s leading techni-cal services company. Your experiencesare catalysts for our innovation.

Schlumberger invests in a worldwidecommunity of research and develop-ment centers - from Boston to Dhahran,Beijing to Moscow, Stavanger toCambridge - encouraging our brightestminds to find new ways to improve effi-ciency, productivity, and safety, everyday.

Through our commitment to technologyresearch and the support of our globalnetwork of local experts, Schlumbergeris leading the way into the future.

Schlumberger supports the communitiesin Eastern Montana and Western NorthDakota. Call 701-572-8345 for Wirelineor 701-572-8393 for Well Services.

www.slb.com/oilfield

OUTSTANDING IDEAS SHARED SUCCESS

Tappin’ the Bakken fall edition2 SUNDAY, OCT. 31, 2010 SIDNEY HERALD

http://www.slb.com/oilfield

Tappin’ the Bakken fall editionSIDNEY HERALD SUNDAY, OCT. 31, 2010 3

• Roustabouts

• “Safety First”

• Well Supervising

• Contract Pumping

• Ajax Repair & Resale

• Tank Battery Construction

• Pumping Unit Installation & Service

• Over 30 years experience

Sidney • 406.433.3026Williston • 701.572.2209

“Proudly serving the Williston Basin”North Dakota and Montana

“Wherecustomer

service andexperience

meet”

TToowwnnssiittee BBuuiillddiinngg •• BBooxx 775566 •• WWiilllliissttoonn NN..DD.. 5588880011 •• 770011--557722--88229966 •• iinntteeggrraatteedd@@nneemmoonntteell..nneett

• Mineral Owner Rights & Leases• Oilfield Service Companies

• Title Examination & Curative• Drilling Opinions • Division Orders

• Licensed Montana & North Dakota 1977• Culbertson & Bainville City Attorney

HENNESSY LAW OFFICE, P.C.Greg W. Hennessy

Oil & Gas law since 1977 from the Overthrust Belt in Montana to the Williston Basin in North Dakota

Three LocationsNORTH DAKOTA

175 48th Ave. SW, Dickinson701.225.6467

114 12th Ave. SW, Stanley - 701.628.4003

MONTANA206 Fox Street, Medicine Lake

406.789.2237206 10th Ave. SE, Sidney • 406-433-1572

• Toll Free 1-888-482-1572

Call us for...Road base gravel,

rock and sand, + All your concrete

needs.

Concretepump truckavailable.

BY BRUCE LARSENURSA RESOURCES GROUP LLC

Oil and gas activity in the arearemains furious as more andmore companies use advancedtechnologies to unlock the hy-drocarbons contained in theBakken and Three Forks forma-tions. With nearly 150 wellsdrilled each month throughoutwestern North Dakota and east-ern Montana, it would appearthat it is just a matter of time be-fore a rig comes to visit a fieldnear you. Despite the unprece-dented level of basin activity, thejourney to transform a lease in-to oil production remains longand complex.

After a lease is taken, an oiland gas company must accom-plish a number of things beforeit can produce oil from a well onyour land. Permissions must begranted, services must be con-tracted, and equipment must belocated before any oil can be pro-

duced and sold. All of thesesteps take time, and as more andmore companies attempt to ac-complish the same things, theavailability of services is re-duced and the amount of time ittakes increases. In order to bestunderstand why it takes so longto convert a lease into produc-tion, it is necessary to examinesome of the main steps involvedin producing oil.

PERMITTINGBefore an oil and gas company

can drill a well, it must petitionthe state regulatory agency forboth a drilling unit and well per-mit. In order to receive approvalfor a drilling unit, the companymust research and notify allmineral owners under the pro-posed unit of its intention toform the unit. As companieshave moved almost exclusivelytoward development of theBakken under 1280-acre spacingunits, more and more landmen

and lawyers are needed to inter-pret contracts and deeds in an ef-fort to understand exactly whoowns all of the minerals underthe entire unit.

If there are 10 mineral ownersinvolved, this process can be rel-atively quick, but in most casesthere are hundreds or thousandsof people involved, all of whommust be identified. Since the typ-ical drilling unit covers twosquare miles of surface, there isa high likelihood that part of theunit will contain surface or min-erals owned by the state or feder-al government. Drilling in theseareas requires additional per-mitting and specialized studiesthat can further delay permit-ting. Additional permitting is re-quired for the survey of thelands in order to stake the welllocation, a permit for the specif-ic well that details the drillingplan, and then build roads and

From leasing to production: A long, complex journey

ELLEN WZNICK | SIDNEY HERALD

Unit Drilling Company Rig located a few miles east of ND Highway 16.SEE JOURNEY | PAGE 4

mailto:[email protected]


dba

TUBULAR TESTING701-572-8860

Sun Well Service has expanded to include Hydrostatic TubingTesting with new equipment and experienced operators available.

P.O.Box 2356, Williston, North Dakota 58801(701)774-3001 • FAX 774-0774

construct a location for thedrilling equipment to sit. Thepermitting process takes aboutthree to five months when deal-ing with privately-owned land.The time increases to one to twoyears for state and federallyowned land.

DRILLINGIn order to drill a well, an oper-

ator must first locate a rig that isnot currently being utilized todrill another well. In the currentenvironment, this feat is nearlyimpossible, so companies mustcontract manufacturers to buildthem a new rig. The raw materi-als necessary to build new rigsare available, but the facilitiesare limited. As a result, there isvery often a 9-18 month delay be-tween the day you agree to builda rig and the day you startdrilling wells with that new rig.The Bakken formation is locatednearly two miles beneath the sur-

face of the earth, and operatorsare drilling up to two miles hori-zontally within the target zone.This complex well design re-quires nearly four miles of drillpipe to reach total depth. As a re-sult, not every rig is capable ofdrilling these wells. In fact, onlya small number of the rigs avail-able for use are designed to drillthese kinds of wells. During thelast five years, the oil and gas in-dustry has moved toward exploit-ing resources like the Bakkenthroughout the United States. Allof these unconventional plays re-quire the same rigs, which hasincreased the demand for thelimited number of rigs capable ofdrilling these holes.

COMPLETION The Bakken formation is not

your typical reservoir rock. It isconsidered an unconventionalreservoir, because it is not capa-ble of production on its own. Thenatural fabric of the rock is sodense that fractures, either natu-

ral or induced, are a requirementfor production. The combinationof horizontal drilling and artifi-cial stimulation has been the pri-mary driver of expanded activityin the Williston Basin. The artifi-cial stimulations, also known asfrack jobs, essentially force largevolumes of fluids and proppant -a sand mixture - into the forma-tion using immense horsepowerfrom hydraulic pumps at the sur-face to crack the rock. Pumps,water and either sand or synthet-ic proppant material are current-ly in tight supply. However, thereal shortage in this end of thebusiness is related to time. Sincemany operators are now pump-ing 20-35 stages per completion,these jobs can take multiple daysto execute. The number of “frackcrews” in the basin is limited bythe number of qualified peopleable and willing to work.

PRODUCTION After a well is frac'd, it is typi-

cally flow-tested for a couple of

days and then made ready forsales. The equipment needed toproduce a typical Bakken well isfairly standard and readily avail-able. However, the electricity forthe pump jack, and line to the gasplant are provided by the localutilities, which can become over-whelmed by high levels of activi-ty. In addition, once oil is pro-duced from the well, it must be

transported and refined for mar-ket. Current takeaway capacityin the Williston Basin is tight,with oil leaving the basin viapipeline as well as railroad cars.

Mandatory processes, special-ized equipment and high demandfor limited services increase theamount of time it takes to pro-duce oil and gas on your land.

Journey: From drilling to completion to production in the oil industryFROM PAGE 3 Number Of Producing Oil Wells By Year - Richland County

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Oil

Wells

Number of producing wells by year in Richland County

Information provided by Montana Board of Oil and Gas


SSERVINGERVING TTHEHE AAREAREA FFOORR 50 Y50 YEAREAR SS..

Mark Neu • Office: 406-742-5549 • Fairview, MT

Oil Field Roads & LocationsLaser Land Leveling

Gravel & Scoria HaulingSince 1959

We Have You Covered In All Areas:Oil Field • Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Scaffolding Crews

37 Years Of Service

701-572-2718 • www.millerinsulation.comBranch offices located in:

Bismarck, ND • Fargo, ND • Williston, ND • Dickinson, ND • Salt Lake City, UT • Cheyenne, WY • Casper, Wy

Preferred Motel of Business TravelersProud to be of service to Eastern Montana’s Oil Field

H Fitness Room with JacuzziH Extended Continental BreakfastH Free HBO & DisneyH 24 Hour Desk H Business CenterH Pet Friendly

1200 S. Central • Sidney • 406-433-6400

High Speed Wireless Internet

BY LOUISA BARBERSIDNEY HERALD

Have you heard? Water is be-coming the new gold. It’s essen-tial, and when it comes to oil de-velopment, it’s vital.

“It’s a short supply. It’s ourlifeblood,” said Rep. Walt Mc-Nutt, R-Sidney, who is a formerchairman of the water policy in-terim committee.

McNutt is concerned withwhere water will come from inthe future to support the oil in-dustry, which requires massiveamounts of water. Hydraulicfracturing, commonly known asfracking, uses as much as 1 mil-lion gallons of water for each in-dividual frac'ed oil well. Thereare hundreds of new wells eachmonth, which adds to theamount of water needed in theMonDak region.

“It sounds to me like we’rerunning short of that water sup-ply to provide that 1 million gal-

lons to frac,” McNutt said,adding that the state is behindgetting the water adjudicationprocess accomplished. Alsoknown as an enforceable decree,it establishes water rights byseniority.

“That will give us a pretty ac-curate claim to the surface wa-ter the state claims that itowns,” he said. If the state does-n’t get an accurate account ofwhat it’s entitled to, McNuttsaid, other states are “very in-terested” in the water. Montanahas two compacts withWyoming and Canada. TheMontana Constitution declaresthat the state owns all water, butresidents can get applicationsfor water rights. That allows theresidents to use the water butnot own it.

The question remains: Wherewill future water come from?

When owners sell their waterrights, the water is considered abeneficial use. A person can

drill a well and sell the ground-source water, but they must ac-quire a permit for it first, andthe process is costly.

“I’m hearing up to $50,000-60,000 to do one of those wells,”McNutt said. Drilling could alsoimpact someone else’s seniorwater right, resulting in no per-mit at all. “It’s really a gamble.”

McNutt said there has beenongoing research on the Sidneyaquifer for more than 10 years todetermine the aquifer’s con-fines but there is still littleknown about it.

One thing is for sure: the wa-ter situation is critical. “I’m notsure where the water’s going tocome from for this oil fracking,”McNutt said. “Unless there’speople willing to do a groundwater source and go throughthat process, I don’t know ofanybody on the Yellowstone thathas a water right for transfer ofsale.”

Lower Yellowstone Irrigation

Project has water rights seniori-ty, along with other agencies. Ifthe agencies sell their rights,

they could lose their seniorityon water.

New gold: Water issues play into Bakken success


The amount of water available will play a big role in the long-term suc-cess of the Bakken.

http://www.millerinsulation.com

HHOOTT WWHHEEEELLSS

SSEERRVVIICCEESS

• 3 Roustabout Crews • Snow Removal• Weed Spraying • Road Repair• Dump Trucks with Belly Blades

• Backhoe • Picker Trucks • 3 Skid-Steers

Gene Trudell • Owner Operator406-482-3800 (Home) • 406-480-1202 (Cell)35013 County Road 126 • Sidney, MT 59270

“An Hour’s Workfor an Hour’s Wage”

(701) 572-2832 • Fax: (701) 572-2803Located 1/2 mile north of Lindsey Implement

5050 139th Ave. NW Lot 113 • Williston, ND, 58801

• Custom built fabrications of all types• Aluminum welding • Rig up of oil field trucks• Installation of pusher & tag axles• Wet kits/hydraulic system • PTO’s• Truck & trailer repair (mechanical & electrical)

• Farm trucks • DOT Inspection• Thread & groove pipe up to 4”• Custom made bolts to 13/8”

• Interstate Batteries • Silent Drive Tag Axles• Shur-co Tarp Systems • Scotts Bodies & Hoists

• Pickup Service Bodies, Grain Bodies & Hoists


District OfficeMarmarth, ND701-279-5844

Sidney, MT406-798-3060

Dickinson, ND701-483-9710

Complete ProductionServices company

433-4999 • 207 2nd Ave. NW • Sidney

• Restaurant • Lounge • CasinoOpen 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Daily

Every Night 9-10 p.m.

2 DRINKSFor The PRICE

OF ONEWed., Fri. & Sat. Night Karaoke.

Starting at 9 p.m.

Call 433-4998

for takeout.

433-4636804 S. Central Ave.

Sidney

Beer ByThe Pail 6 for $13

“Time Out”4-6 p.m. Daily

$1.75 Beer

Enjoy The New Remodeled Casino!

•Steaks •Prime Rib •Seafood•Pasta •Cocktails•Team Specials •Children’s Menu•Soup & Salad Bar •Senior Citizen’s Menu•Famous South 40 Burgers

• DARTS• COCKTAILS

• SMOKE SHACK• FAMOUS FISH BOWLS

• TV’S FOR ALL THE SPORTS FANS • FINGER FOODS OR FULL MEALS IN LOUNGE

Win up to $800 on 20 Keno, Poker Machines

Gaming Club

Open Daily 8 a.m.

• Cable & Satellite Feeds On 21 TVs

• Buzztime Interactive Trivia

• Montana Lottery • Table Speakers• Wireless Internet• Smoke Shack• Fox • Espn 2

Call 433-4636for takeout!

NEW MEETING ROOMAvailable For Your

Special Event With Or Without Meal


HANDLINGDRY BULK PRODUCTS!

• Rail Trans Loading Services • Oil Field Services

• Warehousing• Fly Ash Pit Reclamations

• Job Site Sand Retrievals

406-433-SAND (7263)Keltz Cell: 406-480-2040 ~ Cole Cell: 406-480-2313

101 10th Ave. SE • Sidney, MT ~ [email protected]

• Fracturing Sands• Procurements • Fly Ash

• Barite• Sand Storage

• Winch Truck

24 Hour Dispatch ~ www.lyrec.com ~ Highway 16 NW, Sidney, MT

Oil Companies are a part of your

Electric Cooperative.Always

Call before you dig underground.

Now it is easier then ever.... Simply dial 811Your Safety Depends On It!


For a company that gets ap-proximately 50 percent of itsbusiness from the oil industry,things are looking pretty posi-tive.

Since its beginning 10 yearsago, as Tressa Rau has built herbusiness, Rau Designs, oil hascontinued to effect her company.Business was catapulted intonew highs when the oil boom re-turned in 2006 and 2007. Sincethen, it’s been steady. “Last yearit just kind of mellowed out,”Rau said.

Rau’s projects largely comefrom producing oil locationsigns for major oil companies aswell as safety signs, logos fortrucks and office buildings at oilsites. “We’re making a lot moretruck logos,” employee CrystalYeend said. Their work is all

Rau DeSigns experiences great growth from oil activity

LOUISA BARBER | SIDNEY HERALD

Co-owners Justin and Tressa Rau along with employee Crystal Yeend work on projects.SEE RAU | PAGE 8


http://www.lyrec.com


The crew usually applies logos andDOT numbers on three to six semi-trucksa week, but that has since doubled be-cause of the increased oil business.

And although work remains constant,Tressa Rau said, “I’m still very busy pro-ducing location signs for Dickinson,Killdeer, Tioga, Baker, Sidney, etc...Theycontinue to order from us because I’mable to mail these items. And then thisyear production sky rocketed like it didthree years ago.”

Because of increased business thisyear, Tressa was able to hire Yeend earli-er this year to help with the load, and sheand husband, Justin Rau, hired part-timehelp during the summer. “Justin and Icouldn’t keep up,” Tressa said. Even withextra help, however, the team stays “verybusy” with long hours. They stay late atwork two to three days a week

That’s not all. The Raus have expandedtheir building by constructing a largershop next door. They’d been talking aboutit for a while, planning took two years,and construction finally began in March.It was finished this month. “We’ve beenwanting to build that for about six years

now but just didn’t have a whole lot oftime,” Tressa Rau said.

Rau says she’s appreciative of the oil

business. “It’s a God send,” she says witha laugh. She admits the business would“still be OK” but realizes the uncertainty

of the unstable oil business.“It’s still scary too, though, because it

could be gone tomorrow.”

Rau: Improved economy from oil industry allows business to expand with additional building

LOUISA BARBER | SIDNEY HERALD

The new workshop at Rau DeSigns.


It’s widely known, the oil in-dustry has a change on the localcommunities. Some are obvious.Others not so much.

Take, for instance, the Yellow-stone Chiropractic Clinic,which has seen an increase inbusiness from oil field workers.Chiropractor Dr. Ryan Laquasays he’s seen an increase in thenumber of patients during thelast decade. New people comingthrough town look for chiro-practic services.

Patients come in with in-juries, the most common ofwhich is lower back pain, proba-bly from lifting. DOT physicals,which is an additional part thebusiness, has seen an increasewith the oil activity.

“You have to have a DOT phys-ical in order to get your com-mercial driver’s license,” Laqua

said. And Yellowstone Chiro-practic Clinic is just where to goto get it. The physical is basical-ly a “general health screening”of the patient.

Laqua stays busy, whichmeans business has been good.He’s thankful for the oil indus-try, he says, because in general,it helps the community as awhole, and when the area doeswell, so does he. “The generalimpact on the community bene-fits me,” Laqua said.

Chiropractor sees positivebenefits from oil industry

‘You have to have a DOTphysical in order to get

your commercial driver’s license.’

Ryan LaquaChiropractor


A work station by BearPaw Energy.

VolumeDiscountsAvailable!

SALEAll Brown Duck insulated

Coats • Bibs • Coveralls - ON SALE

Cleaners & Laundry406.433.1405 ~ 121 2nd Ave. NE, Sidney, MT

Sidney

50%off NEW 75%

off USEDDry Cleaning • Laundry • Drop Service • Mending • Alterations

CommercialAccounts• Towels

• Uniforms• Aprons

• Coveralls• Rugs

FLAMERESISTANTUNIFORMS

Fast and efficient service atthe lowest prices in the area.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE ACTIVITIES IN THEWILLISTON BASIN - INVEST IN NAMES YOU KNOW!

Fund invests in companies benefitting from or participating in the development and production of oil, gas, and related industries of the

resource-rich Williston Basin/Mid-North America region.

Integrity Funds Distributor, LLC1 Main St. N. • P.O. Box 500 • Minot, ND 58702800-276-1262 • integrityvikingfunds.comMember: FINRA

Cory Bruce, Assistant Vice PresidentWells Fargo Investments, LLC

175 North 27th Street • Billings, MT 59101 800-423-6125 • [email protected]

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than theiroriginal cost. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market.Because the Fund normally invests in common stocks of companies engaged in natural resources-relatedactivities in a limited geographical region, the Fund’s performance largely depends on the overall econom-ic condition of that industry and geographical region. Additionally, diplomatic, political or economic develop-ments in foreign countries could adversely impact the Fund’s investment in securities of foreign companies.The Fund is sold by prospectus only. An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, andcharges and expenses of the investment company carefully before investing. The prospectus contains thisand other information about the investment company. You may obtain a prospectus at no cost from yourfinancial adviser or at www.integrityvikingfunds.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

The portfolio may or may not hold and is not restricted to the companies listed.

You Work Hard . . . You Know Oil & GasYou Work Hard . . . You Know Oil & Gas

Securities offered through Wells Fargo Investments, LLC. Member FINRA.Wells Fargo Investments, LLC is not affiliated with Integrity Viking Funds.

TOP 25 HOLDINGS (as of quarter-end - September 30, 2010)

CARBO Ceramics Inc. 3.57%Baker Hughes, Inc. 3.13%Brigham Exploration Co. 3.12%Oasis Petroleum 3.04%Complete Prod. Svcs., Inc. 2.91%Whiting Petroleum Corp. 2.90%Lufkin Industries, Inc. 2.80%EOG Resources Inc. 2.60%Halliburton Company 2.59%

Continental Res. Inc. 2.54%Dresser-Rand Group, Inc. 2.53%National-Oilwell Inc. 2.53%GeoResources, Inc. 2.49%Patterson-Uti Energy Inc. 2.44%Enbridge Inc. 2.41%Weatherford Intl. Ltd 2.35%Northern Oil & Gas, Inc. 2.32%

Nabors Industries 2.26%Basic Energy Svcs 2.25%Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. 2.23%TransCanada Corp.-ADR 2.18%Hess Corp 2.11%Marathon Oil Corp. 2.11%Newmont Mining Corp 2.03%Calfrac Well Svcs., Ltd 2.02%

NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE

(ICPAX)



http://www.integrityvikingfunds.com



There’s a certain buzz in theair up north; a feeling of antici-pation. It appears RooseveltCounty is the place to be in thefuture of oil development. Thecounty is home to what oil ex-perts call “hot spots” fordrilling.

An oil drilling boom hasn’thappened just yet, but one canbet the residents of Culbertsonand Bainville can already feel itseffects from across the NorthDakota border.

“There’s a heavy number oftank trucks here along Highway2 all the time,” says Bainvillemayor Dennis Portra, who hasfamily working in the oil patch.“And the reason that sticks out isthere’s rarely traffic on Highway2.”

Bainville usually has a popula-tion around 150, but within thelast year or so, the mayor esti-

mates the town has hit at least200. “It’s a big jump for a tinytown,” he said. Portra said newresidents aren’t just in the oilfield, but they also come to takejobs left behind by those whohave left to work in oil.

Not much drilling is going onthere yet, but there is a whole lotof interest. Rumors beganswelling back in 2008 that the oildevelopment would move west-ward. The number of wells be-ing permitted rises. The townhas around 40, if not more, wellspermitted around the town. “Atsome point things are going tohave to start happening...” hesaid. “There’s a large number ofwells staked close to Bainville.”

The influx of workers, like therest of the MonDak region, pres-ents problems, so the town isworking to compensate. Two RVparks have been created; they’renot quite full yet. The town is al-so planning “several” newhomes. Housing otherwise is

very limited. “There’s very few,if any, vacant homes in town orin the county. They’re prettywell full,” Portra noted.

When it comes to communityreaction, the mayor said oil ac-tivity has always been part ofthe town, ever since the 1970s’

boom.“Of course, now with this

Bakken thing, it’s potentially alot more people to have incomebecause the way it looks here isthat they’re going to drill 40-80wells here,” Portra said. “Thatspreads the wealth pretty far

fast, so there’s a mixed thing.”Some are excited, some not so

much. “Some, of course, don’twant anything to change causethey like their peaceful littletown,” he said, though he’s

Roosevelt County experiences oil boom effects


A pumper in Roosevelt County.

SEE COUNTY | PAGE 15

Contact Todd or Dana Today!

RENTME!

SIDNEY, MT 406.488.7349WILLISTON, ND 701.774.3235Toll Free: 1.800.659.4270

WATFORD CITY, ND 701.842.4280 MINOT, ND 701.837.9000www.oilfieldintegrators.com

Capture License Plates!


http://www.oilfieldintegrators.com

205 10th Ave. SE, Sidney • 433-1590 • West Building at Sidney Red-E-Mix • M-F 7 a.m. - 5 p.m • After Hours 406-599-2501

Hydraulic Hoses & Fittings up to 2”

Industrial Hoses & Fittings up to 12”

The Right Connection™

Locally owned and operated.

We are your one-stop shop specializing in:

state & federal wells

with bar toolsCasing/MIT Tests


EEmmppiirree OOiill CCoommppaannyy iiss aann ooiillaanndd ggaass lleeaassee aaccqquuiissiittiioonn ccoommppaannyy..

P.O. Box 1835, Williston, ND

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 701-774-2845 • Fax: 701-774-3537

Bill LaCrosse

Buying & Leasing of MineralsPaul L . Sagaser12301 58th St. N.W. Epping, ND 58843 • Cellular: 701-570-3080

Office: 701-859-4145 • Fax: 701-859-4146

Serving the Williston Basin since 1981

GEOLOGICAL WELLSITE CONSULTING

INC.

406.489.0067 • Brian Milne P.E.Sidney, Montana

406.489.0289 • Lonni Fleck P.E.Williston, North Dakota

701.290.5775 • Bob Procive P.L.S.Belfield, North Dakota

406.480.5055 • Aaron Hummert L.S.I.T.Sidney, Montana

Professionals you need, people you trust

Covering the entireWilliston Basin

www.interstateeng.com

offices in Montana • North Dakota • South Dakota • Minnesota

• Engineered, tested and configured for extreme environments.

• Standard and Explosion-proofmodels.

• Rental, Sales and FieldServices

Marty ShaideCell: 489-1441 • Fax 742-9043

Fairview, MT • Rock Springs, WY

SSppeecciiaalliissttss iinn tthhee PPSSCC IInncc lliinnee ooff hhoottwwaatteerr,, hhiigghh pprreessssuurree wwaasshheerr ssyysstteemmss..

Dan Cayko Cell: 480-5665 Home: 742-3630Marty Shaide 489-1441

Fairview, MT • Rock Springs, WY

SSppeecciiaalliizziinngg iinn............ssaanndd bbllaassttiinngg && ppaaiinnttiinngg

......ddrriilllliinngg rriiggss,, ggaass ppllaannttss&& ppiippeelliinneess..



http://www.interstateeng.com


Oil & Gas Revenue - Richland County by fiscal year

Fiscal Year QuarterTotal Revenue Collected

Richland Co. Contributions

Money retained by state To all counties To Richland County To RC County Gov.

2002-2003 2002 1 $12,337,290 $4,005,953 $8,331,337 $1,127,122 $360,2522 $13,458,063 $4,270,685 $9,187,377 $1,084,604 $355,4463 $14,695,554 $4,764,568 $9,930,986 $1,250,726 $416,5774 $16,451,454 O/G $11,450,258 $1,377,108 $462,614

Total $56,942,361 $13,041,206 $38,899,958 $4,839,560 $1,594,889

2003-2004 2003 1 $22,361,842 $3,045,472 $11,244,243 $11,117,599 $1,377,467 $632,9462 $18,289,476 $2,535,280 $9,384,924 $8,904,552 $1,146,708 $526,9123 $23,610,176 $4,182,454 $12,146,372 $11,463,804 $1,445,965 $664,4214 $20,434,442 $3,390,267 $10,526,073 $9,908,369 $1,533,418 $704,606

Total $84,695,936 $13,153,473 $43,301,612 $41,394,324 $5,503,558 $2,528,885

2004-2005 2004 1 $23,434,182 $4,182,454 $12,122,070 $11,312,111 $1,922,674 $883,4692 $27,054,589 $5,214,936 $14,387,152 $12,667,437 $2,397,309 $1,101,5633 $30,127,979 $6,396,731 $16,083,639 $14,044,340 $2,940,667 $1,351,2364 $34,907,380 $7,959,139 $18,676,177 $16,231,204 $3,718,684 $1,708,735

Total $115,524,130 $23,753,260 $61,269,038 $54,255,092 $10,979,334 $5,045,003

2005-2006 2005 1 $35,966,557 $9,448,140 $19,254,625 $16,711,932 $4,354,548 $2,000,9152 $39,884,873 $11,647,001 $21,476,521 $18,408,352 $5,441,917 $2,500,5613 $50,429,199 $15,414,443 $27,252,528 $23,176,671 $7,201,625 $3,309,1474 $55,236,648 $16,590,752 $29,545,521 $25,691,127 $7,751,196 $3,561,675

Total $181,517,277 $53,100,336 $97,529,195 $83,988,082 $24,749,286 $11,372,298

2006-2007 2006 1 $48,159,165 $16,600,568 $25,889,308 $22,269,857 $7,902,611 $3,631,2502 $52,582,180 $19,618,325 $28,604,000 $23,978,180 $9,312,660 $4,279,1673 $56,014,548 $22,271,286 $30,035,690 $25,978,858 $10,579,532 $4,861,2954 $48,565,918 $18,925,596 $26,238,649 $22,327,268 $8,984,220 $4,128,249

Total $205,321,811 $77,415,775 $110,767,647 $94,554,163 $36,779,023 $16,899,961

2007-2008 2007 1 $50,196,265 $19,944,495 $27,092,740 $23,103,525 $9,467,418 $4,350,2792 $58,529,455 $23,159,499 $32,135,779 $26,393,676 $10,987,382 $5,048,7023 $62,909,112 $26,551,704 $34,206,734 $28,702,378 $12,604,188 $5,791,6244 $74,131,464 $31,512,083 $40,133,249 $33,998,215 $14,958,732 $6,873,538

Total $245,766,296 $101,167,781 $133,568,502 $112,197,794 $48,017,720 $22,064,143

2008-2009 2008 1 $83,895,426 $34,180,335 $45,166,426 $38,728,999 $16,225,404 $7,455,5732 $106,200,438 $40,834,000 $57,286,806 $48,913,632 $19,383,931 $9,800,8953 $96,500,034 $44,932,553 $51,997,854 $44,502,181 $21,329,479 $8,906,9164 $44,814,568 $18,589,308 $23,982,318 $20,832,250 $8,824,339 $4,054,784

Total $331,410,466 $138,536,196 $178,433,404 $152,977,062 $65,763,153 $30,218,168

2009-2010 2009 1 $32,361,772 $13,472,942 $17,305,188 $15,056,584 $6,395,600 $2,938,7782 $42,253,260 $18,992,172 $22,809,243 $19,444,018 $9,015,580 $4,142,6593 $45,954,851 $20,723,320 $24,810,898 $21,143,953 $9,837,360 $4,520,2674 $52,225,534 $22,798,486 $28,134,680 $24,090,855 $10,822,510 $4,972,943

Total $172,795,417 $75,986,920 $93,060,009 $79,735,410 $36,071,050 $16,574,647

2010-2011 2010 1 $54,596,665 $23,703,734 $29,330,866 $25,265,798 $11,252,155 $5,170,365GRAND Total $1,448,570,359 $506,817,475 $760,301,479 $683,267,683 $243,954,839 $111,468,359

Richland County oil and gas revenue comparison2002 through first quarter 2010


7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday • 7:30 a.m.-noon Saturday406.482.8939 • 216 N. Central Ave., Sidney • Located with Valley Motor Supply

Welding SuppliesBulk &

Compressed GasOvernight

delivery of In-Stockitems available 100 14th St. SE., Sidney

433-2012 • 1-800-236-5787Fall and Winter Hours

M-F 7-5 • Sat. 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

We Appreciate all of your business throughout the years,

from the Pro-Build team!

town,” he said, though he’s heard littlenegative feedback from residents.

“It looks to be a pretty good picture forthe future for employment here,” he said.

Just a few miles west of Bainville, Cul-bertson also feels the pinch.

“We’re just like Sidney. There is norentals around,” Culbertson mayor Gor-don Oelkers said.

The town, which has grown an estimat-ed 100 in population (800-900) in the lastyear, is in the process of finding its ownhousing units for incoming residents. Anew hotel with 36 units is on its waynorth of the town, and there are RV parkdevelopments as well as a new man camp,leased out to an oil company by Culbert-

son residents Mark and Kristine Mehlen.The Mehlens, who also own the Stage-

coach Casino, leased the land to EOG Re-sources after the company had inquiredabout it. That was back in March; a cou-ple months later, after going back andforth on the decision to purchase it, thelease went through, and workers movedin during May.

“I did all the work as far as hookingeverything up, and then they brought inthe man camp,” Mark Mehlen said.

About a half dozen trailers are lined upeast of the Stagecoach Casino now, filledwith residents. There are also other trail-ers that lay behind the building, whichwere built for workers on the new powerplant north of the town. They’re now

rented by EOG employees.Though housing is an issue, Mayor

Oelkers says the town has no doubt beenhelped by the oil industry. “Businesses intown are busier because of oil activity,”he said. “There’s not a lot of drilling, butwells are coming this way.”

Culbertson school officials and stu-dents have also felt the effects from oil.Although there is only an influx of a fewstudents in the high school level, there isnotable growth in the elementary schoolwith about 20 more students enrolled.The high school is currently goingthrough changes including a new lunchroom and a new kitchen relocated nearthe gym. Work began in April and is ex-pected to be complete by Feb. 1.

Superintendent Larry Crowder said helooks forward to more oil development asit benefits the town and school. “We’rehopeful that more activity may be comingour way,” he said.

[email protected]

County: Many changes taking place in Bainville, Culbertson area because of oil activityFROM PAGE 10


Housing is becoming scarce in the Culbertson/Bainville area.

‘I did all the work as far ashooking everything up, and thenthey brought in the man camp.’

Mark MehlenCulbertson resident


BY BILL VANDER WEELESIDNEY HERALD

It’s a hectic place.Between harvest, oil field needs and in-

dividual vehicles, Western Tire in Sidneytries its best to provide customer servicein a timely manner.

“The biggest part is trying to juggle theoil field with the farmers’ needs and the

regular customers,” Tom Baxter, ownerof Western Tire, said about the oil indus-try’s impact. “We try to do the best foreverybody all the time. We try to treateverybody equal.”

When asked about the oil industry’s im-pact, office manager Kris Baxter an-swered, “It keeps us busy. It’s been a lotmore hours.”

The Baxters estimate that at least 50

percent of their business is oil field relat-ed.

Tom Baxter thanks his experiencedcrew featuring Mark Carlson, Rob Berg-erson and Larry Davidsen for their quali-ty work.

He notes Carlson spends a great deal ofhis work day repairing the front ends ofoil field vehicles.

“They go on a lot of rough roads,” Bax-ter said of the trucks.

Baxter, who started working part timeat Western Tire in 1986 and then full timein 1989, says business was steady butnothing spectacular during the 1990s.

That changed when the oil boom ar-rived in eastern Montana about six yearsago.

Baxter says when the oil boom first hithe was often working seven days a week.Plus, he was called sometimes in the mid-dle of the night for emergency work,which included trips as far as Wolf Pointand Bowbells, N.D.

“It still happens but not as much as itdid,” Baxter said of late night calls.

Changes have included buying more in-ventory and improving all the company’sequipment.

“We’ve been able to update equipmentbecause of the extra money coming fromoil,” Kris Baxter said.

Tom Baxter added, “It’s been a goodrun.”


Serving thearea’s oil field &trucking needs

since 1978

PETERBILT OF WILLISTON4623 2nd Ave. W. Williston • PHONE 774-0225 • Toll Free 1-888-894-3511 • Tim Soiseth, Mgr.

A COMMITMENT TOQualityBrian R. Bjella Ken G. Hedge Adam M. Olschlager

Colby L. Branch John R. Lee Fred C. RathertGary G. Broeder Molly A. Litzen Garth H. SjueCraig B. Burns Wade C. Mann Kirsten M. Sjue

Christopher D. Friez John W. Morrison Craig C. SmithShane A. Hanson Jennifer M. Nasner Paul W. SummersKent A. Reierson Brad A. McCamy

North Dakota Contacts

North Dakota Offices:

400 East Broadway, Suite 600, P.O. Box 2798,

Bismarck, ND 58501-4013 • 701-223-6585

111 East Broadway, P.O. Box 1206,

Williston, ND 58802-1206 • 701-572-2200

Montana Offices:490 North 31st Street, Suite 500,

P.O. Box 2529, Billings, MT 59103-2529 • 406-252-344145 Discovery Drive,

P.O. Box 10969, Bozeman, MT 59719-0969 • 406-556-1433100 North Park Avenue, Suite 300,

P.O. Box 797, Helena, MT 59624-0797 • 406-449-4164431 First Avenue West,

P.O. Box 759, Kalispell, MT 59903-0759 • 406-752-6644305 South 4th Street East, Suite 100,

P.O. Box 7099, Missoula, MT 59807-7099 • 406-523-3600

www.crowleyfleck.com

Western Tire thankful for positive results from oil activity

BILL VANDER WEELE | SIDNEY HERALD

Rob Bergerson works on a vehicle.

http://www.crowleyfleck.com

.. .. ..PPoorrttaabbllee TTooiilleettss aanndd.. .. .... .. ..RReessiiddeennttiiaall SSeeppttiicc SSeerrvviicceess

• Potable Water & Sewer Systems • Communications • Satellite Internet• Equipment Rental • Pumps • Skid Houses

Office: 406-742-5312Vess: 406-489-0039Fairview, Montana

•Toilets for everyoccasion from

construction sites to weddings

Skid Steer Rental

.. .. ..HHeeaavvyy EEqquuiippmmeenntt RReennttaallss

Backhoe Rental

Loader • Trucking


S U R V E Y I N G • E N G I N E E R I N G • D R A F T I N GIntermountain West's largest provider of land surveying and

civil engineering services for the Oil and Gas industries.Services: • Layout and design of well locations, roads,

pipelines, evaporation ponds, compressor sitesand all related facilities.

• Preparation of field maps, documents used in theAPD, access permits, stream crossing applica-tions, flood plain studies, structural designs, anddesign plans and specifications.

• Significant experience working in Utah,Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Montana,Nevada, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

50 years of surveying and field work, we offeroutstanding service, quality and accuracy.

Corporate Office:85 South 200 East, Vernal, UT 84078 • 1.435.789.1017 Phone • 1.435.789.1813 Fax

Colorado Office:832 Northcrest Dr. Unit B,Grand Junction, CO 81506 • 1.970.263.4006 Phone • 1.970.263.4025 Fax

Montana Office:P.O. Box 1182, 104 2nd Ave.S.W. Ste 300, Sidney, MT59270 • 1.406.433.9650Phone • 1.406.433.9653 Fax

Wyoming Office:79 Winston Drive, Suite 210,Rock Springs, WY, 82901 • 1.307.382.3585 Phone • 1.307.382.5275 Fax

North Dakota Office:900 N. Broadway, Suite 300,Minot, ND 58703 • 1.701.838.2314 Phone • 1.701.838.2315 Fax

Industrial Equipment

I.E.S.S.Sales & Service, Inc.Just North of Williston

Located behind OK Fuel StopNorth Williston

314 42nd St. West, Williston701-572-2393

www.iessinc.com

Agriculture, Oilfield, Natural Gas, Industrial• Engines • Pumps • Compressors • Generators

• Construction Equipment • Industrial Machine Shop & much more

We Carry:•New Steel •Aluminum •Stainless Steel

•Misc. Piano Hinges •Weld on Hinges, Latches

We Have:•Press Brake •Shear

•Auto Feed Band Saw•Plasma Table •Piranha Iron Worker

NEW • 225,000 lb. Pull Tester• Any Size 1/8” to 1-3/8” Wire Rope Assemblies

• Grade 100 Chain Assemblies • 800 Ton Press for Wire Rope Assemblies

• Grade 70 Load Chains and Binders• Winch Lines for Trucks


http://www.iessinc.com

• Oil Pads • Roads • Rip Rap• Scoria & Gravel Hauling

E-mail Kurt at: [email protected] BJ at: [email protected]

Office: (701) 483-DIRT (3478) Fax: (701) 483-3479Dickinson & Gladstone, ND


Williston Facility424 47th Street WestWilliston, ND 58801

701-572-2768

• Rotary Pressure Control Devices

• Drilling Rental Tools

• Automatic Torque Control Systems

• Tubular Inspection & Hard Banding Services

• Impact Tools

• Wellbore Departure Systems – Open Hole & Cased Hole


Pretty sightA beautiful scene from northwest of Sidney.



Stephen C. Bowman, President Victor J. Lawson, Vice-President Daryl Sorenson, Operations ManagerCell: (406) 765-7954 Cell: (406) 765-7687 Cell: (406) 765-8563

Ole Hagen, District Manager, Cell: (701) 263-5571 • John White, Lead Driver, Williston, (701) 770-6469 • Steve Hagen, Dispatcher/Assistant, Cell: (701) 871-1144

212 Cactus Street, P.O. Box 567, Plentywood, MT 59254

Phone: 406-765-1376 • Fax: 406-765-2322 • Toll Free: 1-800-376-1376

Westhope/Williston/Tioga, ND • Phone: (701) 245-6423 or 6663

Diamond B Oilfield Trucking, Inc.CCrruuddee OOiill TTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn,, HHiigghh PPrreessssuurree UUnniittss,, WWaatteerr HHaauulliinngg && TTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn

Diamond B Trucking, Inc.CCrruuddee OOiill TTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn

Diamond B


2912 2nd Ave. W.Williston, ND701-572-4567

677 26th Ave. EDickinson, ND 58601

701-225-6888

1-800-225-8247 ~ www.praxair.com

2816 S. Broadway Minot, ND 58701 • 701-852-3596

SUPPLIESWELDINGGASES &

http://www.praxair.com


TRI-COUNT Y IMPLEMENT

2429 W. Holly St. • Sidney, MT • 488-4400 • 1-800-624-6540

Whether your operating application is transportation, construction or

stationary, we offer fast,reliable service and parts.

We have bulk oil and a great selection of filters at very competitive prices.

• DOT inspection • Lights • Brakes

• Engine Repair

We’ll providethe energy...

please use i t safe ly.

In the Community to Serve™

Experienced In Eastern Montana

Netzer Law Office, PC1060 S. Central Ave., Ste. 2 Sidney • 433-5511

Donald L. Netzer

• Estate Planning• Wills and Probate• Corporations

• Real Estate• Oil & Gas

BY GOV. BRIAN SCHWEITZER

Montana has more potentialfor diverse energy developmentfrom existing and untappedsources than any other state inthe nation. Oil is one of those re-sources, and it provides the statewith tremendous economic op-portunities by increasing ener-gy security for the nation whilecreating good jobs here at home.

In Richland County, the ElmCoulee field of the Bakken for-mation has been one of the mostproductive onshore oil fields inthe lower 48 states. The Bakkenproduced 15.8 million barrels ofoil in the year 2000 and grew to36.2 million barrels by the year2006, more than a 50 percent in-crease.

In 2006, the Bakken formationhad an estimated ultimate re-covery of 270 million barrels,pumping out about 56,000 bar-rels of oil per day from approxi-mately 350 wells, making the

Elm Coulee field responsible foralmost 60 percent of Montana’soil production that year.

Today we are starting to seeanother increase in oil produc-tion. Higher oil prices and im-proved drilling and fracturingtechnologies have spurred re-newed interest. The MontanaBoard of Oil and Gas has recent-ly seen a marked increase in thenumber of drilling permit appli-cations, and could see over 300drilling permit applications thisyear.

Another significant develop-ment is the Keystone XLpipeline. This proposed crudeoil pipeline is now in the ad-vanced stages of permitting,and if approved will runthrough eastern Montana, con-necting Alberta to the GulfCoast. I have worked hard tohelp TransCanada, the prospec-tive pipeline owner, understandthe value of allowing Montanaaccess to the line. Our producers

will now be able to receive topdollar for their crude. At thesame time, the pipeline willmean hundreds of new energyjobs and over $1 billion in invest-

ment to Montana. The intercon-nection is being called theBakken Marketlink Project, andwould provide crude oil trans-port from Baker to Cushing, Ok-la., and southward.

Some have opposed thepipeline, and last spring urgedthe U.S. State Department to sus-pend the permitting process. Iresponded by contacting Secre-tary of State Clinton to affirmthat I wholeheartedly supportand stand behind the rigorouspermitting process that theMontana Department of Envi-ronmental Quality and the U.S.State Department already havein place. I trust that the permit-ting process will result in a proj-ect that will adhere to environ-mental standards and protectthe quality of life we cherish inMontana. So long as it is devel-oped in a safe and responsiblemanner, it will continue to havemy support.

On the heels of my joint an-

nouncement with TransCanadaon Sept. 13 of the Bakken Mar-ketlink Project open season,Quintana Energy Partners, L.P.out of Houston announced thata binding open season com-menced Sept. 27 for its proposedBakkenLink Pipeline. This proj-ect will provide additional newinfrastructure critical to trans-port Williston Basin crude to theBakken Marketlink Project.

The future is shaping up to bea strong one for oil and gas inMontana, and I will continue toencourage the development ofgood public policy in relation toit. If you have ideas about howwe can improve the energy in-dustry, oil production, wind gen-eration or anything else, pleasedo not hesitate to contact me.You can reach me at [email protected] or by phone at 444-3111. And if you are ever in Hele-na, please stop by – my door isalways open.

Future looks strong for oil industry in Montana

Gov. Brian Schweitzer says hewill continue to encourage the de-velopment of good public policy inrelation to oil and gas in Montana.




BY U.S. SEN. MAX BAUCUSOur connection with the land is part of

what defines us as Montanans. Perhapsnowhere is this more apparent than inRichland County. Whether it’s the fertileand productive valley at the confluenceof the Yellowstone and Missouri Riversor the brimming oil fields that bless theregion, folks here know that our ruralway of life depends on the land and whatlies below it.

MONTANA SOLUTIONS FORMONTANA JOBS

I’m committed to expanding on thegood work of folks in Sidney andthroughout eastern Montana to see thatour state leads the way in our country’senergy future. The Keystone XL Pipelineis one major opportunity to bolster Mon-tana’s economy with new jobs, new rev-enues and new spending in our easternMontana communities. This pipeline is akey piece of infra-structure to buildupon the goodwork Montanansare doing to reduceour dependency onforeign oil. It willprovide a much-needed avenue toget Montana-pro-duced oil to domes-tic refineries.

I recently wrotea letter to the U.S.Department ofState urging Secre-tary Clinton to expedite a permit byTransCanada to construct the pipeline.We need to ensure that all developmentof Montana’s resources occurs in a waythat respects our outdoor heritage. Theproject will be a significant economicdriver, creating new jobs during con-struction, with local project spending an-ticipated by TransCanada to be over $400million. As a result of the pipeline, stateand local revenues could increase by asmuch as $8.9 million.

In addition to these direct opportuni-ties, this will provide a renewed effort todevelop and utilize two of our state’smost valuable resources – the BakkenFormation and our world-renownedworkforce. The project is shovel readyand paid for with private sector dollars.It’s a win-win for creating good-payingjobs for Montanans and increasing ourenergy security.

SECURING OUR ENERGY FUTUREDeveloping our vast oil resources, such

as the Bakken, is a critical element ofdriving our economy forward while re-ducing our dependence on foreign oil. Itis the largest oil field discovered in theUnited States in the last 50 years, and theestimated 3.6 billion barrels in theBakken should be part of our solution toending our reliance on foreign oil.There’s no doubt that dependence on for-eign energy is a threat to our national se-curity and to our pocketbooks – that’swhy I’m committed to doing my part tosee our nation become energy independ-ent.

PUTTING MONTANA IN THE DRIVER’S SEATWe need an energy policy that puts our

country back in control. That means weneed to develop all of our resources –wind, coal, oil and gas, and biomass. I am

particularly inter-ested in the oppor-tunities for en-hanced oil recov-ery in a carbonconstrainedworld. At ourMontana Econom-ic DevelopmentSummit in Butte, Ihosted a panelthat focused onthis topic.

The availabilityof cheap carbondioxide, captured

from coal-fired power plants, creates anopportunity to improve the economics ofthese projects. With ingenuity and ourworld class work ethic, I know Mon-tanans can create job opportunities inthe energy sector. I’m doing my part tosee that the state gets a fair shake in theindustry and plays a leading role in ourcountry’s energy future. We’ve also gotto support research and technology de-velopment, as well as specialized train-ing in the energy sector, to keep good-paying jobs in Montana and draw newbusiness to the state. It’s clear that oilwill remain a significant piece of our en-ergy puzzle, and I look forward to work-ing with partners on all levels to see thatthe energy sector, as well as clean energytechnologies, continues to thrive so wecan create good-paying jobs while pro-tecting Montana’s outdoor heritage.

Baucus says oil industry helps putMontana’s economy on right track

‘With ingenuity and our worldclass work ethic, I knowMontanans can create job

opportunities in the energy sector.’

Max BaucusU.S. senator

Evaluations & Drilling Intervention

Tubular Running Services

Rental & Fishing Equipment

Wellhead Systems701.572.6714

Artificial Lift Systems

Corod Services701.774.1030

Wireline ServicesOpen Hole, Cased Hole and Pipe Recovery services

701.774.3045

Completion Services701.774-0059

Flow Testing701.420.9740

www.weatherford.com


http://www.weatherford.com


RED RIVER SUPPLRED RIVER SUPPLYY, INC., INC.•Bulk and Bagged Transportation•Calcium Chloride Water•Calcium Chloride Pellets•Calcium Bromide Water•Bulk and Bagged Salt•Bulk Flyash•Liquid Storage Rental Available•Warehousing for NOV Drilling Fluids

and Newpark Drilling Fluids

1-800-735-4934Rich Vestal Cell:

701-770-0080Kathy Vestal Cell:

701-770-3297

P.O. Box 11461202 E. Broadway

Williston, ND 58802-1146

Without the development and imple-mentation of multi-stage frac’ing, theBakken would be dead. Oil is unrecover-able without it.

The process involves injecting largevolumes of fluids and sand mixtures in-to the formation two miles below theearth using immense horsepower gener-ated from hydraulic pumps at the sur-face to crack the rock.

There are approximately 20-30“stages” along a horizontal wellbore of10,000 feet in length with each stageplaced 300-600 feet apart. Each stage isdesigned to artificially stimulate, orfrack, a different section of the rock,thereby mobilizing the oil that wouldotherwise remain trapped in the rock.The key to maximizing recovery is theplacement of each stage. If the stagesare too close together, they interferewith each other. If they are too far apartthey don’t effectively break all of therock.

Producers want to find the correct dis-tance so that each frac grows out and

stimulates unique rock within that in-terval. It takes 1-3 million gallons of wa-ter to frac a single well.

Single-stage fracking was used inMontana during the 2000s oil boom butwas not effective as the play movedaway from Richland County. Multi-stagefrac’ing technology was successfully im-plemented in North Dakota and is nowexpected to be used in the new wellsdrilled in Elm Coulee and farther northin Montana. Multi-stage frac’ing, whilemore expensive than single-stagefrac’ing, ultimately produces a lot moreoil.

A single-stage frac job typically costs$1 million, while the multi-stage jobmay cost as much as $3 million. Howev-er, the latter can produce 500,000-700,000barrels of oil compared to the former’s50,000-100,000 barrels from the samerock.

As a result of the increased recoveryof oil, the additional expenditures arejustified in the payouts.

Did you know?

What is multi-stage frac’ing?

We’ve got the Oil Field Suppliesyou need, where you need them.

e-mail: [email protected]

Sidney Office406-488-8706

Stanley Office701-628-8706

• Down hole sucker rod pumps• Gates hydraulic hoses & belts

• Norris sucker rods & fishing tools• Line pipe • Tubing • Fittings

• Balon ball valves • Tubing anchors• Fitting trailers for tank battery hook-ups

8221 62nd St. NW (Old Hwy 2) Stanley, N.D. • 701-628-8706

1511 South Central Ave., Sidney, MT • 406-488-8706

From Sidney to Stanley



701-842-4771Robert (Barney) Pfeifer, GM/Owner

Watford City, ND

Crude Oiland

Water Hauling

Main Office: 3711 4th Ave. NE, Watford City, ND (701) 842-3618 Fax: 701-842-4741

“Have the power fuels team go to work for you.”

Field OfficesTioga/Lignite (701) 664-2594 Fax: (701) 664-2002 Baker/Beach (701) 872-4456 Fax: (701) 872-4459

Stanley (701) 628-5151 Fax: (701) 628-5152Dickinson/Killdeer (701) 483-5971 Fax: (701) 483-5973

Minot (701) 839-9221 Fax: (701) 837-8557

Serving the oil field in WesternNorth Dakota for over 30 years.

Oil Field Transportation of Liquids in Bulk

Hamm & Phillips Service Company...... over 40 Years of Servicein the Oil & Gas Industry

Hamm & Phillips Service Co. has been servicing the oil &gas industry since 1968. The company’s corporate head-quarters are located in Enid, Oklahoma. The companyestablished operations in Marmarth, North Dakota in 1995and have since opened facilities in Sidney, Montana andDickinson, North Dakota. They are proud to be a part of thegrowing oil and gas industry in the Williston Basin andBakken Shale.

Ron Boyd, President of Hamm & Phillips, has led the company through the cyclical nature of the oil industry since1995. He contributes the continued success of Hamm &Phillips to the hardworking and dedicated employees.Quoted from Mr. Boyd “We can buy trucks, but peoplebuild companies.”

Hamm & Phillips looks forward to many more years oftaking care of our customers to which we have the privilegeto serve.

Service and EquipmentÙ Vac & Gear Pumps Ù Bobtail Ù Hot Oiler TrucksÙ Frac Tanks Ù Winch Trucks Ù Super Heaters Ù Water Filtering

Marmarth, North Dakota701-279-5522

LocationsSidney Dickinson

Montana North Dakota406-798-3031 701-483-9380



FIRE RESISTANT CLOTHING

Special orders welcome!

We do custom embroidery!

2221 S. Central, Sidney406.433.6757

• jeans • jackets • coats • coveralls • shirts • T-shirts

• pullovers • sweat shirts

• more

Good selection of stylesand sizes in stock.

BY LINDSEY BRIGHTSIDNEY HERALD

TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipelinehas yet to be built. It is still in the plan-ning stages, adding to the vast networkcrossing and criss-crossing North Ameri-ca, transporting oil and gas, helping tomeet the energy needs of an energy hun-gry nation. Millions of miles of pipelinegrid the United States/North Americawith other pipeline projects set to bebuilt. Enbridge companies continue tobuild additional pipeline systems to ac-commodate the increase in oil extractedout of the Bakken Shale.

The pipeline will move from Hardisity,Alberta to Cushing, Okla., and finally toPort Arthur, Texas, carrying mainly oilfrom the Alberta tar sands – oil that hasbeen given the nickname of “dirty oil” oreven, the “dirtiest oil around.”

However, what is currently happeningis opening up the pipeline to Bakken oil.

Sweet crude oil produced from theBakken Shale for the last several yearshas not had much problem being extract-ed, the problem has been transportingthe oil to refinieries and buyers. Rail sys-tems and trucking the oil has been com-mon. Pipelines that are there have beenquickly filled to capacity. Enbridge, an-other Canadian energy transportationcompany, has plans for a $300 millionphase 7 of their Bakken expansion proj-ect. Still, producers are producing moreoil and need a way to ship it. Thus, theBakken Marketlink project, or the Key-stone “on-ramp.”

TransCanada has agreed to build anaccess to the Keystone XL pipeline inBaker.

Until Nov. 10, TransCanada will be ac-cepting bids on open space on thepipeline.

The requirements for bids are a com-mitment of at least five years, explainsJeff Hume, president of Continental Re-sources. Continental will send in a bid bythe end of the month.

Terry Cuhna, senior communicationsspecialist for TransCanada, says the com-pany has had many discussions with in-

terested parties and has received positivefeedback from the market regardingBakken Marketlink.

The on-ramps are a go, that is if thepipeline is given the green light.

Cuhna, though, says “TransCanadadoes not believe that the Baker accesspoint will have any impact on the Presi-dential Permit for Keystone XL. Tran-sCanada does acknowledge that the Bak-er access point does improve the abilityfor the United States to improve energysecurity by opening up transportationfrom one of the only growing domesticproduction regions in the U.S.”

But right now, all of the U.S. permitshave not been attained and environmen-talist groups and protestors are continu-ing to let Washington know they want ared light for the project. Friends of theEarth dirty fuels campaigner states thatthe project will pollute water, air, leavecommunities vulnerable to spills andleaks.

Past months have not been reassuringof pipeline safety as Michigan and Illi-nois have both had large pipeline leaks.

Bridger Pipeline LLC, however, has inthe past weeks acquired approval fromNorth Dakota’s Public Service Commis-sion for a 12-inch, 77 mile pipeline thatwill go through Billings, Dunn andMcKenzie counties. It will be capable ofcarrying 60,000 barrels of oil daily. It isthe hope of the company to also link tothe Keystone XL.

Before any of these projects move for-ward, though, the presidential permitmust be received for the pipeline becauseit crosses international borders. Tran-sCanada had hoped to be laying the pipeby the end of the year, but it now lookslike the presidential permit will be up inthe air longer.

Bakken access to Keystonepipeline looks secure

Details

TRANSCANADA has agreed to build an access tothe Keystone XL pipeline in Baker.

UNTIL NOV. 10, TransCanada will be acceptingbids on open space on the pipeline.

2009 oil production by area in Montana

Information provided by the Montana Board of Oil and Gas

Subscribe to e-edition! Look for a great deal with the e-market coupon!

Click on e-market at www.sidneyherald.com and print your coupon today!

http://www.sidneyherald.com


4th Quarter 2009 1st Quarter 2010County Collections Distributions Collections DistributionsBig Horn $892,590 $402,112 $1,090,243 $491,155Blaine $1,131,455 $660,656 $1,258,147 $734,632Carbon $906,947 $437,783 $987,404 $476,620Carter $67,798 $34,001 $58,107 $29,141Chouteau $116,759 $67,884 $119,768 $69,633Custer $4,499 $3,128 $9,022 $6,273Daniels $28,967 $14,718 $9,688 $4,923Dawson $687,401 $328,509 $709,361 $339,004Fallon $11,832,728 $4,944,766 $11,811,880 $4,935,004Fergus $2,016 $1,395 $2,907 $2,011Garfield $18,652 $8,573 $14,558 $6,691Glacier $756,366 $444,970 $957,023 $563,017Golden Valley $10,937 $6,384 $11,059 $6,455Hill $592,343 $382,121 $652,478 $420,913Liberty $302,764 $175,422 $320,790 $185,866McCone $18,988 $9,479 $12,684 $6,332Musselshell $231,914 $112,803 $280,576 $136,472Park $0 $0 $75 $38Petroleum $17,406 $8,362 $45,554 $21,884Phillips $1,278,649 $690,726 $1,446,181 $781,227Pondera $178,176 $96,678 $190,224 $103,216Powder River $858,372 $522,749 $891,124 $542,695Prairie $128,661 $51,953 $133,605 $53,950Richland $22,798,486 $10,822,510 $23,703,734 $11,252,155Roosevelt $2,327,889 $1,064,067 $2,367,503 $1,082,186Rosebud $516,747 $203,237 $590,703 $232,324Sheridan $2,655,139 $1,274,212 $2,629,273 $1,261,788Stillwater $27,926 $14,943 $36,676 $19,625Sweet Grass $1,887 $1,156 $20,077 $12,295Teton $83,353 $38,426 $93,729 $43,209Toole $813,140 $468,464 $893,290 $514,625Valley $281,615 $144,835 $331,106 $170,288Wibaux $1,311,351 $644,667 $1,518,083 $746,290Yellowstone $19,613 $9,167 $29,659 $13,862Board of Oil and Gas $461,154 $0 $474,270 $0Oil, Gas & Coal Natural Resource Account $862,846 $0 $896,099 $0TOTALS $52,225,534 $24,090,856 $54,596,661 $25,265,799

Richland County leads state in quarterly distributions

Information provided by Richland County Treasurer

24-Hour Dispatch406-774-3330

Fax: 406-774-3321

• Hot Oil Trucks • Frac Heaters • Water Trucks • Winch Trucks• Drop Deck Trailers • Vac Trucks • Frac Tank Rentals

• 400 BBL Tank Rentals • Work Over Rig • Saltwater Disposal • Flat Bed Trailers • Hot Shot Service

Full Terminals in Lambert, MT and Stanley, N.D.

OIL FIELD TRUCKINGBryan Gartner, Owner/President

406-482-8800 • Fax 406-482-8200 • Cell 406-489-1002 [email protected] • PO Box 1066, Sidney, MT

Salt Water & Fresh Water Hauling

W h e n E x p e r i e n c e C o u n t s !

W E L L S I T E S E R V I C E S

Specialty RentalTools & Supply301 E. 26th St.

Williston, ND 58801701-572-4083 Office701-572-4085 Fax

Stinger

301 E. 26th StWilliston, ND

701-572-3427 Office701-572-3428 Fax

Well Testing

301 E. 26th StWilliston, ND

701-774-5000 Office701-774-5002 Fax



Key Energy Services, the largest provider of onshore well service rigs in the United States and one of theleading onshore, rig-based well servicing contractors in the world, currently has the following opportunities available for our Rig Services locations from Sidney, MT to Tioga, ND. Positions will be based in Sidney, MT.

Roustabout ForemanRoustaboutsKey Energy offers a very competitive compensation and benefits package including medical, vision and dental coverage, life insurance, 401(k), short-term disability coverage, education assistance and paid time off.

For consideration and additional information, please call Susan at (877) 398-5747.Candidates can also apply online at keyenergy.com.

keyenergy.com

Key Energy Services is a drug-free workplace. EOE

Performance is Key

CAREEROPPORTUNITIES

701-572-24872502 4th Ave. West, Williston, ND 58801

JZ Bits

Welding

Hot Shots

Fabricating

Float Equipment

PDC Logic

Pipe Racks

Semi Trucks

Mud Motors

Rental Equipment


Williston, ND • 701-572-6783


Roustabout Crews • Winch Trucks • Cherry Pickers • Cranes • Bed Trucks • Steamers • Trenchers • Trailers • Back Hoes

Mitchel l ’s can f ix i t , l i f t i t , haul i t . . .

www.mitchellsoilfield.com

Mitchell’s is a great place to work!

ONE NATION UNDER GOD


A phone conversation led to anotherthing and the result was Richland Countynative Brady Trudell coming home towork with the Ursa Resources Group.

The scenario started when Sidney na-tive and Ursa executive vice presidentBruce Larsen called Brady’s father, Den-nis Trudell, who is a longtime member ofthe Northeast Montana Land and Miner-al Owners.

“Bruce had contacted my dad just to fig-ure out the best way to approach mineralowners in the area,” Brady said.“Through that, Bruce mentioned he waslooking for a local landman to work.’

In March, Brady started in the Sidneyoffice for Ursa Resources Group, basedout of Houston, Texas.

Trudell says he’s very happy to be liv-ing close to family and friends. “It’s niceto reconnect with them.”

After graduating from Fairview HighSchool in 1997, Trudell graduated with adegree in agriculture business from Mon-

tana State University in 2001.He then worked for the Yellowstone

Club in Bozeman for two years beforeworking as a title insurance officer inBozeman for six years.

He’s now back home serving as a land-man for Ursa.

Duties of his job include researching

Richland County native enjoyingduties with Ursa Resource Group

BILL VANDER WEELE | SIDNEY HERALD

Brady Trudell began work in the Sidneyoffice during March.

SEE TRUDELL | PAGE 39


http://www.mitchellsoilfield.com

Viewfield

Daily Sinclair

Ross

Stanley

Sanish

ParshallElm

Coulee Mondak

Oil

Bakken shale producing wells

Bakken Shale producing areas


Badla

nd

Truck

Sales

&Eq

uip

men

t

Jeremy

Alley

~406.989.1740

135H

igh

way

16,G

lend

ive,M

Tjerem

y@b

adlan

dtru

cksales.com

Contact

usfor

alist

oftrucks

andequipm

ent!

Bakken Shale extension

Significant Bakken Shale fields






0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

Jan-8

6

Jan-8

7

Jan-8

8

Jan-8

9

Jan-9

0

Jan-9

1

Jan-9

2

Jan-9

3

Jan-9

4

Jan-9

5

Jan-9

6

Jan-9

7

Jan-9

8

Jan-9

9

Jan-0

0

Jan-0

1

Jan-0

2

Jan-0

3

Jan-0

4

Jan-0

5

Jan-0

6

Jan-0

7

Jan-0

8

Jan-0

9

Jan-1

0

Month and Year

Barre

lsof

Oil

perM

onth

Bbls_Vertical Bbls_Horizontal Bbls_Horizontal_Recompletion

C

Montana oilproductionvertical,

horizontal wells

Bbls Vertical Bbls Horizontal Bbls horizontal recomplection


Montana rig count

North Dakota rig count

Wyoming rig count

Comparison of rig count: Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota

Information from Rocky MT Oil Journal

SUBMITTED

Smiling workersEmployees for Mitchell’s Oilfield Service take a minute from a hard day’swork to smile for the camera.


It's difficult these days to catch the work-ers of Yellowstone Painting, LLC. Businessis booming, and it’s largely due to the grow-ing oil industry.

“It’s pretty constant,” owner Larry Riggssaid. “We’ve been constantly busy fromspring. Hopefully, we’ll stay busy until es-sentially it gets too cold to paint.”

Yellowstone Painting is yet another localbusiness that sees growth because of the oilfields. The company, which does both com-mercial and residential work, spends muchof its time doing oil field related projects.The company offers high pressure washing,painting, sandblasting and tank coatings (toprevent oil trucks and pipelines from wear-ing out) for the oil businesses.

“We try to do quality work and do it in atimely manner,” Riggs said. Projects vary.

They’ve done transfer stations for compa-nies, power-washed and painted whole loca-tions for oil companies, washed and paintedpipes for gas companies and their plants,coat oil field buildings made of metal to pre-vent rusting, spray on bed liners for pickuptrucks and sand blasted tanks to look brandnew.

Painting, sandblasting and high-pressurewashing are what keep the company thebusiest. The washer handles 5,000 poundsper square inch. “It’ll clean just about any-thing,” he said. The company remains mo-bile as well, a “big plus” as it allows equip-ment to be brought to the location. Yellow-stone Painting began three years ago. Thecompany started with just one high-pres-sure washer and a single paint trailer. “We

started calling oil companies for business,and when we added sandblasting, we goteven busier,” Riggs said.

Though Riggs has owned the business,his biggest involvement was keeping thebooks until he retired from Sidney Sugars,the company he’d been employed with formore than 30 years. Once he retired fromSidney Sugars, he said, “I dove in 100 per-cent.”

Yellowstone Painting is now made of fiveemployees, mostly family: Riggs, his son Ja-son Riggs, son-in-law David “Oscar” Gille-spie and Pat Gaffield. They stay occupiedwith the production end of the oil industry,as its workers do less travel. Employees es-sentially have a 200-mile radius of theirprojects, traveling as far as Tioga and Bow-man, N.D. The group utilizes a fifth-wheelerwhen doing lengthy projects and stayingovernight is a must. Riggs says he enjoyswhat he does in retirement. “It’s busy. It’sfun. I’m retired from one job, but I’m stay-ing busy running my family business,” hesaid.

Like many other locals, Riggs is happy forthe industry. “If it wasn’t for the oil busi-ness, we probably wouldn’t be able to haveenough to stay in business,” he said.


“WE GET YOU PUMPED”

DAN’S PRODUCTION SERVICE

Office: 701.774.3273Fax: 701.774.1960

636 East Broadway P.O. Box 2660 Williston, ND 58802-2660

Dan Redka - OwnerField ManagerCell: 770-7461

Lois B. Redka - OwnerOffice ManagerCell: 770-7319

Res:572-2451

Celebrating

30 years!

Office: 406-482-7870 • Toll Free: 1-888-287-7808Dispatch 406-489-2712 • Sidney Mobile: 406-489-2097 or 406-489-0999

Locally owned andoperated since 1988

• QUALITY WORK • Years of experience

For all your vac truck and hot oil truck needs.

Yellowstone Painting’s work increases because of area’s oil activity‘We started calling oil companiesfor business, and when we addedsandblasting, we got even busier.’

Larry Riggs Yellowstone Painting owner

C o l d W e a t h e r S k i d U n i t sStandard Features include:Fully furnished Filing cabinets, o�ce chair(s)

Washer/dryer Pots, pans, cookware, utensils, dishware

Towels, washcloths, hand towels Linens

Walk-in showers Fire detection system

Microwave and other common Television (Satellite)kitchen appliances

Equipment Rentals:Potable water systems Sewer systems

Generators Portable light towers

Portable chemical toilets Trash baskets on skids

Satellite TV Intercoms and phone system — Coming in May

Other Services Provided in Rockies:Chemical pump-out truckVacuum trucksWinch trucks

You Now Have a Choice

www.hbrental.comWYOMING - RIVERTON COLORADO - GRAND JUNCTION800.850.5731 970.242.4555

North Dakota - Williston701.572.5029


Proud to add a huge part to the economyof Montana and North Dakota

Drilling andProduction

Sidney406-482-4000

http://www.hbrental.com


TThhee JJoohhnn CCrraannee AAddvvaannttaaggee.. .. ..

• Sucker Rod Pumps• Sucker Rod Products• Fiberglass Rod

Products• Surface Safety

Products

• Actuated Gate Valves• Control System

Products• Diaphragm Operated

Gate Valve• Prime Motors

2803 Red River Drive, Sidney406-482-3440

Fax: 406-482-8310

Our Products...

• A tradition of service excellence dating back over a century• The most knowledgeable staff in the industry• Unparalleled technical expertise and support• Complete analysis and reporting capabilities• A wide variety of value-added services• Your partners for reducing costs and optimizing operations 701 4th Ave. NE, Watford City

701-842-4964Fax: 701-842-4962

PO Box 1315, Glendive406-365-3828 Fax: 406-365-5428

www.cdies.com

ProductionSolutions

TThhrreeee llooccaattiioonnss

Hemphill Speedy Trucking, Inc.4942 Hwy 85 S, Williston ND 58801 • 701-577-5650

Carl Havskjold-Operations [email protected]

• “Safety First” Work Ethic

• Rig Mobilization since 1971

• Industry-best equipment

• Highly Skilled workforce

• Environmentally conscious



http://www.cdies.com


We appreciate

the local oil field

businesses, workers

& their families!

Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.www.farmerselevatorchs.com

1281 South Central Ave., Sidney 433-1401

mineral ownerships, history of land andcontacting mineral owners. He also is acertified notary public.

“I can pretty much take the processfrom the beginning to the end,” Trudellsaid.

What separates him from some otherlandmen in the area is that he knowsRichland County residents, and theyknow him.

“A lot of people I deal with are peopleI’ve known since I was a kid,” Trudellsaid. “I think it makes people more com-fortable. I plan on living here the rest ofmy life. I’m going to deal with people asfairly as I can.”

Although the company has been in Sid-ney for less than a year, Ursa has madeits mark. Along with Richland County,the company also has done work in Roo-sevelt County, McKenzie County inNorth Dakota and Williams County inNorth Dakota. “From what we initiallyexpected to do, I think we’ve fairly suc-ceeded that.”

He expects the company to be part ofthe community for many years. “Theproduction will support a lot of peoplefor years to come,” Trudell noted.

Trudell: Glad to be backFROM PAGE 32


Though oil production in Montana isdown from its peak a few years ago, ex-perts say they aren’t worried.

“I think there’s still a real high level ofinterest in eastern Montana,” MontanaBoard of Oil and Gas director Tom Rich-mond said. “Elm Coulee is still ourlargest field producing by a lot.” The oilfield produced 13.3 million barrels of oillast year, the next largest field being Pen-nel with 1.7 million.

Production peaked in 2006 with 32.6million barrels for the state; 2009 stood at27.8 million. Gas production was downtoo. In 2006, the state produced 93.4 bil-lion cubic feet compared to 78.6 billion.

But leases have increased this year.Monte Mason, Montana Department ofNatural Resources and Conservationminerals management bureau chief, con-firms the notion that there continues tobe interest. Leases from the state for oiland gas were at 268 for Richland Countyin January. By early September, therewere 286. Roosevelt County was at 128 inJanuary and gained 10.

There is still interest, however, in east-

ern Montana, particularly northernRichland County and Roosevelt – in theBainville and Culbertson area, where oilcompanies from North Dakota are slowlymaking their way across the border. Ju-dith River, a shallow natural gas forma-tion near Poplar and Fort Peck, has alsogained attention from producers.

Montana Petroleum Association execu-tive director Dave Galt says he remains“cautiously optimistic” over the contin-ued oil development. He believes oil ac-

tivity will pick up again in Montana.“North Dakota is going through what

Sidney was going through five yearsago,” he said. The “hot spots” in Mon-tana is expected to be in Roosevelt andSheridan counties as well as in southeastMontana.

And although the thicker part of theBakken producing a lot of the oil is inNorth Dakota, there are possibilities ofdrilling farther west. The Bakken forma-tion becomes thinner as producers travelwest, but, Richmond said, “There’s stillsome interest in the Bakken even as faras Glacier County.”

The Elm Coulee will eventually run outof oil, though Richmond says there’s still“substantial locations to be drilled.”

Oil companies can also recomplete ex-isting wells using technology that’s nowbeing developed in North Dakota formore efficiency. “We still have to waitand see how it works in the Montana sideof the Bakken,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mason said he doesn’tknow what to expect with the oil indus-try. “I don’t know if you can ever predictit,” he said.

[email protected]

Oil interest remains high in eastern Montana

http://www.farmerselevatorchs.com



As a leading provider ofsafe, high-performanceenergy services to the oiland gas industry,Precision Drilling operatesa feet of high-technologyrigs whose highly trainedcrews work to beat thecurve in North America’smost prolific onshore oiland gas plays.

HIGH PERFORMANCE HIGH VALUE

Donna Gomillion, Division Human Resources Manager, [email protected] Hwy 85 South, PO Box 906, Williston, ND 58801 ~ 701.774.5468 ~ 701.774.0008

Houston Corporate Office: 10370 Richmond Avenue Suite 600 Houston, Texas 77042-4136 713-435-6100

If you are “ToughEnough” and havedrilling rig experience,please visit our websitewww.toughnecks.comto apply.

SK & SOILFIELD SERVICES, Inc.

701-572-7698Fax: 701-774-8628 • [email protected]

PO Box 1797, Williston, ND 58802-1797

• Roustabout Work• Tank Batteries• Backhoe Work

• Pipeline


Plenty of jobs. Not enough workers.That’s the way it is now in the MonDakregion and what many employers face.

Vernette Torgerson, manager of theSidney Job Service, says it’s nothingnew, and, as usual, it comes down to onereason: housing. “It’s the same thing,”Torgerson said. “We might be able tofind the workers, but there’s no place toput them, and so that’s a difficult thing.”

The Sidney Job Service has remainedrelatively busy with newcomers to townsearching for jobs. Most of its businesscomes from its website and people call-ing from out of town to inquire abouthousing opportunities.

Oil field-related companies are havinga tough time finding workers, Torgersonsaid. Mechanics and truck drivers areamong the hardest to find. Mechanicsfor trucks, trailers and light vehicles areespecially important, but they’re diffi-cult to fill.

“I know that experienced help is hardto find,” she said, noting there could be

a variety of reasons. She speculated anaging workforce could be one reason.

Across the border in Williston, N.D.,the Williston Job Service reports simi-lar experiences. Because of the housingshortage, employers now ask potentialemployees about housing.

“I know some employers will ask, ifsomeone has on out-of-state address,where they will be living,” TanyaVachal, customer service office manag-er at the Williston job service, said.“That determines if they’re able to offera job to that person.” Employers will of-ten hire as soon as their employees findhousing.

Aside from housing as a factor intohiring, other issues that come into playinclude lack of oil experience, thoughmany are willing to train. Employers al-so want to see potential employees ableto handle working long hours in coldweather.

Mechanics, welders, machinists andthe various two-year degree programsare hardest to fill with the highest de-mand as well as truck drivers, Vachalsaid. Welder jobs can be offered for one

or two months. Warehouse or shophands are also in demand. “It’s a toughmarket out there for employers,” shenoted.

Vachal describes the job climate as“hot.” “It’s really busy. There are a lot ofjobs, and we actually have quite a fewjob seekers,” she said. Over the last yearor so, job opportunities have increased“dramatically.” There was a slow downin January due to winter weather, butpotential jobs more than doubled bySeptember. There were more than 1,000listings in the Williston service areawhich includes Williams, Divide andMcKenzie counties. On Sept. 20, posi-tions for oil jobs alone in North Dakotawere at 1,300.

And it continues to pick up, Vachalsaid, as there are more and more job or-ders “all the time.” The service averages75 contacts per day with job seekerswhether through phone calls or thosegoing in person.

Back in Sidney, where general labor-ers are hard to come by, all service jobsin the hotel and food industry have beenhard to fill during the last five years as

workers leave those industries to workin the higher-paying oil jobs. Torgersonreflects on the dilemma that presents.

“The more that our labor force leavesto go to the oil field, and the more peoplethat move to this area, the more demandthere is on the service industry,” shesaid. “I mean, those jobs are extremelyhard to fill.”

As employment opportunities remainhigh, Sidney Job Service listings re-main comparable to much larger Mon-tana cities. As of Sept. 21, there were 184job listings, up by 20 just a few weeks be-fore. That number compares to Mis-soula's 189 listings, Helena’s 195, Boze-man’s 206, Great Falls’ 236 and Billings’523.

Torgerson said the job climate re-mains strong, it’s hard to ignore theoverwhelming quandary. “Overall, wehave a very solid salary base for them.We have a lot to offer in employment,”she said. “We don’t have a lot to offer inthe area for housing. That’s the biggestcomplaint I hear from employers andjob seekers.”

Employees hard to find in booming MonDak region

http://www.toughnecks.com



4928 HWY 85 Madison Ridge # 400 // Williston, ND 58801 // T: 701-572-0983

Products & ServicesPipe & TubingOCTGFittings & FlangesValves & Valve AutomationSafety ProductsSpecialty ProductsIntegrated ServicesCustom IT Solutions

Oilfield Supplies & SolutionsTubular GoodsPumps & AccessoriesInstrumentationTools & Safety EquipmentConvenient LocationsMaterials ManagementProject TrailersTechnical Support

Global Supplier of Choice

www.mrcpvf.com

MRC // Williston Supplier of Choice

For MRC employment opportunities please email your resume to [email protected]


http://www.mrcpvf.com


Opportunity. It’s out there.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.,member FINRA/SIPC, an independent broker/dealer, and are notinsured by bank insurance, the FDIC, any other government agency,are not deposits or obligations of the bank, are not guaranteed bythe bank, and are subject to risks, including the possible loss ofprincipal. American State Bank and Trust Company is independentof Raymond James.

774-4100 | www.asbt.com223 Main Street | Williston, North Dakota

Right now, the future is brighter than ever for your financial growth andyou need advisors who see the right opportunities.

Our wealth management team offers well-designed, carefully crafted plans to fit your goals and comfort levels. Raymond James FinancialServices complements American State Bank’s Trust Departmentservices. Together, we identify the right opportunities in today’s economy to help you reach your goals—and far beyond.


Bakken FacilityBakken Facility

Located Northwest of Sidney, Montana • 406-798-3055

Natural gas gathering and processing facility.

13896 W. Front St., Williston, ND • 701-572-5493 • 800.820.5493

For a Full Selection of Structural Steel & Pipe Call

Customer Serviceis our #1 Priority

BY HARRY LIPSIEASIDNEY HERALD

It’s not necessarily whathe expected to be doing,but Benji Berg enjoys go-ing to work every day. TheSidney native is employedwith Geo Drilling Fluidsand keeps busy in his freetime with sports.

“I’m really glad howeverything worked out,”he said. “I thoroughly en-joy what I do.”

Berg began his job as amud engineer four yearsago after being told aboutthe position by a friend.It’s ultimately proven to bean enjoyable experience,he said. A basic day in-volves Berg providinganalysis and treatmentrecommendations at

drilling sites.“What I really enjoy

about the job is the factthat I get to be outdoorsand communicate with

people,” he said. “It’s agreat job for me.”

The last year has beenextremely hectic, but justmonths before workslowed down tremendous-ly for Berg as the economybegan to plummet and theprice of oil decreaseddrastically. It was a scarytime for anyone workingin the industry.

“I was fortunate enoughto be able to keep my job,”he said. “Eventually workbegan to really pick upand now it’s been verybusy the last year or so.”

To say Berg stays busyin his free time would bean understatement as hewears a number of differ-ent hats depending on the

Berg still enjoys competitionsduring his free time from field

Sidney native Benji Berg onthe green.

SEE BERG | PAGE 45

http://www.asbt.com

In theWilliston

Basin

Means FISHING and RENTAL TOOLS

Give Us a Call for

““EEXXPPEERRIIEENNCCEE YYOOUU CCAANN CCOOUUNNTT OONN!!””701.774.8989 - Williston, ND • 701.277-3737 - Dickinson, ND

Williston: Pete Peterson, president;George Haux, general manager; JaronLong, shop foreman; Pete Yeager, shopmanager; Brian Engberg, sales manager;Eldon Heller, salesman; Cliff Binks, sales-man; Phil Arp, fisherman; Cory Davidson,fisherman; Mac McGregor, fisherman; ClarkJenner, fisherman; Bill Richardson, fisher-

man; Jamie O’Cain, fisherman; Chris Gradfisherman; Doug Riedle, fisherman; PeterAnderson, truck driver.

Dickinson: Dan Aune, manager; ChuckUrlacher, fisherman; Ken Ridl, fisherman;Mike Krueger, fisherman; Blake Buel, shopforeman.

Sidney: Richard Dahl, fisherman.

We have a complete line of open holeand cased hole fishing tools, BOPS,closing units, rental drill collars, tubing,bits, scrapers, mills, skid units, tanksand separators.


Hauling salt water and fresh water in theWilliston Basin.

34958 County Rd 123Sidney • 433-6607

Have a

ATTACK

Jordan WeltikolOperations Manager

Stacy JohnsonSafety Manager

Marc StrouseTruck Pusher



While many in the nation are struggling,Richland County’s economy keeps goingstrong thanks to the oil activity as well as asteady agriculture industry.

“I really do feel the oil industry has a bigimpact for downtown and small business-es,” Marci Albin, Sidney Area Chamber ofCommerce and Agriculture president,said. “Sidney is in a bit of a bubble. Wehaven’t seen what the rest of the world isseeing.”

Albin, who is also the co-owner of TheLucky Buckle, notes that when she went tomarket to select merchandise, some busi-nesses are struggling. “Others have reallydown-sized in orders,” Albin said. “We tryour hardest to get the merchandise thateverybody is looking for.”

Although her store is a place that nor-mally attracts oil field workers, the oil in-dustry has benefited her because some

customers have profited from having min-eral rights. “Those people shopping local ishuge,” Albin said.

In addition, some wives of oil field work-ers have moved up here and do shop in Sid-ney. “They are excited because we do haveunique shopping,” Albin added.

She stresses the area should be verythank for the oil activity occurring. “Ourhotels are filled, our restaurants are filled,everybody needs to sit back and realizewould you rather have the alternative –would you rather have a ghost town,” Al-bin said.

She added, “As a business owner, I wouldmuch rather have the (hotel) roomsbooked for two years out than have norooms booked at all.” During the last fewmonths, Sidney has seen the addition oftwo new restaurants and the announce-ment of a new motel. The new event centerat the Richland County Fairgrounds alongwith the new hotel should make it easierfor the area to attract conventions.

Downtown area thankfulfor impact of oil industry


Pro-TirPro-Tir ee415 2nd St. NW, Sidney • 433-8473 • 433-TIRE

WRECKER SERVICESplus all our other great services!

After hours call 406-478-0689.

•Service •Batteries

•Oil changes•Transmission flushes

•Complete brake service

We do it all!• Roustabout• Excavation• Pressure washing• Concrete• Industrial sandblasting

& painting

• Hot Shot• Structural welding• Tank battery

construction• Industrial construction• Trucking Services

2221 S. Central, Sidney • 406.433.6754

season. In the winter, he is an assistantcoach for the Sidney boys basketballteam, a position he’s held for eight years.

“When Rollie Sullivan was re-hired asthe head coach, he asked me if I wouldwant to help out. He was my coach inhigh school and someone I was close to,”Berg said. “I’m certainly glad I took thejob.”

In a way, coaching basketball was a wayto give back to the sport that had taughtBerg the importance of hard work anddiscipline. Now he teaches those lessonsand skills to other players.

“It’s a great opportunity to coach youngathletes,” he said. “I always enjoy beingaround the kids.”

Coaching isn’t the only time Berg is onthe court as he helps run the Sidneymen’s basketball league in the wintermonths along with Jeremy Norby. Whileit can be a lot of work, he enjoys the op-portunity to lace up the basketball shoes.

“It’s always fun to play basketball,” hesaid. “As far as the league goes, I’m verygrateful for the group of referees we have.There are times when Jeremy and I areswamped, and they help out with theleague a lot.”

When basketball comes to an end andthe snow melts, he is ready to hit thelinks. An avid golfer since the age of 7,Berg says that it may just be his favoritesport of all.

“It’s a tough call, but golf always takesprecedent in the spring and summer,”Berg, who was a three-time All-State play-er in high school, said. “I’ve enjoyed golfall my life because it’s something thatyou can do by yourself. You don’t needanyone else, because you can always chal-lenge yourself.”

With that said, Berg has developed sev-eral friendships through the years thanksto the game.

“There have been a lot of great peopleI’ve met through golf,” he said. “People Iwouldn’t have met otherwise. I’m gratefulfor that.”

While golf and basketball are his fa-vorites, Berg is a fan of sports in general.

“I love to compete,” he said. “Sportsteach you to always push yourself andthat’s a great lesson.”

As for the future goes, Berg is excited tosee what lies ahead for him. “I'm reallyhappy with where I am at right now andam looking ahead to see what happens inthe next couple of years,” he said.

Berg: He enjoys working with young basketball playersFROM PAGE 42

Crude oil prices - average price per yearSource: Rocky Mountain Oil Journal

Distributed by Montana Petroleum Association

Casper, WY: 1-800-821-6226 Sidney, MT: 1-800-535-0471Denver, CO: 1-800-535-0465 Tulsa, OK: 1-800-988-6265

Anchor DrillingFluids USA, Inc.


Serving Montana and North Dakota406-433-1240

Fax 406-433-1241 Cell 406-480-1240

[email protected]

EXCAVATION IS WHAT WE DO!

•expose underground utilities •clean mud tanks, 400 bbl uprights, culverts,cattleguards & more •pot holing •slot trenching •well monitoring holes •utility holes •pipeline tie ins •elevator shaft cleanouts •catch basins

E X C A V A T I O N , I N C .

EXCAVATION IS WHO WE ARE!

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED

900 S. Central • Sidney • 406-433-4520

Welcome

LONE TREE INN

• 24 hour desk • Fax• Continental Breakfast

• Pet Friendly• High Speed Wireless Internet

How city of Sidneyspends oil revenueduring fiscal year


• Continental Breakfast• Touch-Tone Dial Phone• Cable TV - HBO - Disney• Remotes

601 S. Central, Sidney • 406.433.1520 • FAX: 406.433.5245

Park PlazaMotel

Low Rates and a Great Location

• High Speed Internet• One Block from City Swimming Pool• Across from Veterans Memorial Park• Three Blocks from Downtown



The U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency is in the midst of a two-yearstudy into hydraulic fracturing and its ef-fects on drinking water. And dependingon the outcome, the results could have adevastating effect on oil producers in theWilliston Basin.

Industry officials say frac’ing hashelped make more than 4,000 Montana oilwells be more productive; without it theindustry would certainly diminish.

“Hydraulic fracturing is the technologythat makes the oil development possible,”says Montana Petroleum Association ex-ecutive director Dave Galt. “We’re defi-nitely concerned about misinformationbeing spread.”

Frac’ing has been in use since the 1940s,and experts say properly conducted mod-ern hydraulic fracturing is a safe, sophis-ticated, highly-engineered and controlledprocedure. Environmentalists, however,

allege that the chemicals used in theprocess spill into drinking water.

“We’re dealing with a very aggressiveopposition,” says Lee Fuller, vice presi-dent of government relations with the In-dependent Petroleum Association ofAmerica. The association started a cam-paign, www.energyindepth.org, which fo-cuses specifically on frac’ing. It publishesstudies, articles and information aboutthe process in the hope of informing thepublic on the issue. “We’re pursuingevery mechanism we can,” he said.

Prior to the 2010-2012 study, the EPAconducted a similar one from 2000-2004,evaluating the potential risks to drinkingwater. Focusing primarily on coalbedmethane, a gas which is closer to the wa-ter, the agency concluded there was littleto no risk of frac’ing fluid contaminatingunderground water.

Fast forward to July 2010, EPA an-nounced it would do a more in-depth

EPA frac’ing controversy could influence Bakken Play

SEE EPA | PAGE 48

http://www.energyindepth.org


Complete Oilfield Repair Shop50 years of Oilfield Service

andElectric Motor Division

Rewind & Repair of Large and Small Motors

MMOODDEERRNN MMAACCHHIINNEE WWOORRKKSS,, IINNCC..2503 4th Ave. West

P.O. Box 877 Williston, ND 58802-0877

Contact us at:1-701-572-77411-800-319-7741

e-mail: [email protected]

Jerry Thompson Ken Kain

• Industrial Radiography

• Magnetic Particle Testing • Ultrasonic • Penetrant TestingOffice: 701-572-1589 • P.O. Box 1591 • Williston, ND 58802-1591

Since 1972

Williston, North Dakota701-774-2436 • Fax 701-774-2440

[email protected]

Prairie Petro-Chemof America, LLP

study, urged by law makers andenvironmentalist groups. Ac-cording to its website, EPA saysit will “use information from thestudy to identify potential risksassociated with hydraulic frac-turing to continue protectingAmerica’s resources and com-munities.”

Fuller said part of the contro-versy comes from the fact thatonly .5 percent of the frac’ingfluid mixtures is from chemi-cals. Most of the fluid is freshwater and sand. The EPA has re-quested information on thechemical composition of fluidsused in frac’ing from serviceproducers to identify potentialrelationships between frac’ingand drinking water.

Producers and oil and gas in-dustry officials alike stronglyoppose the banning of hydraulicfracturing or a “blanket” actthat would regulate what manybelieve is an already heavily reg-ulated industry. Some say it

would “devastate” the industry,especially here in the Bakken.

“Every well that is producedin the Williston Basin requiresartificial stimulation,” saysBruce Larsen, executive vicepresident of Ursa ResourcesGroup. He called the study toprotect drinking water a “wor-thy cause” but said banningfrac’ing should not be allowed.Without frac’ing, there would belittle to no oil production at all.“You have to frac,” he said.

Larsen said he objected to thenotion that frac’ing oil wellsharms drinking water, since theprocess itself takes place tens ofthousands of feet below wheredrinking water is. The weight ofthe rock between the two areasis far too heavy to allow contam-inated water from the frac’s totouch the ground water above it.

Depending on the EPA’s out-come at the end of 2012, thereare various scenarios that couldplay out if the agency deter-mines frac’ing is dangerous. The

worst of which is prohibition.Another is subjecting it to addi-tional regulations under federalauthority. “Hydraulic frac’ingunder federal requirements cre-

ates opportunity for litigation,”Fuller said.

The general consensus seemsto be state regulation is best.Still, if EPA’s results backup

what oil officials have said allalong, Fuller says it’s only a mat-ter of time before environmen-talists move into “other areas atstate and federal levels.”

EPA: Producers, oil industry officials strongly oppose banning of hydraulic fracturingFROM PAGE 47

Not Frac’d (?)

Frac’d



Your NextRewarding Career Could Be

With Nabors

• Daylight Workover Rigs• Horizontal Re-Entry Rigs• CBM Drilling Rigs

Williston Area Office1015 58th Street West

PO Box 4275Williston, ND 58802

(701) 572.4583

We are looking for reliable, quality workers to fill vacancies as:• Rig Supervisors• Crew Chiefs• Crew/Derrick Workers• Truck Drivers

Excellent salary and benefits including 401K, paid vacation, health and dental insurance, life insurance and safety awards.

District OfficeBillings, MT

Northern OperationsGlendive, MT

Area Offices In:Baker, MT

Belfield, NDPlentywood, MT

Sidney, MTWilliston, ND

Southern OperationsRock Springs, WY

Area Offices In:Roosevelt, UT



Oilfield Service• Water Hauling • Crude Hauling • Weed Spraying • Pilot Service

1204 4th St. NE, Watford City, ND701.570.2646 phone • 701.444.2649 fax

[email protected] ~ Luke Taylor

BY HARRY LIPSIEASIDNEY HERALD

It doesn’t matter what time of year it is,Curt Williams stays busy. Employed byThermal Drilling Inc., he enjoys his jobas a drill helper and in his free time staysactive as an official for youth sportingevents.

“I enjoy coming to work every day,”Williams, who has been with his currentcompany for five years, said. “And then Iput on the official’s uniform and love be-ing around the kids.”

At his job, Williams completes everyday tasks such as installing geo thermalheat pumps, drives truck, drilling waterwells and working on blast jobs at oil welllocations. There are a number of otherjobs that Thermal Drilling Inc. andWilliams perform regularly.

“I don’t think that the services we pro-vide we’ll see a downturn,” he said. “It’salways going to be a need.”

It’s a busy job, and Williams wouldn’t

have it any other way.“I really like what I do,” he said. “Prob-

ably my favorite part of the job is beingable to work outdoors. I love working inthe fresh air.”

He continues to find time to be around

During off time, Williamslikes working with children

HARRY LIPSIEA | SIDNEY HERALD

Curt Williams officiates flag football games.

SEE WILLIAMS | PAGE 53


Kelly Supply, LLC • Laura KellyPO Box 398, Sidney, MT

Blasting Helps Locate Underground Treasure!

Your Down Hole Supply Source!

Approved Fresh Water on Site

Austin Powder has been active in the seismic business for many years, helpingcustomers locate society’s energy source of the future. In the seismic industry, the keyto our continued success is relatively simple. We deliver a high quality product, on time,and on short notice. In a market that has been downsizing, this ability to meet customerrequirements has allowed us to grow globally

office: 406-482-4612toll free 1-800-871-1857fax: 406-482-4801

406-482-7050

Count on the Austin Advantage in theSeismic Products & Services!

POLYMERS & CHEMICALS

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77245-0246P.O. BOX 450246

Phone: (713) 723-8416 • Toll Free: 800-231-2066 • Fax: (713) 723-1845

O N S I T E C E R T I F I E D S C A L E

Johnye KellyP.O. Box 166 Sidney, MT

Specializing in Oil field ChemicalsFrac Chemicals • Acid Chemicals • Coil Tubing Chemicals

World Leader in Guar TechnologyIn Business since 1951

Warehouse and Blending plant in Sidney, Montana(406) 433-4463 • Fax: (406) 433-4466Warehouse in Williston, North Dakota

Please visit our web sitewww.economypolymers.com

or call for more information 713-775-9458Matthew White, Sales [email protected]


http://www.economypolymers.com


• Sales & Service ofDisposal & InjectionEquipment• Plants & Pump Packages• All Surface & SubsurfaceEquipment

Field Service: All North Dakota, Eastern Montana & South Dakota

Product Line

900 2nd Ave. SW, Watford City, ND

701.842.2231Manager Chuck [email protected]

111 Main St. EastMohall, ND

701.756.6934Manager Tom [email protected]

Multiplex Sales - Service on all makes and models -All Parts - Skid Fabrication to your Specifications

Centrifugal Pump - Sales - Service - Unit Fabricationto Specifications

Filtration - Sales - Service - Unit Fabrication toSpecifications

Electric Motors - All Lubricating Oils - Rock Drill Oils

Fabricated Equipment: Plants & Pump Packages

Sales/Repair of Subsurface Jets and ReciprocatingPumps

Rental of Surface Equipment


your Job!

406-433-8338 Fax 433-8340 • Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. • Sat., 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

FOR

• Scissor lifts• Light towers• Mini excavator• Air compressors

• Rough terraincranes

• Flameless RigHeaters

2508 Lincoln Ave. South, Sidney(County Road 350, north of Pacific Steel & Recycling)

• Trailers• Forklifts• Man lifts• Backhoes• Generators• Skid-steers• Compactors



one of the things he is the most passionateabout: youth sports. Williams, who grew upcompeting in sports, feels participating inathletics is a great way for kids to stay busy.

“It keeps kids out of trouble and givesthem something constructive to do,” hesaid. “There are a lot of opportunities thatcan come out of sports that they might nototherwise have.”

Immediately after graduating, he beganofficiating wrestling. A wrestler through-out his school years, Williams has alwaysenjoyed the sport and has continued to giveback to it.

“Wrestling taught me morals and valuesthat have helped shape who I am,” he said.“I’m grateful for that.”

Wrestling has taken Williams as far awayas Orlando, Fla., where he has officiated atthe Scholastic Disney AAU Dual tourna-ment for the last seven years. Also on his of-ficiating resume is 10 divisional tourna-ments and five state tournament appear-ances.

“It’s been a great ride,” Williams said.“It’s taken me to a lot of places I never ex-pected to go.”

Williams has also volunteered in the Sid-ney Wrestling Club for many years.

“The entire wrestling program has seena lot of success and is very well organizedand run,” he said. “It’s a family.”

Wrestling is not the only sport Williamsenjoys.

“I just love competition,” he said. “Iwould say baseball is my second favoritesport. I’ve always had a love for it.”

For the last 15 years, he has been active inthe area as an umpire. Williams also served

on the baseball commission.“Umpiring baseball is a lot of fun,” he

said. “It’s a great way to enjoy the summerweather.”

To top it off, he also volunteers in the fallas a referee for the flag football program.He began helping out with the program 13years ago. Through the years, Williams haslearned that not everybody is going to likeevery call you make, and that’s just part ofthe job. “You can’t ever take the criticisms

to heart,” he said. “After a couple of years,you learn to have broad shoulders and justdo the best job you can.”

As an official, Williams always tries toteach important lessons in youth athletics.“No matter what sport it is, I have alwayspushed for good sportsmanship,” he said.“If there’s one thing I want the kids tolearn it is the importance of sportsman-ship.”


Your local specialists

Count on us.Our chemicals & people solve problems.

4 squeeze treatments to provide scale inhibition during/after frac prodedures4 supercorr for maximum corrosion protection

4 improve profitability through effective use of production chemicals

5028 139th Lane NW, Williston, N.D. • 701-774-0193Pete Opsal, District Manager Larry Skaare, Business Development Manager

Cell 701-770-3851 Cell 701-770-4173

Dispatcher: 406-480-9746

34729 Co. Rd. 119,Sidney

Pine RidgeSalt Water Facility & Storage

Fresh & Salt Water For Sale

We SellService!

• Hauling Fresh &Salt Water

• Snow Plowing• Vac Trailers

Williams: Sidney man serves as official for wrestling, baseball, flag footballFROM PAGE 50

HARRY LIPSIEA | SIDNEY HERALD

Curt Williams prepares to make a call.


SIDNEY - WIBAUX - GLENDIVEBAKER - MILES CITY - BILLINGS

WATFORD CITY - WILLISTON - ALAMOCROSBY - TIOGA - STANLEY - KENMARE

MINOT - BISMARCK - DICKINSONKILLDEER - BOWMAN

Yellowstone Chiropractic Clinic

Dr. RyanLaqua

Chiropractic Physician

Treatments of.... • Work and sport injuries • Accidents• Other pain conditions

222 2nd Ave. SW, Sidney • 433-4757•Toll Free 1-866-433-4757

DOT PhysicalsAvailable

Yellowstone Chiropractic Clinic433-4757 • 222 2nd Ave. SW, Sidney

Yellowstone Chiropractic Clinic433-4757 • 222 2nd Ave. SW, Sidney

• Relax your body& mind

• Relieve chronicstress & pain

• Get rid of minoraches & tension

Randi Marie Joslin, LMT

NicoleGoulart,

LMT


In the nearly eight months Ursa Re-sources Group LLC has been in business,the company has grown by leaps andbounds.

Ursa began drilling its first operatedwell at the beginning of October, followingsix months of leasing before securing arig. “We’re on target with our businessplan,” Sidney native and executive vicepresident Bruce Larsen said. “Our rela-tionship with everyone in the area hasbeen very positive.”

It’s a small operation; Ursa could quitepossibly be the smallest oil company in theregion. It was formed when Larsen, andfive other men invested in the company.Since then, the company has grown to 10full-time employees based in Houston,Texas, with another 20 contractors basedin the MonDak region primarily assistingin leasing land. It’s taken some work as thecompany has encountered obstacles, espe-cially related to planning its operation.The Bakken is very active; the availabilityof equipment and manpower runs danger-

ously low, so it’s essential to stay ahead ofthe curve. “If you don’t plan accordingly,you could drill a well and wait six monthsto get the frac crew up there,” Larsen said.

After Ursa’s formation in February, leas-ing began in March, and by Sept. 30 theyreached their target of 100,000 net acres ofland under lease in both western NorthDakota and eastern Montana. It’s enoughto keep them busy for three years. Thedrilling rig, owned by Unit Drilling, is thefirst of three Ursa plans to use in its opera-tions; the second rig is expected to arriveby June or July 2011, and a third by the end

of next year. Given successful well results,they will continue drilling through 2012.

On the morning of Oct. 2, about 12 hoursinto the company’s first operated well, therig’s roaring growl could be heard as thedrillbit plunged downward toward the goalof more than 19,000 feet of measureddepth. It had reached just over 1,400 feet atthe time.

“Everything’s going as planned. Every-thing’s moving ahead. So far so good,” saidJeff Holte, the operations manager withPetroleum Experience, which oversees thedrilling. There are 20 roughnecks workingon this location, which is located about 30miles southeast of Sidney off North Dako-ta Highway 16; roughnecks were working12 hour shifts, with 10 days on location fol-lowed by 10 days offsite.

Holte, a 31-year oil veteran, monitors theprocess from a computer in his office. “Wehave everything right at our fingertipsanymore,” he said, recalling how the oilbusiness used to be. “Technology is a won-derful thing. I don’t know how we did ityears ago.”

Using an Internet service, Holte canmonitor progress anywhere. The informa-

tion is also transferred to Houston wherecompany officials can also monitor. Offi-cials weren’t expecting any problems andplanned to be finished drilling within 30days.

Larsen said it will take some time beforethey will know if their work has paid off.Where they’re drilling, the Bakken forma-tion is thinner which means less oil inplace. Modifying their frac design and opti-mizing the completion techniques shouldhelp in maximizing oil recovery. “As longas we produce commercial amounts of oiland gas, our business plan is off to theraces,” he said.

The oil and gas industry, of course, is agamble. With each well, producers hopethat their projections are correct and thatthey hit the “jack pot.” As technology con-tinues to improve, wells should becomebetter, and as long as oil prices remain sta-ble, the prospects for future drilling aregood.

As for Ursa? Well, all signs point to an op-timistic future. “We’re hopeful and excitedat the position we’ve assembled, but untilyou drill some wells, you just never know,”Larsen said.

Ursa Resources Group continues to show growth


Jeff Holte helps oversee the drilling.


LANDTECHLANDTECHENTERPRISES, L.L.C.

Brine Gathering Systems13 salt water disposal wells

In Montana and North Dakota

3 FRESH WATER WELLS

Mark Johnsrud, Owner • Elmer Christensen, Manager

Sidney • 488-4006

Jeanie 25-36 #2H WellsiteUrsa spud its first

operated well on

October 1, 2010

Thanks to all that

have leased

minerals to us!

We look forward to

working with you as

we continue to drill

and can be

contacted at:

713-456-3000

[email protected]

Lee E. ArmstrongLicensed in Montana

and North Dakota

104 2nd Ave. S.W. • Sidney(lower level - CPA building)

433-7700 e-mail: [email protected]

433-3400

WORK CLOTHES

809 East Main, Sidney

• Coveralls • Hard Hats• Steel Toe Boots • Work Gloves

FireRetardantClothing

Oil & Gas Revenue Comparison4th Quarter 2009

(Oct.-Dec.)1st Quarter 2010

(Jan.-March)Richland County allocations $10.823 million $11.252 millionCounty government $4.973 million $5.170 millionElementary retirement $443,723 461,338High School Retirement $424,242 $441,084County Transportation $244,589 $254,299Schools

Elementary/H.S. districtsSavage/Savage $11,375 $8,996Brorson/Sidney $1.029 million $1.052 million

Rau/Sidney $233,472 $237,438Lambert/Lambert $1.738 million $1.804 million

Rural District/Sidney $528,864 $556,901Brorson/Lambert $26,051 $26,773

Fairview/Rural District $362,980 $388,117Lambert/Sidney $126,038 $127,977

Culbertson/Fairview $94,813 $102,448Richey/Savage $78,222 $86,733Sidney/Savage $0 $0

Fairview/Lambert $40,610 $44,193Lambert/Savage $335,877 $336,662

Culbertson/Sidney $8,732 $8,669Lambert/Fairview $82,047 $99,152

Culbertson/Lambert $18,886 $17,914Culbertson/Savage $22,340 $26,154

Oil, gas and natural resources accountOne-third to county government

Richland County $133,553 $142,802Two Thirds to incorporated cities and towns

(allocated based on population)Sidney $234,453 $250,690

Fairview $32,653 $34,914

Information provided by Richland County Treasurer




TTEEMMPPOORRAARRYY RREESSTTRROOOOMMSSFFOORR AALLLL WWOORRKK SSIITTEESS

DDOOOORRBBUUSSTT’’NNPortables & Septic Service, LLC

Blaine Rogers -Owner

489-0915 Service • 433-7586 Office • 433-7596 Fax • P.O. Box 1003, Sidney

Your TRUSTED source for PORTABLETOILET RENTAL and SEPTIC PUMPING

SepticPumping

Tanks • Buildings • Accessories

Al 701-770-8540 • Scott 701-570-1841 • Williston, ND

FiberOne TankComplete Line of Fiberglass Products

Built To Your Specifications

Service & Selectionright here in the

Center Of The Bakken Play

www.murphymotors.com1801 2nd Ave. W., Williston, ND • 1-800-888-2927 • 701-577-2927

New 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HDExtended cab long box,4-wheel drive

Cus

tom

Vin

ylG

raph

ics

•Sig

ns•M

agne

tics

•Veh

icle

grap

hics

•Log

os•P

inst

ripi

ng•D

ecal

sof

allk

inds

Tres

sa&

Just

inR

auO

wne

rs

Fu

llC

olo

rD

igit

alP

rin

tin

g

(406

)43

3-15

7720

52n

dA

veN

E•

Sid

ney

raud

ies@

mid

river

s.co

m

BY LINDSEY BRIGHTSPECIAL TO THE HERALD - COMMENTARY

“Alright, I’m ready to drill.”“C’mon, c’mon. Give me a two. I took

out a $1 million loan for this, and I don’twant to get a dry hole.”

“Yes, I struck. I got a deep well. Making$800,000 just on Williston Basin.”

These words come from a session of“Wildcatter,” the authentic oil and gas ex-ploration game as the box explains; how-

ever, the business world that it is imitat-ing is very much real. The inventor of thegame, Ken Kessler, says he made thegame to show people how difficult the oiland gas business really was.

“When the price of oil went up, the oilcompanies became a punching bag foreveryone, especially in Washington. Ifpeople knew how hard it was in the oiland gas company, they would be kissingthe oil and gas companies feet instead ofcursing their face,” Kessler said. Rumi-

nating over these thoughts and emotions,Kessler said one day he had an epiphany– he’d create a board game.

The game “Wildcatter” came out in Oc-tober of 1985, and it was selling well.Then, in February of the next year, theprice of oil was deregulated. The price ofoil dropped from $40 per barrel to $10.

The game drifted into a state of semi-oblivion. Kessler said he’d get occasionalcalls, mostly from geology students aboutthe game. People in the oil business

might see him with one and buy it offhim on the spot. But as far as the bigstores, the big markets, the game nevermade a big enough mark to even be re-membered.

I came across the game last Christmaswhile visiting the Permian Basin Petrole-um Museum in Odessa, Texas. The muse-um sells a few games each year and callsKen to re-stock.

Want a little fun? How about trying this game about the oil industry

SEE GAME | PAGE 57

http://www.murphymotors.com




I was attracted to the bright orange let-ters and the large picture of Spindletopwell blowing overlain with a haunting sun-set. An H.L. Hunt quote printed on the sidereads, “The guy that drills the most has thechance of coming up with the most.” Fromthe box cover, I am not sure if the well Imight drill will bring oil and wealth or onlyArmageddon.

I took the game home with me. After amonth of persistent begging, I finally con-vinced people in the teacher housing toplay in a community house, a handful ofvolunteer teachers living and working to-gether in a small, small town in ruralnorthern New Mexico. The winter washarsh, the snow was long.

“You promised you would play with meguys, at least once.” and finally two of theother teachers did.

We came back to the house, walkingacross the street, after our day of teachingand lesson planning and grading papers. Ajob in which our payment is housing and amonthly stipend of $300. Dinner wascooked and eaten. I cleared the table and setthe board out – a picture of America withthe different oil and gas reservoirs brightlycolored. I passed out $6 million to all the

players. We each picked which color leer jetwe wanted to be. The dichotomy betweenour lives and the artificial life of the leer jetflying Wildcatter we were taking on couldnot be greater.

It may be said that none of us had a realjob. All of us were volunteers. Teachersworking without real pay. That night threeof us assumed the temporary role ofwealthy businessmen, making deals, tak-ing out large loans, spending millions ofdollars on the chance that with this nexthole, we’d strike oil, a lot of oil.

The first night we were learning how toplay. The board in front of us, differentshades showing the different oil forma-tions across the United States. Lease cardsscattered, giving brief histories of the for-mations along with the information of howdeep to drill for a shallow and deep well andhow much we’d have to pay to drill andthen to complete.

We had fun. After another hard day ofteaching, which came rather quickly, weplayed again. The game became more andmore heated.

“You’ve got to be kidding me? You justput a deep well on Austin Chalk?” “Howmany wells do you have up? Are you eventhinking about the environment?!” “Oh,you hit another well. Now you’re making 13million a month. Shocking.” “The only wayyou get so much money is because you play

off my exploratory wells!” “How many ofmy undeveloped leases have you taken?”

Our language is completely changed. Fortwo hours, we ceased to be teachers, ceasedto be volunteers. Our problems were in mil-lions. We each dreaded the EnvironmentalProtection Agency. Blowouts on rigs couldnever come at a more inconvenient time. Ihad to leave the table and pace the roomback and forth when I’d drill out one of myleases. We began to speak of dry holes anddusters, how to develop both shallow anddeep on one lease property. We lusted overAustin Chalk and Permian Basin. Deepwells on Western Overthrust always

seemed to be good producers. Ten percentinterest on $2.5 million would really add up.We flew around the country in our leer jets,not looking for sites to tour, but for reser-voirs that could be the next big oil and gasproduction. We couldn’t wait to get to Hous-ton, business headquarters, where wecould finally collect our income.

Morning would come. We went to school,to teach, without getting paid. We did thisbecause we chose it. And for fun, to relax af-ter living the life we chose, we acted likegreedy oil tycoons, we wanted the entirecountry to be developed, with our derricks.


DRESSER OIL TOOLS

w w w. d r e s s e r o i l t o o l s . c o mAll your production and drilling supplies!

Williston2218 4th Ave. W

Williston, ND701-774-2250

701-774-2251 Fax

TiogaTioga, ND

701-664-2255701-664-2256 Fax

Still with five locations to

serve you!

IS NOW McJunkin Redman

v Valves And Oil Field Supplies

v Down Hole PumpRepair and Sales

v Fiberglass And Steel Pipe

v Steel And Fiberglass Fittings

v Red Wing & Baffin Boots

Stanley6161 Hwy 8

701-628-7777701-628-2256 Fax

MohallMohall, ND

701-756-6820701-756-6830 Fax

Sidney2650 S. Central Ave.

Sidney, MT406-433-2250

406-433-2251 Fax

WE SPECIALIZE IN TAXES,YOUR TAXES.

At H&R Block we specialize in taxes. Our professionals are expertly trained and always up to datewith the changes in tax laws. Which is why they can help you prepare an accurate return, assuringyou what you want most, peace of mind.

Get it Right.SM

Click, call or come over.hrblock.com | 800-HRBLOCK ©2009 HRB Tax Group, Inc.

Tax preparation service available year round. Call for hours or an appointment.606 S Central • SidneyPhone: 406-433-1818

106 E Railroad Ave • PlentywoodPhone: 406-765-1742

Joe Bradley & Margaret Bradley, owners

Don’t experience down time...DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!!!

701-572-2000 • 1-800-821-7298

PPoowweerrSSyysstteemmss

In Our Shop or On Your Location3805 4th Ave. W • Williston, ND

Natural Gas Engine Service and RepairComplete Shop and Road Service

All Makes & ModelsServing the Entire Oil & Gas Industry for Over 50 Years

Extendend hours to better serve you!

Game: Based on oil fieldFROM PAGE 56

http://www.d

433-1659 or 1-866-433-1659

Just north ofMcDonald’s

Sidney

$369

Call Larry today for all the details.

Save time...Save MONEY

Mobile Radio50 Watt • 16 Channel with scan • New front-flying speaker

Kenwood Two-Way Radios and Direct Dial Pagers Sales & ServicesRepeaters and Tower Space for Rent

TK-7302H/8102HCompact VHF/UHF/FMMobile Radios


• All Types of Fencing • Pit Liners • Trenching • Chainlink • Grass Seeding

• Mulching • Bird Netting

Seeding & MulchOil field • Right of Way

798-7754 • 34609 Hwy 200, Sidney, Montana 59270 CELL PHONES:

J.C. Youngquist 489-3584 • Larry Youngquist 489-7754 • Fax: 798-3488 • [email protected]

Custom Fencing& Welding, Inc.

Oil Fieldand Farm Erosion Control

Two Locations

2903 Red River Drive, Sidney, MT • 406.433.5720

Box 346, Hwy 85 South, Watford City, ND

701.842.3350 • Fax: 701.842.6510


It may be surprising to learn, but li-braries in the MonDak region have seentheir share of the impact from oil devel-opment.

Library usage has doubled, even tripledin some aspects because of the influx ofnew residents and oil field workers. Staffat the Sidney-Richland County Library,McKenzie County Public Library and theWilliston Community Library all reporta significant influence from the boomingindustry.

Part of the reason is the economy inother regions of the country, which hasdriven those residents to the area insearch of jobs. “I know there are a lot ofpeople that are using the library that arefeeling the economic pinch, “Renee Goss,Sidney-Richland County Library direc-tor, said. Computer and Internet usage,for instance, have well been the targets ofincredible growth over the last 10 years.On average in 2,000, monthly check-outs(using the computer for one hour) was at640 different times. Then at 2005, towardthe height of the oil boom, computer usewas up to 1,200 check-outs a month.

The number of library cards have alsogrown. The fiscal year of 2008-2009 saw288 new cards issued. The fiscal year of2009-2010 saw 355. There were 71 newcards in July and August alone. Thatbrings the total of library cards to 4,100.

Librarian Heather Cotter says she canattest to the business of library usage.“It’s a constant with the computers,” shesays, as people print legal documents orgo online to search for places to live in thearea. Cotter, who has met numerous new-comers from western Montana to as faraway as New Orleans, La., said the li-brary is crowded on average two to threetimes a week. Aside from assisting pa-trons in check-outs and issuing newcards, staff also help educate by helpingthem use computers. During a “snap-shot” day, on Sept. 15, library staff count-ed at least 90 people who were served.

Other libraries have also been busierrecently. In Watford City, N.D., the McKen-zie County Public Library issued 129cards last year. As of Aug. 28, the numberwas at 176 for the year. The number ofitems checked out has also risen. Therewere 15,782 items checked out on comput-ers last year; as of Aug. 28, the numberwas already at 13,068.

Libraries see benefit from oil development


OPERATIONS:Montana Montana North Dakota North Dakota North DakotaSidney Glendive Williston Belfield Stanley

406-482-5601 406-365-3312 701-774-0127 701-575-4335 701-628-3540

SERVICE AND EQUIPMENT

Our life’s work is the life of the well.

The employees of Basic Energy Services are

safety minded and ready to serve you.

• Hot Oil Trucks• Vac Trucks• Tank Trailers• Winch Trucks• Pumps• Filter Units

• Tubing Testing• Frac Tank Rental• Frac Heating• ICC Authority • Trucking• Workover Rigs


• Painting • Pressure Washing • Tank Coatings • Truck Washing

• Sandblasting • Aluminum Tank Acidizing

579 Bell Road (Between Transystems & Plains Pipeline) 406-480-3322

YELLOWSTONE PAINTING, LLC

Continental Resources is proud

of its leadership in the Bakken

Shale, with 652,000 net acres in

the #1 crude oil play in the lower

48 United States.*

We are accelerating our growth in North Dakota,

having increased to 11 operated rigs with a goal of

15 by mid-2010.

Innovation — Continental Firsts:

• We were the first to drill the Three

Forks zone in 2008.

• We were the first to initiate dual zone

development of the Middle Bakken

and Three Forks zones with Mathistad

2-35H in 2009.

• In 2010, we have begun drilling on the

ECO-Pad™ concept, which reduces

environmental impact while increasing

well productivity.

These milestones are characteristic of Continental’s

history as a leader in the explorationand production

of unconventional crude oil and natural gas resources

in the United States. With our success, we’ve grown

to become the third largest oil producer in the Rocky

Mountains.

From our founding 43 years ago in Enid,Oklahoma,

we have built a consistent record of finding significant

new crude oil and natural gas resources, harvesting

them in an environmentally responsible manner, and

investing in the communities where we work and live.

With our excellent, growing team of employees, we

are building an even brighter future for Continental

Resources in North Dakota.

Good Plays KeepGetting Better

The Bakken Keeps Growing

*USGS assessment

www.contres.com • (406) 433-30063001 Red River Drive • Sidney, MT 59270

A Domestic Energy Producer

T


http://www.contres.com

Documents

Tappin' the Bakken