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North Dakota's oil rush lures Chicago-area residents

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by YankeeFan, Mar 17, 2013.

  1. Bob Cook

    Bob Cook Active Member

    If you want to learn more about the North Dakota oil boom, this is very good:

    http://blackgoldboom.com/

    I don't know how much of this still happens, but the boom is extracting a lot of natural gas -- which is burned as waste.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/business/energy-environment/in-north-dakota-wasted-natural-gas-flickers-against-the-sky.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
     
  2. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    One of my friends is on the Air Force Base in Minot and he tells me stories about the Walmart's in the oil-rich areas paying $17-$20 an hour, like JC said...

    I don't blame anyone for going up there to make what they can.
     
  3. britwrit

    britwrit Well-Known Member

    Fracking is going to be a completely predictable disaster for a lot of the nation's aquifers. The only question is when it takes place.
     
  4. KJIM

    KJIM Well-Known Member

    Just line up housing in advance. It's not likely you can get housing at that hourly rate.

    http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/01/11/Salvation-Army-helps-ND-people-relocate/UPI-12531357914464/
     
  5. Still a third of natural gas is burned off though flaring.

    http://www.ogfj.com/articles/2012/09/why-will-bakken-flaring-not-fade-away.html
     
  6. RickStain

    RickStain Well-Known Member

    Driving in the middle of nowhere in northwest North Dakota in the middle of the night is a whole new level of "dark," and those flares are absolutely beautiful.

    So there's that...
     
  7. KJIM

    KJIM Well-Known Member

    So true. My attempts to photograph them failed miserably, though.
     
  8. RickStain

    RickStain Well-Known Member

    Mrs. Stain made $14 in the Williston, N.D., Wal-Mart four years ago, and I'm sure the pay has gone up since then.
     
  9. KJIM

    KJIM Well-Known Member

    The Williston Walmart was hiring at either $17 or $19 when I was there a few months ago. Can't remember which.

    But if that's your only gig and the only income in your household, you'll be living in a cardboard box. I don't recommend that for a few more weeks at least.

    Judging by the drift I had to bust through to get to work, it's not spring yet. And I don't think there's a homeless shelter in Williston.
     
  10. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    So you can't live on $40K a year there?
     
  11. KJIM

    KJIM Well-Known Member

    Depends on how many incomes you have in the household.

    Housing is a bear. If you're thinking of moving, do you research and line up something first. Like the original article said, housing is over $1k a month and can easily top $2k. *If* you can find it.

    Definitely do not drag a family up here with no job, no plan and no place to stay. I've seen it happen too many times - and I am several hours from Williston.
     
  12. Bob Cook

    Bob Cook Active Member

    You can see the flares from space.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 15, 2014
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