According to an Associated Press article published in the Bismarck Tribune, North Dakota’s oil patch is sizzling.

Yes.   Sizzling.  Apparently, North Dakota is leading both Montana and South Dakota in operating oil drill rigs.

Some highlights from the article:

• 5-10 more drill rigs may be coming to North Dakota in the next 3-4 months.
• Each active oil rig provides 40 direct jobs and 80 indirect jobs–that’s a mammoth amount of work in rural North Dakota.
• North Dakota accounted for $13.3 million of the $14.3 million in oil and gas leases in the tri-state region in 2006.  

The article gives more information, and it’s well researched and well written.  It’s one more area where North Dakota is leading out, perhaps where people don’t expect it.