A Reader Requests Feedback -- RE: The Bakken "Kitchen" -- August 2, 2023

Locator: 45304B. 

This is really cool.

Someone paying very close attention is noting something that might be new in the Bakken.

Two comments from same reader with regard to "Pumped -- The Long Creek Unit" --

• could someone confirm Continental is now drilling the high TOC lower Bakken shale actually?

• could anyone confirm if Continental CLR is drilling here in the Lower Bakken shale actually? latest data shows companies start to drill the forbidden high TOC shale kitchen now 

So, if any reader can shed any light on this, it would be much appreciated.

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To Continue

First: a new link has been added to the blog -- the North Dakota Stratigraphic Column.

One can click on the graphic at the link and enlarge it.

If I recall correctly, when we first started talking about the various "Bakken" formations, there were the following:

The Bakken:

• the upper Bakken
• the middle Bakken -- shale oil 
• the lower Bakken

And then the Three Forks:

• Three Forks first bench -- shale oil 
• Three Forks second bench -- shale oil 
• Three Forks third bench -- shale oil 
• Three Forks fourth bench -- shale oil 

Now, three graphics from this source: 

If by "kitchen," the reader means the same thing as that noted above, then the quick answer seems to be, "yes, CLR is now drilling the 'kitchen.'"

But, CLR and other operators have been drilling this area since the beginning of the boom.

I'm wondering if the reader is asking about a specific "sub-formation with the Bakken / Three Forks.

I'll start going back to the CLR file reports from LCU wells and see what pops up.

My hunch is that the reader is asking a "deeper" question. No pun intended.

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Miscellaneous

Other screenshots of the ND "strat column":