WILLISTON - Mike Marcil is taking a $12 million chance on Williston.

The Fargo-based property developer doesn't see risk in building 72 apartment units for oil workers, but he said he had a hard time getting bankers to believe.

Marcil was in Williston on Wednesday for the first time the entire Williston Basin was brought together under one roof for what planners hope will become an annual summit to talk about opportunities and problems.

The oil basin covers most of western North Dakota, from Canada to South Dakota, and from Montana west into Dunn County.

Marcil said he sees potential, not risk, in Williston and the basin, with as many as 12,000 oil workers needed over the next four years and probably as many in other jobs to support the industry.

He'll get $1,200 a month for furnished, utilities-paid apartments with a garage big enough to house a pickup when construction winds up in March.

"Would workers rather pay that for a hotel room, or a luxury apartment?" Marcil said. "It is what it is."

There are already more than 100 people on apartment waiting lists in Williston.

Tom Rolfstad, who heads up economic development for Williston, said the 325 community and industry leaders who attended the summit shattered expectations for attendance.

A lineup of speakers on topics like housing, how to attract workers and where oil development is headed packed people in.

Rolfstad said one of the benefits of the summit was putting some light on the often secretive nature of oil development, where companies don't want to talk about their plans for fear of divulging production secrets.

Lynn Helms, who directs the State Oil and Gas Division, said he thinks development of the oil basin around Parshall could be the biggest single oil field development in 30 years in the continental U.S.

Until now, that distinction went to an area near Sidney, Mont., where the middle Bakken oil formation has exploded the past three years.

"I think it will be bigger," Helms said, referring to Bakken production in fields known as Parshall and Sanish east of Williston.

That's good news, but Parshall's Mayor Richard Bolkan said it isn't all roses there.

Bolkan said the town doesn't know what it will do about water, for example.

Oil producers are buying water from town to use in drilling, putting stress on the town's ability to keep up with its own use.

Parshall already extended its water intake pipeline twice because of the low level on Lake Sakakawea, further compounding its problems.

"We're going to need some help out there for water," Bolkan said.

Dunn County Commissioner Bob Kleeman said oil development in his country is causing some concerns, too.

There are 16 rigs in the county, oil activity everywhere, and "we're paying a price," Kleeman said.

He said 250 miles of county roads are being used daily and "used," he said, is another word for "beat up." So far, the county would have to double its road budget just to keep up with repairs, with no extra money in sight.

"This boom is so fast, we can't keep track," he said.

Helms used more or less the same description of this boom, which so far has brought 52 rigs into the state, with 10 more expected soon.

Development is only constrained by the ability to serve growing oil production with crucial elements like electrical service and enough employees.

"We can't throw the throttle wide open," Helms said. "It's a struggle to get from 55 mph to 70 mph."

Mountrail County Commissioner David Hynek said it would help if the state would advance money to impact areas and then deduct it from the counties' future share of oil revenue.

Sen. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, said the Legislature has time now to study these issues.

"We can't pass a bill today, but we can be prepared. Your input shouldn't stop, but continue," Carlson said. "The glass is not half empty in North Dakota. It's half full. We should be so blessed."

(Reach reporter Lauren Donovan at 888-303-5511 or lauren@westriv.com.)