American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2016 - 108

Instrumentation
for MWD

High Temperature
Magnetic Field Probes
*

Miniature probes down to
25x10x20mm

Operation up to 215OC

Low noise option
(<30pTrms/√Hz at 1Hz)

Helmholtz Coil Systems
*

500mm to 2m diameter coils

Power Amplifier and Control Unit
available

Maximum field strength from
250µT to 1mT

US distributor:

www.gmw.com

www.bartington.com

exceeded the radioactive threshold were
required to send the materials out of state.
The revision that allowed waste materials as great as 50 picocuries to be disposed in approved landfills took effect
Jan. 1. Two companies have expressed
interest in possibly operating such a landfill, but no permits have been issued,
press reports state.
In another development, it was no surprise when Governor Jack Dalrymple called
for a special session of the North Dakota
Legislature, Ness says. Although the governor has been quoted saying he does not
consider the state to be in "dire straits," he
has suggested that a looming budget deficit
requires attention, including tapping the
state's contingency fund and making some
spending reductions. The special session
was scheduled to have begun on Aug. 2.
An analysis of the state's finances by
Moody's Analytics projects a $310 million
shortfall under current conditions by the
end of the budget cycle that concludes
July 1, 2017.
In the 14 months since the legislature's
biennial session ended in May 2015, energy and crop prices-both crucial elements
of the state's revenue stream-have slid,
published reports note. They add that
policymakers and budget experts deem
the $14 billion, two-year budget to be
optimistic, which threatens a deficit in
the absence of remedies.
Successful Outreach
As development in the Bakken began
expanding six years ago, NDPC has recognized the importance of allowing the
industry to connect with communities in
western North Dakota and on the Fort
Berthold Reservation. In successive years,
NDPC began hosting a variety of positive
community and educational events, notes
Tessa Sandstrom, NDPC director of communications. She cites the examples of
NDPC's popular Bakken Rocks Cookfest
events, which this year were held July 19
at Mandaree on the Fort Berthold Reservation, and July 21 at Stanley in Montrail
County, N.D.
Despite having begun as an informal
community gathering, Cookfest has since
become a big draw across the Bakken,
Sandstrom reflects. Programs start with
Bakken updates from state regulators and
industry experts, she details. Activity then
moves outdoors to live entertainment and
an afternoon barbeque cook-off that is
said to draw some of the country's best
oil field cooking crews. "Cookfest is one
of our most popular events and always
draws a crowd from the community,"
Sandstrom affirms.
Other popular NDPC events include a
golf outing to raise money for the North

108 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

Dakota Oil PAC, a sporting clays shoot,
and the Oil Can! Fishing Tournament,
which raises money for conservation and
wildlife projects.
After discussions among staff and consultation with the board, NDPC announced
plans to postpone its annual spring social
in Denver this year, Sandstrom continues.
"We felt it was the right thing to do, considering what our members have been
going through," she acknowledges.
However, she notes, the NDPC-sponsored North Dakota Oil Can! program
continues to fill an information gap between industry and the community. Since
its 2008 creation, ND Oil Can! has grown
to include television and radio advertising
and a website that covers an extensive library of frequently asked questions while
offering videos and educational materials,
as well as a social media presence.
Sandstrom says the three guiding principles of Oil Can! are for companies to
listen to people in their communities, develop partnerships, and always respect
others. "Those principles have helped us
succeed in keeping open lines of communication between the industry and our key
stakeholder groups," Sandstrom relates.
Regarding the annual meeting, NDPC
indicates it will be held Sept. 19-21 at
the Holiday Inn Riverside in Minot. According to Ness, a free community
"Bakken 101" education session will be
held the first day.
The business meetings on Sept 20 and
21 will feature North Dakota's gubernatorial candidates, discussions on pipelines
and transportation, regulatory issues, and
a discussion about refracturing Bakken
wells, Ness notes.
He adds that Jack Stark, president of
Continental Resources, will be the keynote
luncheon speaker, and will focus on what
to expect as the new normal for Bakken
activity moving forward.
❒

Memorial Production Sells
Permian, Rockies Assets
HOUSTON-Memorial Production
Partners LP says it has closed a transaction
to sell certain Permian Basin assets for
$37.4 million. In addition, the company
announces the sale of some of its noncore
Rockies assets in Colorado and Wyoming
for $19.1 million. It says both transactions
are subject to customary post-closing adjustments.
The Permian Basin properties consist
of 285 gross (238 net) producing wells.
The company says the assets produced
1.2 million barrels of oil equivalent the
first three months of 2016. As of Dec.
31, the assets contained estimated proved
reserves of 3.1 MMboe.
❒

American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2016

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