Theodore Seuss Geisel, better known by the pen name Dr. Seuss, began his career by introducing the nation to his imaginative characters and cadenced text by creating advertisements for New Jersey-based Standard Oil. The company produced various consumer products derived from petroleum, and Geisel began promoting “Flit,” a popular insect repellent that guarded folks against flies and mosquitoes. In late ...
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Bad Boys, Bad Boys—Project Security Challenges
Most of us in the environmental compliance business are a little apprehensive with the Trump administration and his promise to streamline permitting processes to improve of America’s infrastructure and create jobs. What does that mean for businesses serving the oil and gas industry now that the Administration wants to “take the breaks off” of the environmental permitting process? We do ...
Read More »Trade! Do Americans Really Have a Bad Deal?
Understanding Americas Trading Relationship with Planet Earth The Rise of the American Economic Empire For those of you who have been living in a cave over the last 18 months, the topic of “unfair,” “bad” and “disastrous” trade deals exploded into the American lexicon through the politicization of free trade agreements that have become popular political fodder. Up until the ...
Read More »Shale production will be used for export, won’t hurt OPEC cuts
OPEC’s agreement to cut production in order to boost the global oil market seems to be working, but new reports indicate the organization could extend the cuts. The group is likely to determine whether or not to continue with the cuts at its bi-annual meeting, scheduled for May 25. Seeking Alpha explains three reasons why this could happen: The “hangover” ...
Read More »ND House defeats property tax reform bill
Yesterday, the North Dakota House of Representatives voted against HB 1326, the tax bill that Managing Director of the North Dakota Watchdog Dustin Gawrylow calls “a critical piece of pro-taxpayer reform that can and should be the beginning of real property tax reform” in North Dakota. The basic premise of the bill: Every political subdivision shall have an affirmative control ...
Read More »Will OPEC continue to cut production?
Ten OPEC countries achieved 91 percent of their required cuts in January, according to an S & P Global Platts survey released on Monday. In the agreement signed last year, OPEC countries promised to cut 1.2 million b/d for six months and freeze production at 32.5 million b/d for six months in 2017. This includes production by Indonesia, whose OPEC membership is ...
Read More »New geothermal drilling technology could also help oil and gas
When we think directional drilling, we think oil and gas. But a recent article in Think GeoEnergy tells about an advanced drilling system used by Baker Hughes that can withstand high temperatures in drilling for geothermal resources. The project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and its Geothermal Technology Office. Alexander Richter for Think Geoenergy reports that Baker ...
Read More »North Dakota House passes new rule for reporting oil spills
On Wednesday January 25, the North Dakota House legislators voted in an overwhelming majority of 82-11 in favor of House Bill 1151 that eliminates the need to report oil spills under ten barrels. No one wants oil spills, but as Meg Morley wrote in a letter to the Grand Forks Herald urging the legislature to pass the new law, “Spills WILL ...
Read More »Spray foam for agriculture? Here’s why farmers should think about it…
Most people typically think about spray polyurethane foam for home construction, commercial buildings, and roofing since it prevents leaks, wards off humidity and mitigates temperature fluctuation. It makes heating and cooling more cost-effective. But SPF has applications far beyond homes and commercial buildings. Spray foam is now being used by a diverse number of industries. Farmers and ranchers have begun ...
Read More »Real Estate Developer Mike Marcil Awards $25,000 Grant to PATH, Inc.
January 30, 2017, Fargo, North Dakota– Mike Marcil, CEO of Aalton Real Estate LLC., a Fargo-based commercial and rental real estate company, awarded a $25,000 grant to the PATH Family Support Program in Fargo, North Dakota. The grant will be used to support the recruitment and retention of licensed foster families to serve in the PATH Family Support Program. Additionally, the ...
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