The document provides information about oil and gas development in North Dakota, including hydraulic fracturing:
- Historically, oil wells were drilled wherever possible without regulation, wasting oil and gas resources. North Dakota now regulates well spacing and development.
- North Dakota expects to drill between 1,100-2,700 new wells per year, supporting thousands of jobs and economic activity for 10-20 years as over 26,000 new wells are developed.
- Hydraulic fracturing is necessary to produce oil and gas from tight shale formations like the Bakken, and North Dakota has regulated all aspects of fracturing for decades to protect water and the environment.
1. 600 East Boulevard Ave. - Dept 405 Bismarck, ND 58505-0840 (701) 328-8020 (701) 328-8000 North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources http://www.state.nd.us/ndgs http://www.oilgas.nd.gov
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4. 100 years ago wells were drilled wherever they would fit (rule of capture), and were not spaced on the basis of geology and engineering as is currently done by the North Dakota Industrial Commission. This wasted a great deal of the oil and gas.
13. 2,600 Bakken and Three Forks wells drilled and completed 26,000+ more new wells possible in thermal mature area P90=5 BBO – P50=7 BBO – P10=11 BBO (billion barrels of oil) P90 P50 P10
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22. Each hydraulic fracturing stage creates hundreds of fractures extending several hundred feet from wellbore
56. The future looks promising for sustained Bakken/Three Forks development Cap and trade proposals in congress could reduce activity an estimated 35-40% EPA regulation of hydraulic fracturing could halt drilling activity for 18-24 months production decline of 25-30% Current administration budget contains tax rule changes that could reduce activity an estimated 35-50% Federal regulations require 6 -12 months longer for drilling and surface use approval
