Power needed for Bakken oilfields
Basin Electric Power Cooperative is making plans to build 190 miles of new transmission, specifically to serve growing demand from oil and gas production.
Electric Co-op Today
- November 28, 2011
Derrill Holly
See the story here: Power needed for Bakken oilfields
"The load has developed so quickly," Mike Risan, senior vice president of transmission for the Bismarck-based Basin Electric, reported at the cooperative's annual meeting Nov. 9.
The proposed project would involve construction of a 345-kilovolt line extending from Basin Electric's Antelope Valley Station, near Beulah, ND, to the Williston and Tioga region of North Dakota. At least six distribution co-ops are rapidly extending lines to production sites that require between 30 to 50 kilowatts of power per well.
"We are addressing the issue with a phased approach to avoid the possible risk of overbuilding the transmission system in the event that the growth diminishes," Risan said.
But prospects for sustained growth tied to the Bakken Formation's potential are good. According to Baker Hughes, Inc., which has issued weekly rig counts since 1944, an average of 187 rigs were drilling for oil in North Dakota in November.
The 200,000-square mile region covering parts of North Dakota, Montana and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan contains one of the largest known oil and gas deposits in North America.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates U.S. volume at 3.65 billion barrels of oil, 1.85 trillion cubic feet of dissolved natural gas and 148 million barrels of natural gas liquids.
More than 2,900 wells are currently producing oil in western North Dakota.
"Within the next 15 years, North Dakota will have 33,000 oil wells, so we’re going to be very busy," said Dale Haugen, general manager of Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative.
The Williston-based co-op recently acquired more than 11,000 square feet of modular office space from Basin Electric to accommodate additional staff, said Haugen. "We expect to grow from 69 to between 180 and 200 employees over the next ten years."
Basin Electric's proposed transmission project is expected to help the G&T meet load growth in parts of North and South Dakota and eastern Montana, said Daryl Hill, a Basin Electric spokesman. "The increased demand is also creating the need to serve new consumer-members as communities in the area grow."
Headquarters
1717 East Interstate Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503-0564 USA
Phone: 701.223.0441
Basin Electric Power Cooperative will provide cost-effective wholesale energy along with products and services that support and unite rural America.
