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Thursday, April 19, 2012 ■ Covering the Williston Basin ■ Volume 2, Issue 16 Double


North Dakota oil production doubles in past two years


By JAMES MACPHERSON Associated Press


Dakota oil production has more than doubled in the past two years, and the state’s sweet crude is now helping to feed refi neries on the East, West and Gulf coasts. State records show North Dakota oil


drillers produced an average of about 558,000 barrels daily in February, up from 348,000 last year and 262,000 bar- rels in February 2010. The state had 6,726 producing wells


BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North


your fun(ds) Visa students fi ll the gaps in oil patch


Welcoming the J-1’ers


communities By LAUREN DONOVAN Bismarck Tribune


named “Big” wears his baseball cap back- ward, American style, and a black apron to wash dishes at the Applebee’s in Dick- inson. His real name is Supachai Wiphaph- unsakul and he’s from Thailand. He’s been in Dickinson for less than a


in February, or nearly 2,100 more wells than in February 2010, and 1,400 more than last year. February statistics are the latest avail- able because oil production numbers typically lag at least two months. The average price for a barrel of


North Dakota sweet crude between has increased more than $15 to about $83 over the last two years. But crude oil from the state’s rich Bakken and Three Forks formations is trading up to 25 per- cent less compared to West Texas Inter- mediate, the U.S. benchmark. Oversupply at Cushing, Okla. — the


week. He’s up to his elbows in suds and up to his neck absorbing English and learning his way around a new town and new culture. He’s among what many of the com-


munity’s business managers refer to as J- 1’ers — students from all over the world who apply for a J-1 visa in order to come to the United States for three months of work and one month of travel. It’s a good fi t. Oil patch communi-


delivery point for benchmark WTI — and the lack of pipeline capacity in North Dakota increasingly has produc- ers shipping product by rail to East, West and Gulf coast refi neries. In those markets, shippers are fetching premium


Continued on page 11


Oil spill spreads via wind


Small amount of oil escaped and blew across fi ve to 10 acres of private property — 4


Glendive, MT, set


for new oil boom Rentals are scarce, home prices have skyrocketed and construction is booming — 8


ties like Dickinson, Williston and Minot desperately need these minimum-wage- level workers and the young people need a way to expand their horizons. Wiphaphunsakul is here with the


Annually, her company places about 1,000 students in those three cities to work service jobs in the fast food, retail and hospitality industries that go beg- ging because so many who would nor- mally take them have wandered off to work in the oil industry. Cushman said that besides the need for these workers, North Dakota has so much to offer. “North Dakota is just what I would


Maryland-based United Work and Trav- el program. Its employer operations di- rector, Suzann Cushman, said there are about 100 J-1 students in Dickinson, an equal number in Williston and slightly more in Minot.


DICKINSON — A young man nick-


LAUREN DONOVAN/Tribune


Dan’s Super Valu manager Joe Fridrich talks with Supeera “Champ” Boonngam, of Thailand, during one of his fi rst days at work last week.


queued there especially to enjoy that in- ternational worker’s friendly, personal greeting. On another occasion, during last year’s three-day blackout in Willis- ton, a group of Asian students prepared hot noodle dishes out in the parking lot for the hotel guests. Others hauled sand- bags in Minot. “North Dakota has become our new


design for this program. These kids are embraced by the community. There’s a cultural sharing, and when it’s over, they’ve made a friend for life,” she said. She talked about a long line at a check- out station and instead of there being a problem at the till, it turned out people


favorite place. Hopefully, all these in- teractions will make the world a better place as these young people return home to become leaders in their communities,” Cushman said. Wiphaphunsakul , 23, emerged from


the kitchen at Applebee’s with soft, clean hands and a wide smile on his face. He could have picked other destina-


Continued on page 12 Coal exports


highest since ’91 Strong demand from Asia and Europe offers outlet for fuel in low demand here — 22


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