North Dakota citiies exploded in size after shale oil boom

North Dakota citiies exploded in size after shale oil boom Today’s Video of the Day from the USGS shows the tremendous urban growth that took place in North Dakota after the discovery of the Parshall oil field in 2006.

After the multi-billion dollar energy boom in North Dakota’s Bakken oil patch, cities such as Williston and Watford City exploded in size.

This growth can be seen in nighttime satellite images, where the brightness footprint for the Bakken is now larger than the one created by the Twin Cities of Minneapolis. But the end of the boom spelled economic disaster for many of the new residents in towns such as Williston and Watford City. Now, the towns are facing an uncertain future.

The fracking boom in North Dakota has resulted in widespread environmental damage and is worsening the climate crisis, given its high flaring levels, methane emissions, and, of course, production of oil and gas. As major Bakken producers go bankrupt and continue to lose money while the oil field goes bust.  As seen above in the video North Dakota citiies exploded in size after shale oil boom, therefore causing a mass.

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: USGS