magazine

The Bakken formation occupies about 200,000 square miles of the subsurface of the Williston
Basin, in parts of Montana, North Dakota, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
midstream and downstream path of the
shale development.”
Immediate impacts to the communities
are the influx of workers from outside the
impacted area. Local businesses are flourishing
because of the EFS boom, which
is creating a considerable increase in job
growth for the region, almost eradicating
the chronic, double-digit unemployment
rates that have plagued the counties for
years.
“For the most part, communities have
been receptive to the opportunities that
the EFS development brings to their
communities,” says Gonzalez. “Historically,
many of these communities have, for
many years, experienced job loss, high unemployment,
outmigration, poverty and a
declining tax base. In many respects, the
EFS has brought jobs, a new-found prosperity
and restored hope for many families
in southern Texas, while making us less dependent
on foreign sources of oil.”
However, along with an ever-increasing
population, the counties of the EFS are
also seeing a growing housing shortage,
which has become more tangible since
2011. Workers that come into the area,
hoping to take advantage of the jobs and
higher wages, are finding themselves bunking
in cars, tents and man camps before
landing more permanent living arrangements.
The lack of housing has allowed
housing and rental prices to skyrocket, as
the market is influenced by the rules of
supply and demand.
Compounding matters, many of the affected
communities also have obsolete infrastructure,
such as water, waste and electric
systems, to support current demand.
Others are left struggling with a lack of a
skilled local workforce to help support the
50 The Official Publication of the North Dakota Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties