North Dakota's Williston Basin and Bakken Shale

According to attendees at the 18th Williston Basin Petroleum Conference and Expo, western North Dakota expects to see more action and increased employment. Williston Mayor Ward Koesser believes Williston will need to double efforts to prepare for the onslaught of new workers while providing long-term sustainability.

North Dakota Sees Big Jump in Oil and Gas Activity

The state Department of Mineral Resources reports that North Dakota's drilling rig count climbed by 25 percent -- bringing the number to 127 drilling rigs in western North Dakota -- in three months, tripling the 40 it had last July. The growth results from crude prices climbing, investors moving away from offshore drilling because of the Gulf of Mexico spill and low natural gas prices.

In April, 4,810 active oil wells in North Dakota produced 284,000 barrels of oil daily. The state is now the fourth in the nation in oil production.

Companies in Williston Basin

Samson Oil & Gas reports a successful drilling of its third Middle Bakken well in Williams County of North Dakota, the deepest part of Williston Basin. Using conservative estimates, Samson says it expects to produce 6,000 barrels of oil per month.

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. focuses on the Bakken and Three Forks Plays of Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. The exploration and production company expects to see 18 spudded wells in 2010.

Questar's board of directors has approved the spinoff its oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) and midstream field services businesses. Because of the company's focus in two different areas, it has decided to split into two companies. One company is a regulated utility with conservative returns while the other is a natural gas producer with higher and more volatile returns.

The company continues its work on its 80,000-plus leased acres in North Dakota's Bakken Shale play. The E&P services company plans to operate one drilling rig in Bakken for 2010 until it collects enough inventory of drilling permits to start a second drilling rig. Questar E&P has a working interest in 27 active wells in the Bakken play.

Uni Oil and Gas Partners Ltd. uses a low risk strategy in selecting established areas for leasing primarily in Barnett Shale in Permian and Fort Worth Basins in Texas. Bakken play has captured its interest.
Canada's NuLoch Resources Inc. has 65,000 net acres after recently acquiring underdeveloped acres in Burke County, North Dakota in Bakken and Three Forks Sanish. The company plans to add 24 wells drilling for conventional oil in 2010.