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Lightning hits 3rd North Dakota saltwater facility

By WTOP Staff

JOSH WOOD

ALEXANDER, N.D. (AP) — A lightning strike Monday sparked a fire and explosion that destroyed the third North Dakota saltwater disposal facility in recent weeks, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and leaving the smell of oil in the air.

The latest incident was at a saltwater disposal well owned by Dallas-based 1804 Operating and located several miles south of the tiny town of Alexander. No injuries were reported.

In a statement, the state’s Department of Health said the incident led to the release of 2,813 barrels of saltwater and 649 barrels of oil. A barrel is 42 gallons.

The Department of Health said some fluids flowed off site but were contained before they were able to reach a tributary leading to a nearby creek.

On Monday night, the slightly stinging smell of oil and the smoke from the fire drew curious onlookers from a truck stop next door. Cleanup crews were busy moving contaminated dirt and laying down booms around a small reservoir as firefighters tried to quell the blaze.

The explosion blew the lid of one of the tanks into a nearby field.

McKenzie County emergency coordinator Karolin Rockvoy said she first learned of the fire at 5 p.m. on Monday. As of 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the fire was still burning. Rockvoy said firefighters were letting the blaze burn itself out.

Fighting the fire “just makes a bigger mess,” she said of the potential environmental impact.

Also called brine, saltwater is a byproduct of oil production. It is 10 to 30 times saltier than seawater, is considered an environmental hazard by the state and must be disposed of in special facilities.

Saltwater contains residual amounts of oil that is skimmed at disposal facilities by operators hoping to eke out a few more barrels of production. But in tanks, the mix of gas and oil that comes with the saltwater can be volatile.

In recent weeks, three of the state’s more than 440 active saltwater disposal facilities have been destroyed by fires and explosions sparked by lightning strikes.

A June 1 lightning strike destroyed an Oasis Petroleum saltwater disposal facility spilling 15 barrels of oil and 1,200 barrels of brine.

On June 27, lightning hit a Basic Energy Services saltwater disposal facility in Mountrail County spilling 580 barrels of oil and 1,800 barrels of brine. The company estimates it will cost up to $2 million to clean up and rebuild the site’s above ground facilities.

Experts say even lightning strikes more than 300 feet away can cause a spark that sets off a saltwater disposal site.

Despite the danger posed to saltwater disposal facilities by summer storms, North Dakota and other oil producing states do not require companies to install lightning protection systems on their oil field facilities.

At the scene of the blaze on Monday night, 1804 Operating President Fred Kershisnik said the company had taken measures to protect against lightning at the site.

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Contact Josh Wood at https://twitter.com/JWoodAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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