FARGO (KFGO-AM) - KFGO News has learned that the FBI is working to stop the theft of intellectual property and technology from petroleum companies in the North Dakota Oil Patch.
Richard Thornton, the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge in Minneapolis, says a combination of foreign workers, large amounts of money and "cutting edge technology" has created what he calls a "national security threat."
Thornton said he can’t discuss too many specifics, but he said one concern is the technology used to drill and gain access to the oil. “Due to the confluence of foreign workers, the significant amount of money that’s flowing through there, the cutting-edge technology; those are all things that create concerns, both on counter proliferation, counter espionage, transfer of technology and a variety of other things,” Thornton said.
When asked whether spies are working in the Oil Patch, Thornton responded “There are people who would like to gain access to our technology.” He says there are workers in the Oil Patch from around the world.
Thornton says technology theft is a "constant threat" for any industry because it's easier for a thief to gain access and steal it than develop it on their own.