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Oil companies to tap Missouri River water

FORBES.COM -- By JAMES MacPHERSON

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Oil companies will be able to tap more than 5 million gallons of Missouri River water daily for drilling operations under a pair of projects announced Friday by North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven.

The state and a water district in McKenzie County will share the cost of a $7 million project that will pipe about 4 million gallons of Missouri River water daily from Williston to a water depot some seven miles away, where it would be sold to oil companies.

A second project, pegged at $150,000, will tap into an existing pipeline near Dodge in Dunn County to provide up to 1.4 million gallons of water daily to the oil industry. The pipeline brings water to Dickinson from Lake Sakakawea, a 180-mile-long reservoir on the Missouri River.

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Submitted Mar 12, 2010 By: UncleCurt

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Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,491 Points:633,840 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:53:34 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse THAT SOUNDS DIFFERENT!
cpl11787 All-Star Author Minnesota Posts:630 Points:123,275 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 5:35:02 PM Ignore cpl11787 Report Abuse That sounds like a lot of water. What will happen to the life out there?
unclearquest1 Rookie Author St. Louis Posts:58 Points:5,835 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:51:21 PM Ignore unclearquest1 Report Abuse drill drill drill drill in my yard if you want!!!!,
npt Sophomore Author Raleigh Posts:138 Points:32,180 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:49:54 PM Ignore npt Report Abuse Go green, stop drilling.
ronsimonil All-Star Author Illinois Posts:718 Points:152,495 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 1:29:34 PM Ignore ronsimonil Report Abuse It sounds like North Dakota will become one of our big oil producers.
Timberline All-Star Author West Virginia Posts:878 Points:449,555 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:23:42 PM Ignore Timberline Report Abuse Notice that the article doesn't mention what happens to the water after it has been used.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:2,042 Points:1,118,315 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 10:50:27 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse re: how much farm land and crops will be ruined from this operation? In theory, none. Water is used in the majority of drilling operations
DerHahn Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,914 Points:1,110,910 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 10:11:39 AM Ignore DerHahn Report Abuse how much farm land and crops will be ruined from this operation?
Gassed01 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,621 Points:817,200 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 9:27:23 AM Ignore Gassed01 Report Abuse I hope a complete environmental impact study has been done and considered.
TPlayer All-Star Author Fort Wayne Posts:572 Points:138,955 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 2:34:21 AM Ignore TPlayer Report Abuse Will the oil companies buy the asian carp too... that should be a bigger priority...
Mooseman1 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:5,348 Points:896,040 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 2:22:38 AM Ignore Mooseman1 Report Abuse Interesting that oil extraction requires so much water.
raleightom All-Star Author Raleigh Posts:765 Points:215,710 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 1:12:40 AM Ignore raleightom Report Abuse I've seen reports on 60 minutes of what happens as a result of this operation and it isn't pretty . . . nope, not at all. Sure hope someone with some smarts is overseeing this operation and I'm not referring to collecting the water either . . . disposing of the waste needs to be a top priority as well as restoring the environment as they go . . . .
MDTDriver Champion Author California Posts:4,779 Points:1,153,045 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 1:11:58 AM Ignore MDTDriver Report Abuse Hope the river does not go dry.
250FORD Champion Author Minnesota Posts:7,489 Points:1,198,560 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 1:06:28 AM Ignore 250FORD Report Abuse I hope they can shut this down when needed. Over the last few years levels of water at Pierre SD has been down, they have a hydro-electric dam there.
cheapertvs Champion Author Richmond Posts:4,989 Points:1,727,645 Joined:Jan 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 1:00:50 AM Ignore cheapertvs Report Abuse There is not that much demand for the river water in the Dakotas. This sounds like another windfall for North Dakota.
scrounger Champion Author Vancouver Posts:8,245 Points:2,204,190 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:56:56 AM Ignore scrounger Report Abuse another boondoggle
Prodaddy Champion Author Houston Posts:3,651 Points:916,490 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:46:24 AM Ignore Prodaddy Report Abuse I agree with Gary65
Gary65 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,390 Points:430,860 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:43:21 AM Ignore Gary65 Report Abuse Just great, that's all we need. They better not screw things up.
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,491 Points:633,840 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:41:58 AM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse OK?
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:5,342 Points:851,120 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:33:07 AM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse Is there any left for drinking?
J Eric Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:6,068 Points:1,270,520 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:32:50 AM Ignore J Eric Report Abuse Just what we need, Missouri River Mud in our gasoline.
cheneyworldinc Rookie Author Lansing Posts:1 Points:1,070 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:32:12 AM Ignore cheneyworldinc Report Abuse Good- no great for all! The US has more oil in the Bakken than the Middle East. We could be independent of foreign oil if ALL of us supported domestic production. Then the US could turn the tables on the Middle East by selling them corn and wheat at astronomical prices, and not buying their oil. They cannot grow corn or wheat on their sand, but we can produce our own oil. Sounds like an economic stimulus and job producing plan to me. Finally real support for domestic production. Congratulations to North Dakota Governor John Hoeven!!!
craigsf38 Champion Author Rochester Posts:1,142 Points:512,500 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:30:32 AM Ignore craigsf38 Report Abuse That is a lot of water. Better pump it during flood stage into their own reservoir. What happens with the water when they are done with it? Can't they just recycle it and use it again.
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,330 Points:212,885 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:29:31 AM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse To all who comment, On the day after the news broke that the Courts upheld “Under God We Trust” on our money - and the words, “Under God” is constitutional in the Pledge of Allegiance, as we enter the Holy Days of Saturday and Sunday, is there a way we can put aside our differences? It is my hope and prayer that we can all find common ground and move to a future that protects our children and their children.
pyndasky Champion Author Maryland Posts:4,735 Points:780,205 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:27:26 AM Ignore pyndasky Report Abuse some sections of that river are so polluted that they might be able to recycle it into fuel.
marvin42 Rookie Author Salt Lake City Posts:43 Points:174,285 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:26:38 AM Ignore marvin42 Report Abuse RockCity says: They will use it and send it back to the head waters in pristine condition. As P.T. Barnum said: there's one born every minute. Big oil loves people like you.
N5EXY Veteran Author Austin Posts:426 Points:496,805 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:26:32 AM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse When I read the headline I thought the river was full of oil or some sort of biomass that could be converted to energy.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:12,680 Points:1,709,715 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:26:06 AM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse Bad news.
rxman1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:4,148 Points:870,055 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:25:43 AM Ignore rxman1 Report Abuse That is a lot of water. Better pump it during flood stage into their own reservoir. What happens with the water when they are done with it? Can't they just recycle it and use it again.
misterray Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,992 Points:497,240 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:24:19 AM Ignore misterray Report Abuse Will prove to be bad for the environment.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:1,362 Points:159,005 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:24:05 AM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Fooling with Mother Nature could have nasty results. I am glad these experts are quick to say that the impact on the Missouri River will be negligible. What is the impact to the environment when the oil companies use this water for getting oil?
Blue_Cruzer Champion Author Lexington Posts:2,807 Points:733,785 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:19:29 AM Ignore Blue_Cruzer Report Abuse 4 million gallons a day sound like a lot of water to me.
lindact Champion Author New Haven Posts:3,819 Points:750,290 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:18:16 AM Ignore lindact Report Abuse Sounds good all around.
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:3,693 Points:966,045 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:14:50 AM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse Sounds like a win - win for everyone involved and it is all here in the US of A!!! We need more positive energy jobs right here at home.
altonb1 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:4,834 Points:649,675 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:14:40 AM Ignore altonb1 Report Abuse Assuming the water is eventually returned to the river, this should actually help. EPA regulations will actually mean that the water will be returned to the environment far cleaner than it was before it was taken from the river in the first place.
RockCity Champion Author Denver Posts:2,550 Points:454,570 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:14:33 AM Ignore RockCity Report Abuse They will use it and send it back to the head waters in pristine condition.
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:17,681 Points:2,090,495 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:08:57 AM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse that seems like a lot of lost water .
Gas_Buzzer Champion Author South Carolina Posts:9,294 Points:1,665,430 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:08:03 AM Ignore Gas_Buzzer Report Abuse Nothing like tapping a keg of beer.
PhilMils Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,931 Points:414,150 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:05:08 AM Ignore PhilMils Report Abuse What do they do with the filthy water once they use it?
OnTheWater All-Star Author Orange County Posts:551 Points:181,520 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 12:02:38 AM Ignore OnTheWater Report Abuse Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I mean will this help lower the price of gas at all??