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Hoeven Presents $400,000 Check For Petroleum Safety and Technology Center of Excellence in Williston

WILLISTON, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today presented a $400,000 check to Williston State College (WSC) for the Petroleum Safety and Technology Center, one of the state’s Centers of Excellence project recipients. The Center will co-develop and apply new oilfield technologies to meet the growing workforce and technology needs of the oil and gas industry in the Williston Basin. The new training site will offer hands-on experience with an actual rig and WSC’s Workforce Training Division will educate workers in the industries latest technology.

Joining Hoeven for the presentation were Williston State College President Joseph McCann; Petroleum Safety and Technology Center Director Deanette Piesik; representatives of 23 industry partners; area legislators; and city and county officials.

“The success of North Dakota’s oil patch communities, and the good jobs they are producing, depends on the ability of our workforce to stay on the cutting edge,” Hoeven said. “The Petroleum Safety and Technology Center will help train workers and advance new technology for the industry.”

“The Petroleum Technology and Safety Center of Excellence is an example of a successful joint project between industry, education and the state government working together to provide economic opportunity in the Williston Basin,” said McCann. “More than 23 industry partners have donated time and equipment to develop this hands-on training facility, which is going to allow the industry to dramatically increase the rate they produce oil resources for our nation, plus create jobs and opportunities in the Williston Basin.”

Center of Excellence funds will be matched by $1.3 million in private sector equipment and material donations. Williston State College, together with state legislators, the Oil and Gas Commission, the STAR Fund, local government, Williston State College Foundation, area economic developers, and industry partners have helped develop the center. Private sector partners include Key Energy, Nabors Well Service, Amerada Hess, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Oil Tools, Sanjel and others.

A Center of Excellence is a hub of research and development on the campuses of the North Dakota University System around which related businesses expand and dynamic new businesses cluster. The Governor’s initiative provides up to $50 million for Centers of Excellence. The dollars will be leveraged with private and federal matching funds to generate a total investment in new jobs and businesses of more than $150 million.

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