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- Oil production declines sharply in North Dakota
- Thousands of barrels of produced water and crude oil spilled in North Dakota
- Nearly 40% of oil production in the state has been halted due to cold weather and operational challenges
- Since yesterday, Thursday, January 18 (2024), 100 barrels have been removed
- The 238,000 barrels per day oil refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, was down
The numerous oil spill incidents that North Dakota witnessed led to a state of instability in the energy sector in the third largest oil-producing state in the United States of America.
America is currently exposed to a severe cold wave accompanied by snow and rain falling on vast areas of the country, which has led to the disruption of the work of some refineries, as is the case in North Dakota.
Seven oil and salt water spill incidents occurred during the period from January 11 to 18 (2024), which led to the leakage of thousands of barrels of produced water and crude oil in parts of Dane, Mackenzie, Montreal and Moberg counties, according to a report reviewed by the specialized energy platform.
Produced water refers to the mixture of brine, oil, and sometimes drilling fluids, that are formed during the oil and gas production process.
Accidents keep coming
The North Dakota Department of Oil and Gas announced the oil spill incidents on January 18, 2024, noting that some of the areas affected by these incidents have been cleared, according to what was reported by the website inforam INTO THE FORUM)).
In total, North Dakota saw 7,159 barrels of produced water and 829 barrels of crude oil spilled.
While investigations into the oil spill incidents are still ongoing, leaks from water pumping lines, and damage to equipment and pipes due to freezing weather appear to be partly responsible for these incidents.
On January 11, 2024, a leakage occurred involving 468 barrels of produced water after damage to related equipment, according to estimates by the Water Services Department of the city of Hesse.
Since Thursday, January 18 (2024), 100 barrels have been removed, while the produced water remains inside the sand wall, according to information reviewed by the specialized energy platform.
A platform in an oil field in North Dakota – archive
Mass leak reports
Goodnight Midstream, located near the town of Watford in Mackenzie County, reported a fuel oil spill involving 236 barrels of produced water after pipes froze on January 13, 2024, with approximately 150 barrels leaking. It has been removed by now.
On the same day, another spill occurred in McKenzie County when 1,026 barrels of produced water and 54 barrels of crude oil from White Butte Oil Operations leaked as a result of equipment failure due to freezing weather, but all of the oil and water were recovered. leaked later.
Chord Energy, which explores hydrocarbons and hydraulic fracturing in North Dakota’s Williston Basin, also reported a spill of 775 barrels of crude oil on January 16, 2024, but all of the leaked fluids have since been recovered. .
Around the same time, 750 barrels of produced water leaked in Dunn County, and has been almost completely cleaned up, XTO Energy said.
Three days after the spill of 689 barrels of produced water in Montreal County, Liberty Resources Management Company LLC reported the incident, saying it occurred on January 14 (2024) and 500 barrels were recovered. .
On January 18, 2024, Cord Energy reported the latest and largest leak, which occurred as a result of a pipeline break, which resulted in the release of approximately 3,800 barrels of produced water, equivalent to approximately 160,000 gallons, approximately 6 km away. Miles northwest of Alexander City, North Dakota.
Cold weather slows down production
Oil spills have negatively impacted North Dakota’s energy sector, with about 40% of the state’s oil production shut down due to cold weather and operational challenges, the state Pipeline Authority announced on January 17, 2024.
Oil production in North Dakota fell by 500,000 barrels per day, to 550 barrels per day, according to information monitored by the specialized energy platform.
Record demand for gas
On January 17, 2024, low temperatures reaching freezing point in many American regions led energy demand levels to peak in some parts of the country, after homes and businesses consumed record amounts of natural gas for heating and generating electricity, according to what was published. an agency Reuters.
The extreme weather resulted in the closure of a refinery on the Gulf Coast in Texas, causing malfunctions in other refineries, and reducing oil production in North Dakota by half. The oil refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, with a capacity of 238,000 barrels per day, was also disrupted following a power outage this morning. January 16, 2024.
On January 17, 2024, demand for gas in the United States jumped to 167.8 billion cubic feet per day, according to LSEG financial data.
Meanwhile, US gas production fell by 17 billion cubic feet per day during the period from January 8 to 16 (2024) to 90.6 billion cubic feet per day, recording its lowest level since December (2022), according to “L.E. S.E.G.”
America needs one billion cubic feet of gas to supply about 5 million homes with fuel for one day.
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2024-01-19 18:52:18
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