WTI Crude--
Brent Crude--
Natural Gas--
ND Rig Count--
WTI Crude--
Brent Crude--
Natural Gas--
ND Rig Count--
BAKKEN WIRE
** USGS Estimates 340 Tcf Recoverable Gas in Bossier Formation - Bakken Wire
Pipeline & Infrastructure

** USGS Estimates 340 Tcf Recoverable Gas in Bossier Formation

** Federal assessment identifies significant undiscovered resources in Bakken's deeper layer, potentially expanding region's recoverable reserves

Bakken Wire Staff·🌅Afternoon Wire·

BODY: The U.S. Geological Survey has identified an estimated 340 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable gas resources within the Bossier Formation, North Dakota's Bakken shale play, according to data from industry publication Rigzone.

The assessment published May 8, 2026 represents the first federal evaluation of the Bossier since 1995. The announcement follows the USGS's 2021 update which estimated the Bakken's Three Forks formation held 4.3 billion barrels of undiscovered oil. The Bossier Formation lies stratigraphically below the primary Bakken shale targets.

"Significant amounts of gas in the Bossier Formation have been known for decades," USGS Director Ned Mamula stated in the agency's release. " new assessment incorporates updated geological data from recent drilling activity to provide a technically recoverable resource estimate.

The assessment does not measure economic viability or current commercially recoverable reserves. Resource estimates represent potential volumes that could be produced using existing technology, regardless of economic or accessibility constraints. Development in the deeper Bossier would face distinct technical and economic challenges compared to the primary Bakken and Three Forks zones.

Industry activity in the Bakken has focused on the Bakken and Three Forks formations. The Bossier has seen limited targeted drilling, though some operators have reported gas shows in deeper wells. The USGS estimate provides a foundational resource appraisal that may inform future exploration strategies should market conditions or technological advancements improve the play's economics.

The Bakken region remains a cornerstone of U.S. tight oil production, with North Dakota's output consistently exceeding 1 million barrels per day. Federal resource assessments help quantify the nation's long-term hydrocarbon potential.

TAGS: bakken-shale, bossier-formation, usgs, resource-assessment, north-dakota, natural-gas, recoverable-resources

**

Source

** Assessment data from Rigzone article "USGS Sees 340 Tcf of Recoverable Gas in Bossier Formation," published May 8, 2024.

** bakken-shalebossier-formationusgsresource-assessmentnorth-dakotanatural-gasrecoverable-resources

Share this article

PostShareShareEmail

Related Articles

Pipeline & Infrastructure

Canada Moves to Fast-Track Oil Pipeline for Asian Markets

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is invoking new powers to fast-track regulatory approval for a major new oil pipeline, according to a report from Rigzone. The move aims to expand Canada's access to Asian crude markets. While the specific pipeline project was not named in the report, the push for increased export capacity from Canada represents a significant shift in North American energy infrastructure policy. For Bakken operators, the development carries both competitive and logistical considerations. Increased pipeline capacity from Western Canada could influence crude pricing benchmarks across the continent, including the Bakken's own local price at Clearbrook, Minnesota. Greater volumes of Canadian crude reaching global markets can affect the supply-demand balance for similar light sweet crudes produced in the Williston Basin. Historically, pipeline constraints have limited Canadian crude to primarily U.S. Midwest markets, keeping a lid on prices. A new high-capacity outlet to Asia could alter that dynamic, potentially...

☀️Morning Wire·Oct 4
Canadian Prime Minister Fast-Tracks New Oil Pipeline for Asian Markets - Bakken Wire
Pipeline & Infrastructure

Canadian Prime Minister Fast-Tracks New Oil Pipeline for Asian Markets

Prime Minister Mark Carney has invoked new powers to expedite regulatory approval for a new, high-capacity oil pipeline, according to a report from Rigzone. The move aims to expand Canada's access to Asian markets. The development, reported on October 2, signals a renewed push by Canada to move its crude oil to West Coast export terminals. For Bakken operators in North Dakota, new Canadian pipeline capacity can influence regional market dynamics. Increased pipeline takeaway capacity from Western Canada can affect the flow of competing crudes, including Bakken barrels, through existing midcontinent pipeline systems. Changes in these flows can impact local basis differentials—the difference between the price of Bakken crude at the wellhead and the U.S. benchmark price. While the Rigzone report did not specify a pipeline route or capacity, any major new Canadian export conduit could alter crude oil logistics in North America. Bakken crude often moves to market via...

🔆Midday Wire·Oct 3
Pipeline & Infrastructure

Canada Moves to Fast-Track Oil Pipeline for Asian Market Access

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expediting regulatory approval for a new, high-capacity oil pipeline intended to expand Canada's access to Asian markets, according to a report from Rigzone. The report, published October 2, stated Carney has invoked new powers to fast-track the project. The development highlights ongoing efforts by North American producers to reach lucrative overseas markets beyond domestic and traditional refining hubs. Increased Canadian export capacity to Asia could influence global crude pricing benchmarks and shipping routes. For operators in North Dakota's Bakken formation, new Canadian pipeline capacity represents a shifting competitive landscape. Bakken crude, which primarily moves to market via pipelines, rail, and truck, often competes with Canadian heavy and light crude grades in the U.S. Midwest and Gulf Coast refining markets. Enhanced Canadian access to Asian buyers could, over time, alter flow patterns and competition for pipeline space within the continent. However, the specific impact on...

🌅Afternoon Wire·Oct 2