Shale boom draws in players to test Montana's landscape

On the hunt: Montana Petroleum Association's executive director Dave Galt said there has been a push to explore the state's shales for oil

By TOM DARIN LISKEY Poplar Montana

 10 January 2013 23:59 GMT

MONTANA is recognised for its natural beauty, but a new attraction has risen in the last five years in the shape of the oil shale boom.

The oil and gas industry’s rush to the Bakken shale formation in neighbouring North Dakota has made that state the second-largest oil producer in the US.

Montana’s fortunes have failed to shine as bright, but the local industry is keen to point out that the state holds a hefty chunk of the Bakken in its sparsely populated northeastern quadrant.

Development in the play has ensured that Montana obtains much of its oil production — estimated to be about 25 million barrels of oil per year — from the Williston basin, which crosses the…

Become an Upstream member!

Membership includes a subscription to our weekly newspaper providing in-depth news from the energy industry, plus full-access to this site and its archives. Still not convinced? Try our free trial.

Already a member?

Login

Upstream share price index