Huge Oil Reservoir May Lie Under Northern Plains
Thursday , April 10, 2008
BISMARCK, N.D. —
The government estimates up to 4.3 billion barrels of oil can be recovered from the Bakken shale formation in North Dakota and Montana, using current technology.
The U.S. Geological Survey calls it the largest continuous oil accumulation it has ever assessed.
An assessment by USGS in 1999 found the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge had 10.3 billion barrels of recoverable oil, said Brenda Pierce, a geologist for the agency
The Bakken Formation encompasses some 25,000 square miles in North Dakota, Montana, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
About two-thirds of the acreage is in western North Dakota, where the oil is trapped in a thin layer of dense rock nearly two miles beneath the surface.
Companies use pressurized fluid and sand to break pores in the rock and prop them open to recover the oil.
Donald Kessel, vice president of Houston-based Murex Petroleum Corp., said he believes the Geological Survey's assessment of how much oil can be recovered in the Bakken may be a little on the high side.
"That's a lot of zeros," Kessel said Thursday.
Kessel said his company was the first to get a producing well in the Bakken in North Dakota three years ago. The company now has about 20 producing wells.
The report released Thursday by USGS was done at the request of Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., over the past 18 months.
A study by the USGS in 1995 found 151 million barrels of oil could be recovered from the Bakken using technology at that time.
"This is great news," Dorgan said of the new report. "This is 25 times the amount of the previous assessment."
Well, do we go for it? I say YES!
Full Version: HUGE US OIL RESERVE
I am with you Makem! We should get our fuel from our own resources if available. I bet some tree-huggers stop this good thing that could happen!
| QUOTE (GinaGirl81 @ Apr 11 2008, 09:30 AM) |
| I am with you Makem! We should get our fuel from our own resources if available. I bet some tree-huggers stop this good thing that could happen! |
I'm no tree hugging birken stock wearer let me tell you. I also believe that we should be independent from foreign oil.
However, I really don't want to be playing catch in a park with my nephew and have to run around an oil pump.
Why can't we use solar and water technology. Let's get off our dependence of oil not just foreign oil!!!
QUOTE (B-man @ Apr 13 2008, 12:18 AM)
| QUOTE (GinaGirl81 @ Apr 11 2008, 09:30 AM) |
| I am with you Makem! We should get our fuel from our own resources if available. I bet some tree-huggers stop this good thing that could happen! |
I'm no tree hugging birken stock wearer let me tell you. I also believe that we should be independent from foreign oil.
However, I really don't want to be playing catch in a park with my nephew and have to run around an oil pump.
Why can't we use solar and water technology. Let's get off our dependence of oil not just foreign oil!!!
I'm with you buddy, but what about the oil needed to keep the engines running? Even if engines ran on water they would still need oil of some sort to keep things lubricated.
Did I say lubricated?
There are other kinds of oil than fossil fuel, Det 
I know I recently read an article that discussed the possible use of algae as a source of fuel; I'm pretty sure it said that algae creates oil of some sort. Then there's the various oils you cook with, and probably a number of other kinds as well.
And even if we were to use fossil fuel oil for engine lubrication, if we stopped using gasoline as fuel I imagine it would allow us to cut down enormously on our consumption.
I know I recently read an article that discussed the possible use of algae as a source of fuel; I'm pretty sure it said that algae creates oil of some sort. Then there's the various oils you cook with, and probably a number of other kinds as well.And even if we were to use fossil fuel oil for engine lubrication, if we stopped using gasoline as fuel I imagine it would allow us to cut down enormously on our consumption.
| QUOTE (Montrovant @ Apr 13 2008, 09:09 AM) |
| ... if we stopped using gasoline as fuel I imagine it would allow us to cut down enormously on our consumption. |
Took the words right out of my mouth Mont.
But if we used our own fuel in the meantime I am sure that it would be less expensive and give us enough time to find alternative fuels. We don't need to destroy our economy with something as simple as fuel prices. And that is whats happening with the far left bitching to save animals.
QUOTE (GinaGirl81 @ Apr 14 2008, 05:04 PM)
| QUOTE |
| But if we used our own fuel in the meantime I am sure that it would be less expensive and give us enough time to find alternative fuels. |
Valid point
| QUOTE |
| We don't need to destroy our economy with something as simple as fuel prices. |
What about destroying earth?
| QUOTE |
| And that is whats happening with the far left bitching to save animals. |
I don't care what side of the aisle I am on; I love to see animals in the wild, and I love to take my daughter to see them too and not just in a zoo.
I just want to add that animals have been going extinct well before man ever walked the Earth. And no,.. they didn't all disappear from a meteor falling from the sky either. 
| QUOTE (Detmurds @ Apr 16 2008, 03:23 AM) |
| I just want to add that animals have been going extinct well before man ever walked the Earth. And no,.. they didn't all disappear from a meteor falling from the sky either. |
This is not really the best attitude to have Murds! Don't be a butt-hole! Oh, please don't ban me! Ha-ha!
Can someone please give me some Rep points for standing up to the man that runs this site?
Butt-hole? Funny yes, but please maintain.
One problem I always have with these kinds of discussions is that I know I not only don't have enough information to decide if drilling somewhere would be worth any possible environmental damage, but I doubt I have the knowledge to make a good decision even with all the information. I don't know much of anything about the science or math involved. So it then becomes a question of who to trust, and I expect both sides have an agenda that doesn't mesh with my own feelings. It's pretty frustrating if I think on it too much 
What is really happening here is those who oppose the collection of our own resources are the ones who keep up dependent on other countries. It is very simple if you ask me.
| QUOTE (Mad_Italian @ Apr 22 2008, 09:48 PM) |
| What is really happening here is those who oppose the collection of our own resources are the ones who keep up dependent on other countries. It is very simple if you ask me. |
You are DEAD ON in that comment! Outstanding post, ...funny avatar!
QUOTE (Detmurds @ Apr 24 2008, 03:36 AM)
| QUOTE (Mad_Italian @ Apr 22 2008, 09:48 PM) |
| What is really happening here is those who oppose the collection of our own resources are the ones who keep up dependent on other countries. It is very simple if you ask me. |
You are DEAD ON in that comment! Outstanding post, ...funny avatar!
I agree!
Thanks Det, thanks B-man. I just thought it was funny so I had to use it. I am not a fan of Hitler although he is an interesting character to read about.
I am getting tired of these gas prices! Please-somebody drill our own oil NOW!
I linked this article on another site when a discussion came up about gas/oil. If it's true, the concern over our gas prices might be seen from a different perspective. We may not have it that badly after all.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/01/news/inter...sion=2008050109
I'm not saying the prices of gas aren't a pain, just that compared to quite a few other nations, this article makes them seem fairly tame. I also realize there are many factors involved in the different prices, I'm not trying to prove an argument or anything like that. I just found this very interesting and at least somewhat pertinent to this discussion.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/01/news/inter...sion=2008050109
I'm not saying the prices of gas aren't a pain, just that compared to quite a few other nations, this article makes them seem fairly tame. I also realize there are many factors involved in the different prices, I'm not trying to prove an argument or anything like that. I just found this very interesting and at least somewhat pertinent to this discussion.
That is just like CNN by trying to sugar-coat a turd! ...In the U.K. they are paying a lot, but if I wanted to live like a Brit, I would move there!
Too many Dems are keeping us dependent on mid east oil. I am sick and tired of it because our American oil companies are willing to drill our own oil on our own land. This would make us self sufficient. These Dems are keeping us at the mercy of the Opec nations not for "environmental reasons" as they claim. They do it to make it look like President Bush's fault,...which it is not because they can look in the mirror and see who's fault it really is.
Also,...when the hell will the left, and it's left wing media admit the failure of thier big Ethanol dream?
Too many Dems are keeping us dependent on mid east oil. I am sick and tired of it because our American oil companies are willing to drill our own oil on our own land. This would make us self sufficient. These Dems are keeping us at the mercy of the Opec nations not for "environmental reasons" as they claim. They do it to make it look like President Bush's fault,...which it is not because they can look in the mirror and see who's fault it really is.
Also,...when the hell will the left, and it's left wing media admit the failure of thier big Ethanol dream?
Environmentalists have tried to stop things like new drilling before Bush was ever in office I think Everything is not about the current administration, or the current crop of Dems vs Repubs.
I don't know if it was accurate, but didn't someone post some info recently showing that we import the most oil from Canada? I'm not saying we don't rely on mid-east oil, but that's certainly not all of it.
Again, I don't know how to determine the accuracy, but I've heard multiple times that the projected amounts of oil from untapped US reserves would NOT be enough to make us self-sufficient. That our consumption is so great we would continue to need to import even if we drilled in new places.
There is a lot of simplistic rhetoric from both sides on this issue (what else is new?), but little in the way of verifiable facts that I've seen. Where are the studies showing how the drilling will harm the environment? Or that it won't? Rather than angry statements that Bush is in the oil companies' pockets, or that the left is blaming Bush rather than taking appropriate action, I'd like to see the studies that show we have the oil reserves needed to become self-sufficient. I'd like to see the environmentalists who claim drilling will be a disaster show the studies used to reach this conclusion. I'd LOVE to see some kind of consensus one way or another, but since I don't think that will happen, I expect I'll continue to remain on the fence on this issue. And I will continue to believe that the real solution is to stop depending so strongly on oil for our power needs. Much as I hate to bring up France as an example, I've heard quite often that they use a majority of nuclear power for their electricity, and do so safely. If the French can do it, we can!
Everything is not about the current administration, or the current crop of Dems vs Repubs.I don't know if it was accurate, but didn't someone post some info recently showing that we import the most oil from Canada? I'm not saying we don't rely on mid-east oil, but that's certainly not all of it.
Again, I don't know how to determine the accuracy, but I've heard multiple times that the projected amounts of oil from untapped US reserves would NOT be enough to make us self-sufficient. That our consumption is so great we would continue to need to import even if we drilled in new places.
There is a lot of simplistic rhetoric from both sides on this issue (what else is new?), but little in the way of verifiable facts that I've seen. Where are the studies showing how the drilling will harm the environment? Or that it won't? Rather than angry statements that Bush is in the oil companies' pockets, or that the left is blaming Bush rather than taking appropriate action, I'd like to see the studies that show we have the oil reserves needed to become self-sufficient. I'd like to see the environmentalists who claim drilling will be a disaster show the studies used to reach this conclusion. I'd LOVE to see some kind of consensus one way or another, but since I don't think that will happen, I expect I'll continue to remain on the fence on this issue. And I will continue to believe that the real solution is to stop depending so strongly on oil for our power needs. Much as I hate to bring up France as an example, I've heard quite often that they use a majority of nuclear power for their electricity, and do so safely. If the French can do it, we can!
| QUOTE (Montrovant @ May 3 2008, 01:02 PM) |
| Environmentalists have tried to stop things like new drilling before Bush was ever in office I think Everything is not about the current administration, or the current crop of Dems vs Repubs. I don't know if it was accurate, but didn't someone post some info recently showing that we import the most oil from Canada? I'm not saying we don't rely on mid-east oil, but that's certainly not all of it. Again, I don't know how to determine the accuracy, but I've heard multiple times that the projected amounts of oil from untapped US reserves would NOT be enough to make us self-sufficient. That our consumption is so great we would continue to need to import even if we drilled in new places. There is a lot of simplistic rhetoric from both sides on this issue (what else is new?), but little in the way of verifiable facts that I've seen. Where are the studies showing how the drilling will harm the environment? Or that it won't? Rather than angry statements that Bush is in the oil companies' pockets, or that the left is blaming Bush rather than taking appropriate action, I'd like to see the studies that show we have the oil reserves needed to become self-sufficient. I'd like to see the environmentalists who claim drilling will be a disaster show the studies used to reach this conclusion. I'd LOVE to see some kind of consensus one way or another, but since I don't think that will happen, I expect I'll continue to remain on the fence on this issue. And I will continue to believe that the real solution is to stop depending so strongly on oil for our power needs. Much as I hate to bring up France as an example, I've heard quite often that they use a majority of nuclear power for their electricity, and do so safely. If the French can do it, we can! |
True Mont, and I think it was Det who made most of those points too
but I can only ask then what does OPEC's raising the cost of a barrel of oil matter? That seems to be the biggie here.