Bakken crude is explosive. Fortunately, the flammable natural gas liquids can be removed from the oil; optimally before filling the tanker cars and sending the volatile mixture by rail through small towns and big cities. But, at the Pipeline Summit on June 24 in Bismarck, N.D., Gov. Jack Dalrymple said there were not enough facilities in place to make that a viable option. Viable for whom? The oil companies? Is the governor concerned that the Bakken producers can’t afford the cost of building the infrastructure to stabilize the oil? Since when is the governor a spokesman for the North Dakota Petroleum Council? Our state officials and regulators work for us. Supposedly.
The infrastructure will cost a bundle. That’s a shame. It should have been built years ago.
On June 19, our state held a mock emergency drill involving a Bakken oil train derailment and explosion in Bismarck or Fargo, with 60 casualties. For what? To save oil companies some loot? What is viable? Simply leave the oil in the ground until the stabilization infrastructure is in place, or burn off all of the explosive liquid gases before shipping. Either that or we continue to wait for the next fireballs. Maybe we’ll lose the towns of Velva or Harvey or Mandan in North Dakota. Maybe chunks of Spokane or Vancouver? And more humans? Is that viable?
Ron Schalow
Fargo, N.D.
