VOLUME VI ISSUE I JUNE 2012

Oil&GasTIDBITSWe Keep North Dakota Going Strong

N O R T H D A K O T A

C O U N C I LPETROLEUM

O i l C a n P o w e r o u r K i d s F u t u r e s W B P C g i v e s s t u d e n t s a l o o k i n t o t h e c o n f e r e n c e , o i l a n d g a s i n d u s t r y

Whats new online? NDPC has launched its new website. Check it out and look for updates from the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference today!

To learn more about the North Dakota oil and gas industry, visit www.northdakotaoilcan.com

It powers our homes and our cars, and it is even powering North Dakotas economy; now, the oil and gas industry has stepped up and has begun powering another thing: kids futures.

At the 20th Annual Williston Basin Petroleum Conference held in May, more than 160 students from schools in the Bismarck-Mandan area had the unique opportunity to explore outdoor exhibits and learn about the past, present and future of oil production in our state. The program, Oil Can Power Kids Futures, took the students through the long history of oil from the dinosaurs to the gradual formation of the Bakken, and finally, to the drilling they see happening right in their home state.

Among the main themes of the event was the uniqueness of the Bakken, both in terms of its geology and the quality of the crude produced. Kent Ellis, an instructor for the program, used Lifesavers candy to explain the different flavors or types of oil. Some are sour, like oil produced in the Gulf of Mexico, while others are sweet, like the

oil produced in the Bakken in North Dakota. This sweet crude, Ellis explained, is sought after by most refiners, which makes drilling in North Dakota appealing to many companies.

In addition to learning about the different types of crude, students also learned about its uses and the prevalence and importance of oil in their everyday lives.

Petroleum products historically have been used by humanity since about 4,000 B.C., said Ellis. Today, everything from color crayons to their favorite movies to parts of heart valves are a result of the petroleum products we use today, said Ellis.

Following classroom instructions, the students then took a tour of the outdoor exhibits and equipment to get a first-hand look at an oil truck, a work over rig, a pumping unit and an oil field tank, among other equipment displayed at the conference. Larry Dokken of Frear Consulting & Inspection took the students through the exhibit and explained how different pieces of equipment are used.

The students, however, werent the only ones whose interest was piqued during the tour.

Students read facts about oil trucks, pumping units, and work over rigs while touring exhibits at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in May.

There are jobs for both boys and girls out there, said Dokken, and stressed the need for employees with science and engineering degrees for those interested in working in the oil and gas industry.

North Dakota Petroleum Council

PO Box 1395

Bismarck, ND 58502-1395

Please note: If you do not wish to receive further mailings from us, please e-mail ndpc@ndoil.org and you will be removed from our mailing list.

North Dakota Petroleum CouncilWe Keep North Dakota Going Strong

phone: 701.223.6380fax: 701.222.0006

e-mail: ndpc@ndoil.org

120 North 3rd Street, Suite 200 PO Box 1395

Bismarck, ND 58502-1395

diversity of jobs associated with the oil and gas industry and stressed the importance of going to college to earn a science or engineering degree.

Working on a rig during the summer is a great way to learn about the business, but what we really need are employees with that college degree in geology or petroleum engineering, said Dokken.

Both teachers and students left the tour with a better understanding of the oil industry, said Dokken. Its a great event, and we look forward to doing it again in the future.

To read more about the North Dakota Oil Can! program and its outreach, visit www.northdakotaoilcan.com.

The teachers were really interested in everything from the cost of drilling and operating a well to the technologies of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, said Dokken. As soon as the teachers started asking questions, the students really opened up and started asking more questions.

Many of those questions centered on working in the oil field. Several students expressed an interest in working on a drilling rig. Dokken took the opportunity to talk about the

Students get an up-close look at a pumping unit, one of the pieces of equipment on display at the Conference.

4th annual bakken rocks

COOKFEST

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY-NO ALCOHOL PERMITTED-

RAYNCC Ray Building

111 Railroad Ave.

5-8 cdt 5-8 mdtBELFIELD

Sportsmens ClubHillcrest Drive

JULY 24 JULY 26

BAKKEN EDUCATION SESSIONS WILL BE HELD AT BOTH LOCATIONS FROM 2:30-4:30 Local TimeMORE INFO AVAILABLE AT WWW.NORTHDAKOTAOILCAN.COM

GOOD FOOD GOOD FUN!