oil experts: significance of Bakken field

[greenman3610]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24057222/

The U.S. Geological Survey called it the largest continuous oil accumulation it has ever assessed.

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.

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heard this discussed at a peak oil conference.
experts pooh poohed the significance of this field.

[dipsydoodle]

1. pressurized fluid

aka water. So what happens to the water when it comes out again - massive pollution I'd say.

[liberal N proud]

2. What's a little pollution for the sake of a few drops of oil?

It's not their water.


:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[newfie11]

3. This type of pumping is being done in eastern Wyoming

A Canadian company started this several years ago near Newcastle Wyoming. The problem with this is if there is a fracture or crack in the rock then it is possible to contaminate groundwater with oil. Thus neighboring water well could potentially be deemed unusable. It can also work the other way by leaking water into other oil wells not being pumped this way. Not all ground is suitable for this type of drilling.

[liberal N proud]

4. Unbelievable

And just think, they are probably doing it on federal land using subsidies and getting free water.

[newfie11]

6. I don't know about all of them

Some of these are spent wells that are on private property. Of course if the land owner doesn't own the mineral rights whoever does (oil company) makes the profit. There was oil left in them but until the price went up it was to expensive to remove using the water method.

[MadHound]

5. Oh, about 430 days worth of US oil consumption

4.3 billion barrels is quite small when you consider that the US consumes 10,000,000 barrels every single day.

This is just another attempt to keep the US oil addiction going strong.

[elizfeelinggreat]

7. don't forget those profits

This administration knows how hard it is for those (hardworking, long suffering) stockholders. :sarcasm: