Bakken formation, Geological formation in Montana and North Dakota, United States.
The Bakken Formation extends across 200,000 square miles beneath Montana and North Dakota, containing three distinct layers of shale and dolomite rock formations.
The formation received its name from Henry O. Bakken, a Tioga farmer who owned the land where geologist J.W. Nordquist first documented it in 1953.
The formation's oil production transformed North Dakota into the second largest petroleum-producing state, reshaping local communities and economic structures.
Extraction from the formation occurs through horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing at depths of approximately two miles below the surface.
The formation contains an estimated 24 billion barrels of oil reserves, with current technology allowing access to approximately 4.3 billion barrels.
Location: Montana
Location: North Dakota
Location: Saskatchewan
Location: Manitoba
GPS coordinates: 48.39290,-102.93990
Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:19
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