Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Fact Sheet 2013–3013

National Assessment of Oil and Gas Fact Sheet

Assessment of Undiscovered Oil Resources in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin Province, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 2013

By Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Kristen R. Marra, Troy A. Cook, Ronald R. Charpentier, Donald L. Gautier, Debra K. Higley, Timothy R. Klett, Michael D. Lewan, Paul G. Lillis, Christopher J. Schenk, Marilyn E. Tennyson, and Katherine J. Whidden

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (4.77 MB)Abstract

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered volumes of 7.4 billion barrels of oil, 6.7 trillion cubic feet of associated/dissolved natural gas, and 0.53 billion barrels of natural gas liquids in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations in the Williston Basin Province of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

First posted April 30, 2013

For additional information contact:
Director, Central Energy Resources Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Box 25046, MS-939
Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225-0046
http://energy.usgs.gov/

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.


Suggested citation:

Gaswirth, S.B., Marra, K.R., Cook, T.A, Charpentier, R.R., Gautier, D.L., Higley, D.K., Klett, T.R., Lewan, M.D., Lillis, P.G., Schenk, C.J., Tennyson, M.E., and Whidden, K.J., 2013, Assessment of undiscovered oil resources in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin Province, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 2013: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2013–3013, 4 p., https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2013/3013/.



Contents

Introduction

Geologic Summary of the Bakken and Three Forks Formations

Geologic Model for Assessment

Assessment Units

Bakken Formation

Three Forks Formation

Resource Summary

Acknowledgments

References Cited


Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/fs/2013/3013/index.html
Page Contact Information: GS Pubs Web Contact
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 29-Nov-2016 17:48:11 EST