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Bakken Shale

Bakken Shale ImageThe Bakken shale is primarily an oil play. It straddles the US border with Canada and runs through two states – North Dakota and Montana – and two Canadian provinces – Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The US Geological Survey estimates there are 3.65 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil in the Bakken, which would make it the largest oil field in the US outside Alaska. The Bakken is located in the Williston Basin, but not all of the basin includes the Bakken.

The Sanish-Three Forks area is located below the Bakken shale zone and is potentially another new oil reservoir. Brigham Exploration Co. has been active in this area. Natural gas is also found in some parts of the Bakken. The USGS estimates there is about 2.0 trillion cubic feet of gas and another 150 million barrels of natural gas liquids. Major players in the Bakken include EOG Resources, Continental Resources, and Enerplus Resources.

Bakken Shale Map

Bakken Shale News

Oneok cancels Bakken Crude Express Pipeline

Nov 27, 2012

Oneok Partners LP reported it will not build its proposed Bakken Crude Express Pipeline, having received insufficient long-term transportation commitments during the project’s open season, concluded Nov. 20.

Keystone XL decision may be first policy test in second Obama term

Nov 26, 2012

US President Barack Obama's decision on the proposed Keystone XL crude oil pipeline project could be the first major policy test in the president's second term, American Petroleum Institute officials said.

Continental Resources to buy more Bakken formation assets

Nov 8, 2012

Continental Resources Inc. has agreed to buy certain Bakken formation producing and undeveloped properties for $650 million. The property includes leasehold of 120,000 net acres, primarily in the North Dakota counties of Divide and Williams.

Inergy Midstream to acquire COLT oil hub in Bakken formation

Nov 5, 2012

Inergy Midstream LP, Kansas City, agreed to a $425 million purchase of Sugar Land, Tex.-based Rangeland Energy LLC, which owns and operates the COLT open-access crude oil rail terminal, storage, and pipeline complex to handle unconventional Bakken oil production near Epping, ND, in Williams County.

Avoiding US oil resource surprises requires enhanced information system

Nov 5, 2012

This article urges action by government or the petroleum community to inform policymakers better (and confuse them less) about two energy information basics

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