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Oil Trains Approach a Regulatory Junction
Oil Trains at Junction in North DakotaFracking Companies Await Regulator’s Decision on Stabilizing Crude Before Shipment
By Chester Dawson
Updated Dec. 7, 2014 8:17 p.m. ET
Energy producers in North Dakota are expected to face new regulations soon on treating their crude oil if the state’s chief energy regulator follows through this week on promised standards aimed at ensuring that Bakken Shale crude oil can be more safely shipped by rail.
The North Dakota Industrial Commission will meet on Tuesday to complete steps it proposed last month that would require oil companies as of Feb. 1 next year to start removing volatile gaseous compounds before shipping their crude on railroads crisscrossing the country. ... The commission’s decision will be closely watched because critics say the proposals don’t go far enough while the oil industry has complained they go too far. North Dakota has felt pressure to act amid growing concern nationwide that Bakken crude poses a higher threat in a derailment or other accident.
Production of light shale oil through hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, makes up the majority of the additional three million barrels a day of oil that the U.S. produces today compared with 2009. Much of that is shipped by rail, especially crude produced from Bakken Shale because of North Dakota’s lack of pipelines.
....
The Wall Street Journal reported in February that based on an analysis of data collected at a pipeline in Louisiana, Bakken Shale had a far higher vapor pressure—making it much more likely to emit combustible gases—than dozens of other crude oils.
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Write to Chester Dawson at chester.dawson@wsj.com
North Dakota Considers Requiring Treatment of Bakken Crude
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Officials air concerns about oil trains at Washougal meeting
An oil train passes the Vancouver Land Bridge. The high-profile nature of oil and coal trains is drawing opposition from a broader coalition of activists than earlier environmental movements. (Zachary Kaufman/The Columbian)
Little cities can do to stop plans, Guard admits to BNSF
By Justin Runquist, Columbian small cities reporter
Published: December 9, 2014, 10:18 PM
In a humbling moment Tuesday night, Washougal Mayor Sean Guard turned to three representatives of BNSF Railway and admitted the city has little power to halt the rise of trains carrying volatile crude oil through Washougal.
"Obviously, we don't get the choice to stop you," Guard said. "We don't really get the choice of what you've got moving on those (tracks) or the times that they come through."
Guard and several members of the Washougal City Council hosted the BNSF representatives for a discussion Tuesday night at Washougal High School regarding a slew of concerns about safety and traffic impacts from the influx of oil trains through the region. Officials from north county, Stevenson, Camas and Ridgefield also showed up to get some answers about what the future holds for their cities as Tesoro Corp. and Savage Companies look to build the largest oil-by-rail terminal in the country in Vancouver.
Together, the companies have formed a partnership known as Vancouver Energy. If approved, the venture's new terminal would eventually move an average of 360,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
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Justin Runquist
Columbian small cities reporter
360-735-4547
@col_smallcities
justin.runquist@columbian.com
An oil train passes the Vancouver Land Bridge. The high-profile nature of oil and coal trains is drawing opposition from a broader coalition of activists than earlier environmental movements. (Zachary Kaufman/The Columbian)
