USGS To Reassess The Bakken

Link here: USGS to reassess the Bakken; results to be known by late 2013.

In 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the Bakken formation could have up to 4.3 billion barrels of recoverable oil. But they've sent a team of geologists and geochemists back to the Bakken to study rock samples from previous drillings. They normally reassess oil formations after about 10 years, but the Bakken isn't a typical oil formation.

"It's very rare that we reassess this quickly," said Brenda Pierce, the manger of the USGS Energy Resources Program. "The Bakken is such an unusual reservoir and what is technically recoverable really has changed in a short period of time."

Pierce also said their scientists are learning new concepts from studying the Bakken.
"I mean I think it's kind of breaking the way for other potential unconventional oil reserves (and) resources," Pierce said. "I mean it really is world class."

The USGS is using the same methods to survey the Bakken so the results can be more accurately compared to previous assessments. They plan to complete the study by late 2013. 

I've always said that; it's not the production, it's the lessons learned and ground-breaking technology being tested, studied, and used in the Bakken.