New Member – Thanks to the new Petroleum Council member Western Standard Energy Corp.

North Dakota Rig Count Reaches 55 – North Dakota’s rig count continues to climb as the rig count on October 22 reached 57, with 37 of those in the Bakken.  Indications are likely that number will climb even higher as interest in the Bakken grows.  The window for the one-year Bakken tax incentive ends June 30, 2008.

Department of Mineral Resources Releases Final Rules - The Department of Mineral Resource’s proposed rule changes have been approved by the Industrial Commission.  The Interim Legislative Rules Committee will review the rules at their November 14 meeting.  The rules, if approved by the Legislative Committee, will be effective January 1, 2008.  The Industrial Commission Order is attached.

Oil & Gas Research Council Grant Round Deadline is November 1 – The Research Council has funds and is seeking projects to enhance the exploration and production of oil and gas in North Dakota.  For information on how to submit grant proposals, go to http://www.nd.gov/ndic/ogrp-infopage.htm.

Great Plains Energy Expo - U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, Bismarck State College, and Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson will co-host a major energy event in Bismarck next week to discuss new ways to boost energy development in North Dakota. The Great Plains Energy Expo, which will be held October 29 and 30 at the Bismarck Civic Center, is aimed at tapping into North Dakota’s resources to meet America’s growing appetite for energy.  It will feature keynote presentations from U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, and Steve Hinchman, Senior VP of Worldwide Production, Marathon Oil Corporation. Attendees will also take part in a trade show and workshops discussing topics such as enhanced oil recovery, CO2 management strategies, and other new ways to bolster development of energy resources in North Dakota and across the nation. For more information about the Great Plains Energy Expo and to register for the Expo, visit http://bismarckstate.edu/gpee. 

IOGCC Seeks Executive Director – The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) is seeking a skilled, energetic and resourceful manager and leader with background and experience rooted in energy issues at the state and/or national level to replace their recently retired Executive Director, Christine Hansen.   http://www.ndoil.org/content/view/82/2/.

BLM Releases the 2007 Revised Gold Book and Onshore Order #1 Web site – The 2007 Revised Gold Book has been updated slightly to incorporate some new Onshore Order No. 1 requirements and can be found on the BMP web site for use in your Applications for Permit to Drill: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/oil_and_gas/best_management_practices/gold_book.html.

Need Engineers, Geologists, and Other Professionals? – Don’t forget to post those positions along with your skilled and unskilled jobs with Job Service North Dakota, so the world can find them at www.jobsnd.com.  We are getting calls from engineers and other professionals wanting to work, or return to work, in North Dakota but they don’t know where to find job listings because few professional jobs in the oil and gas industry are listed with Job Service.

For more information on any of these issues, contact the North Dakota Petroleum Council at (701) 223-6380.