What To Expect At The North Dakota Petroleum Council Meeting

The North Dakota Petroleum Council will return its annual meeting to the heart of the Bakken this fall, bringing together top executives, state leaders, and industry experts for three days of discussions on energy, technology, and the future of oil and gas.

The 44th annual gathering is scheduled for Sept. 16-18 at the Rough Rider Center in Watford City. Organizers expect more than 400 participants, including oilfield professionals, regulators, and policymakers.

The program begins Tuesday evening with registration and a welcome social. The following two days will feature a full slate of panels and presentations on subjects ranging from regulatory challenges to workforce development and new technologies in drilling and production.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong is scheduled to join Devon Energy CEO Clay Gaspar and University of North Dakota researcher John Harju for a Wednesday morning discussion titled “Bakken 2.0 – Cracking the Code.” Other highlights include a conversation with ExxonMobil’s Pam Heatherington and Denbury’s leadership, as well as a legislative panel with state lawmakers.

The council will also present its annual awards during Wednesday’s luncheon, recognizing contributions to the state’s oil and gas sector.

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Thursday’s sessions will shift focus to the future of energy, including emerging plays outside the Bakken, gas capture innovations, and grid integration. Chevron, Basin Electric, and Rainbow Energy are among the companies slated to speak. The event will conclude with closing remarks from NDPC President Ron Ness.

The annual meeting, first launched in the early 1980s, has become a cornerstone event for North Dakota’s oil patch, providing both networking opportunities and a forum for shaping policy in one of the nation’s leading energy-producing regions.