Oil Rigs Bring Camps of Men to the Prairie (Oil Jobs but no Housing in ND)

NY Times ^ | 11/25/11 | A.G. Sulzberger

[Titus-Maximus]

TIOGA, N.D. — As much as the drilling rigs that tower over this once placid corner of the prairie, the two communities springing up just outside of town testify to the galloping pace of growth here in oil country.

They are called man camps — temporary housing compounds supporting the overwhelmingly male work force flooding the region in search of refuge from a stormy economy. These two, Capital Lodge and Tioga Lodge, built on opposite sides of a highway, will have up to 3,700 residents, according to current plans.

Confronted with the unusual problem of too many unfilled jobs and not enough empty beds to accommodate the new arrivals, North Dakota embraced the camps — typically made of low-slung, modular dormitory-style buildings — as the imperfect solution to keeping workers rested and oil flowing.

But now, even as the housing shortage worsens, towns like this one are denying new applications for the camps. In many places they have come to embody the danger of growing too big too fast, cluttering formerly idyllic vistas, straining utilities, overburdening emergency services and aggravating relatively novel problems like traffic jams, long lines and higher crime.

The grumbling has escalated despite the huge influx of wealth from the boom, largely because it has become clear that growth is overwhelming capacity. Indeed, local leaders note incredulously that a conference on regional infrastructure took place in Colorado last month because the region lacked the facilities to host its own event.

“We need a little time to catch our breath to figure out what resources we need in place before we keep expanding,” said Ward Heidbreder, city coordinator in nearby Stanley, which has two camps.

In recent weeks, Williams County, where thousands of previously approved camp beds have yet to be built, and Mountrail County, where one-third

[Titus-Maximus]

The motels are sold out for years, workers are sleeping in their cars. Some roughnecks are making $100K per year and they need more people as more drilling continues. Workers are coming from all over the country.

They will be drilling for decades!

America is blessed.

[yldstrk]

somebody smart will get a bunch of manufactured homes up there asap, then stay and build the real thing.

[tet68]

Building it, they will come.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

This is good for the workers and the local economy, but some accomodations need to be made for the upcoming South Dakota (Extremely harsh) winter.

[mylife]

But now, even as the housing shortage worsens, towns like this one are denying new applications for the camps. In many places they have come to embody the danger of growing too big too fast, cluttering formerly idyllic vistas, straining utilities, overburdening emergency services and aggravating relatively novel problems like traffic jams, long lines and higher crime.

Idyllic vistas? Drill Baby! Drill!

[yldstrk]

I thought they were in North D? But yeah, the winter is brutal

[Tax-chick]

O noes! O noes! This is a totally new problem! No industry or locality has ever dealt with a sudden influx of workers before!

O big mama government, Do Something! Save them!

[jdsteel]

Know what an “idyllic vista” means? NO PEOPLE. Yes, drill baby drill!

[Kickass Conservative]

Occupy North Dakota.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Titus-Maximus.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I have a 38 ft motor home with push out for sale, complete with washer and dryer.

[Future Snake Eater]

Looks like CHUs like I lived in in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not a bad way to live. Certainly better than living in dusty hangars and tents (also in Iraq and Afghanistan). I wonder if they need any IT support out there....

[VanDeKoik]

Looks like a prime opportunity for housing developers!

Go capitalism!!

[yldstrk]

Get it on up north, lady!

[yldstrk]

They probably need it all, man.

[mylife]

I would rather sleep in the dirt than in those Army tents, packed full of soldiers.

[umgud]

Can’t Obama send his regulators in to solve this problem? /s

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Easier said than done. I’d love to find it a new home. It just sits in our drive as a yard ornament.

[Wonder Warthog]

"The motels are sold out for years, workers are sleeping in their cars. Some roughnecks are making $100K per year and they need more people as more drilling continues. Workers are coming from all over the country."

The housing inconvenience is strictly temporary. The permanent structures that will result from the influx of people and money will last a LOT longer. Especially if local governments (at all levels) SAVE some of that revenue, as Alaska has done (and Louisiana, my home state, failed to do).

[org.whodat]

Bull, study after study shows the men travel with the rigs, and there are only so many drill rigs. And campers are not really selling well with 4.00 fuel. Actually many of those companies making campers have gone belly up. Want work, get a job in the home community of these rigs and learn the job.