Does the Bakken Formation contain more oil than Saudi Arabia?
Probably not. In 2000, the USGS assessed undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in Saudi Arabia at 87 billion barrels (USGS 2000 World Petroleum Assessment) compared to a mean estimate of 4.3 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous oil in the Bakken and Three Forks formations (USGS 2021 Bakken and Three Forks Assessment). In addition, Saudi Arabia contains even more oil that has already been found, which is reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration as current proven oil reserves.
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A resource evaluation of the Bakken Formation (Upper Devonian and Lower Mississippian) continuous oil accumulation, Williston Basin, North Dakota and Montana A resource evaluation of the Bakken Formation (Upper Devonian and Lower Mississippian) continuous oil accumulation, Williston Basin, North Dakota and Montana
The Upper Devonian and Lower Mississippian Bakken Formation in the United States portion of the Williston Basin is both the source and the reservoir for a continuous oil accumulation - in effect a single very large field - underlying approximately 17,800 mi2 (46,100 km2) of North Dakota and Montana. Within this area, the Bakken Formation continuous oil accumulation is not significantly...
Authors
J. W. Schmoker
Developing an oil generation model for resource assessment of the Bakken Formation, U.S. portion of the Williston Basin Developing an oil generation model for resource assessment of the Bakken Formation, U.S. portion of the Williston Basin
No abstract available.
Authors
K. B. Krystinik, Ronald R. Charpentier
Related
A resource evaluation of the Bakken Formation (Upper Devonian and Lower Mississippian) continuous oil accumulation, Williston Basin, North Dakota and Montana A resource evaluation of the Bakken Formation (Upper Devonian and Lower Mississippian) continuous oil accumulation, Williston Basin, North Dakota and Montana
The Upper Devonian and Lower Mississippian Bakken Formation in the United States portion of the Williston Basin is both the source and the reservoir for a continuous oil accumulation - in effect a single very large field - underlying approximately 17,800 mi2 (46,100 km2) of North Dakota and Montana. Within this area, the Bakken Formation continuous oil accumulation is not significantly...
Authors
J. W. Schmoker
Developing an oil generation model for resource assessment of the Bakken Formation, U.S. portion of the Williston Basin Developing an oil generation model for resource assessment of the Bakken Formation, U.S. portion of the Williston Basin
No abstract available.
Authors
K. B. Krystinik, Ronald R. Charpentier
Updated Date: July 24, 2025