Short Update on Technology Being Used in the Bakken -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Although this link is to SeekingAlpha.com for investors, even non-investors interested in the Bakken will benefit from reading the opening couple of paragraphs:

In the past decade, four innovative technologies have evolved to help make such drilling more accurate–and profitable. One is 3D imaging for locating deposits and directing drills.

Another is swell packers, simple packets first used in 2001 in Norway that swell when they meet hydrocarbon molecules, which helps isolate oil deposits deep underground, replacing the costly and often ineffective use of cement.

The third is “perf and plug,” which controls how a company fractures rock by pre-fracturing between swell packets, which can better direct subsequent fracturing.

The fourth technology is the basis for my stock recommendation this issue. It’s ceramic proppant. Proppant does just what it sounds like it does–it props open rock. Once rock is fractured, usually by a controlled explosive device, the rock literally needs to be propped open to allow the flow and pooling of the target liquid to occur.

So, it was the Norwegians that had a role in swell packers; I'm impressed.