Dakota Prairie Refining LLC Refinery, Dickinson, North Dakota | US Oil Infrastructure

Dakota Prairie Refining LLC is a refinery located at 3815 116th Ave SW in Dickinson, Stark County, North Dakota. The facility is operational and plays a key role in processing crude oil from the Bakken shale formation, one of the largest oil-producing regions in the United States. As a refinery in the inland United States, it is subject to federal environmental regulations under the Clean Air Act (CAA) Refinery MACT standards and state-level oversight by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. The refinery operates under NAICS codes 324110 (Petroleum Refineries) and 325199 (All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing), indicating a diversified product slate that includes fuels and chemical feedstocks. Refineries in the Bakken region typically range from small to medium scale, often with capacities between 10,000 and 50,000 barrels per day. The facility's location in a rural area with cold winters influences its operational design, including winterization of equipment and storage for crude oil with high paraffin content. Environmental considerations for this facility include air emissions from refining processes, water usage and discharge, and management of solid wastes such as spent catalysts. The refinery's proximity to the Little Missouri River and the Missouri River watershed necessitates careful water management and spill prevention measures. As part of the U.S. refining sector, Dakota Prairie Refining LLC contributes to regional fuel supply and economic activity in western North Dakota.

The refinery is situated in the semi-arid grasslands of western North Dakota, an area characterized by cold winters and hot summers. The local environment includes prairie ecosystems and agricultural lands. Refining operations can impact air quality through emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sulfur dioxide, and water resources through potential spills or discharges. The facility must comply with the Clean Air Act Refinery MACT standards and the Clean Water Act, including Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans. The Bakken region's oil boom has heightened scrutiny on flaring and groundwater protection.