For Mary Trost, Ph.D., serving as the inaugural plant manager to the first greenfield fuels refinery built in the U.S. in nearly 40 years is a homecoming that her entire career has built up to.
“I have over 25 years of experience in the petrochemical and refining industry, and have worked in management positions in the technical and laboratory areas along with operations and maintenance,” stated Trost, who will be leading the Dakota Prairie Refinery located in Dickinson, North Dakota. “Most recently, I was operations manager at BP’s Cherry Point Refinery in Blaine, Washington. Prior to this assignment, I worked in both operations and maintenance at BP’s Texas City Refinery in Texas City, Texas. I am a native Minnesotan and my husband is from eastern North Dakota. We are excited to get back to this area!”
The area’s energy industry leaders are also thrilled about the refinery’s opening because it provides a new source of diesel fuel for the state. “North Dakota currently imports more than two-thirds of its diesel fuel,” explained Trost, who received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Minnesota and her doctorate in chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley. “Having a local source to add to the supply is a big deal.”
The refinery supplying a much-needed product to the area isn’t the only aspect that makes it a big deal. It boasts a revolutionary water system that will solve two problems at once: providing enough water for refinery purposes while giving neighboring communities an expanded water system.
“The water system at this refinery is very unique and is, perhaps, like no other in the country,” said Trost. “The system is essentially a closed loop between the refinery and Dickinson’s wastewater treatment plant. The water is continually recycled, resulting in very little net loss of water from the wastewater plant.”
A joint venture of MDU Resources Group Inc. and Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP, Dakota Prairie Refinery began operating May 4 and held its grand opening June 29. At its grand opening, Trost said several hundred government leaders expressed their support of the operations of the history-making refinery.
“The Dakota Prairie diesel refinery is helping us process crude right in the heart of our state’s oil-producing region,” said North Dakota U.S. Sen. John Hoeven at the grand opening. “This facility is a good example of the energy infrastructure that our nation needs to build a brighter energy future.”
Trost said the refinery is capable of processing 20,000 bpd of Bakken crude oil. It is also supplying about 7,000 bpd of diesel fuel. She noted the location was deliberately chosen for its adjacency to the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe railroad and the Bakken Oil Express, which is a central rail loading facility. Its economical proximity to critical infrastructure such as rail, natural gas and electric service, water, sewer, transportation and other services make it the ideal spot to place a refinery that is building upon the strong shale production in the U.S.
Working in the shale production business is also what drew Trost to the project.
“I wanted to do something that was involved with the new shale oil revolution in this country,” asserted Trost. “I saw the position at Dakota Prairie Refinery, and I thought it was a tremendous opportunity. Best of all, it was in the Bakken area. So I jumped on it, and now here I am. It is really exciting to be involved in the industry change that is going on with shale oil, and I am very pleased to be here.”
Assessing, overcoming challenges
Although the refinery is centered in an area ideal for shale production, Trost noted it did face its challenges in regards to finding a talented and highly skilled workforce.
“Early in this project, we identified all the key challenges and risks,” said Trost. “One of the key issues we anticipated was recruiting a professional workforce to operate the plant, especially considering all the activity going on in the Bakken Shale play. Fortunately, this wasn’t a problem at all. We found individuals who were genuinely excited about the opportunity to work in the first greenfield fuels refinery built in the U.S. in nearly 40 years. We also found several professionals who were originally from North Dakota who were anxious to get back to the state.”
Although Trost couldn’t be happier with Dakota Prairie Refinery’s employees, she said there is a knowledge gap that is being bridged by extensive and advanced employee training.
“One of our major issues is the majority of the people we employ are new to the refining business,” ascertained Trost. “Most of the people have had experience in related industries but not in refining. This creates a bit of a knowledge gap we are addressing with training. What has been interesting in this is there is also a benefit. The diversity of experience our employees bring to the refinery is unique and allows us to have different insights and viewpoints into some of the issues we have. This makes for a very creative workforce as we meld these backgrounds together.”
Setting the standard
This creative workforce is also well aware safety is the No. 1 priority. Moreover, despite the plant being in its infancy, it already boasts an enviable safety record.
“During the construction period, the work crew of technicians, specialists, craftsmen and electricians numbered more than 800 during peak construction,” said Trost. “We are very proud to report during the two-year construction period we experienced zero lost-time accidents at a site where over 2 million man-hours were worked. Safety is a top priority at the plant.”
Community service is also a top priority for the refinery’s workforce. The plant is involved with the North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association, which supports a group of businesses that represent the wholesale and retail petroleum industry in the state. Trost said the company currently offers all employees a day off to do local volunteer work. Moreover, Dakota Prairie Refinery’s leaders and skilled employees are working to ensure area citizens are comfortable with having the plant in their neighborhood.
“We have done presentations on the refinery to several groups in the Dickinson area and have provided tours and overviews of the refinery,” explained Trost.
Trost has also set priorities for her leadership. She understands the value of her employees and respects their expertise.
“I think the single most important thing is the ability to listen to people,” stated Trost. “In the grand scheme of things, it isn’t me who runs and maintains the refinery; it’s the people at the front line who do it. So listening to them and their concerns and issues is really key to keeping on top of things and to ensure safe, compliant and reliable operation of the refinery.”
Trost and her employees are setting the standard for the refinery in terms of commitment to health, safety and well-being for not only the workers in the plant but also the community’s valued citizens.
“We want to reliably produce high-quality energy products while providing a safe and healthy work environment for our employees,” said Trost. “We are going to be a great neighbor here in Dickinson and in Stark County, and we are encouraging our employees to become an active part of their communities. We are going to live here, and we want to be a part of this area. We’re here to stay.”
Dakota Prairie Refinery
3815 116th Ave. S.W.
Dickinson, N.D. 58601
(701) 456-6900
www.DPRefining.com
Size: 318 acres
Employees: 80 full-time
Products: Bakken crude oil, high-quality diesel fuel, naphtha, atmospheric bottoms and natural gas liquids.
