Watco to serve as rail manager of Meridian's new crude-oil refinery

Watco Cos. LLC and Meridian Energy Group Inc. have signed a letter of intent calling for Watco to serve as the main rail management contractor for the Davis crude-oil refinery in Belfield, North Dakota.

Meridian has initiated preparation and grading work at its Davis Refinery site and is proceeding with final design and equipment procurement efforts, with full construction resuming in 2019, according to a joint press release

Watco will provide rail management and overall infrastructure services.

"We see a great fit with our experience and synergies from our current locations
with the future partnership of these locations and the surrounding communities,” said Rob Thrall, Watco's vice president of business development.

Meridian is developing the Davis refinery on 150 acres in Billings County, east of the Fryburg rail facility in Belfield, which is considered the heart of the Bakken Shale. Construction on the refinery began in July 2018.