Bakken Used As Model Around the World

Article in today's Bismarck Tribune: technology and processes in the Bakken are being used around the world.

Companies say they are aiming to apply technology learned from the Bakken to geologically similar shales in China, France, Poland, Canada and in some U.S. states, including Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. Companies already have used Bakken technology to successfully tap the rich Three Forks-Sanish formation, directly below the Bakken. 

"We've become the world research center for unconventional plays," said Lynn Helms, Director ND Department of Mineral Resources, who recently hosted a contingent of Polish officials sent to study North Dakota's oil patch.

Initially developed to exploit gas shales, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing were first used in North Dakota early in the decade. They flopped.

 Some other tidbits in the article:

Marathon said the company has invested more than $1 billion in the Bakken and intends to invest another $2 billion.

Meanwhile, not to be outdone Hess has invested more than $1 billion in developing its Bakken holdings and plans to invest another $1 billion annually over the next five years.

The time needed to drill a well in the Bakken has dropped from 55 days four years ago to about 20 days now.