How petroleum and natural gas are recovered in North Dakota:
Marathon Oil Animation of Hydraulic Fracturing: This 7-minute video explains the process of hydraulic fracturing. Video courtesy of Marathon Oil.
- Billions of barrels of oil and natural gas are trapped in rock far below the surface of the Williston Basin.
- For many years, oil companies knew about this supply but were unable to get the oil out.
- In 2006, the first successful Bakken well was drilled using a new technology called hydraulic (hi-DRAW-lik) fracturing.Hydraulic fracturing is the process of using pressurized water to fracture (break) cracks in deep underground rock so that trapped petroleum can be released. Hydraulic fracturing is also called fracking.
- Horizontal wells are drilled in order to reach the pockets of trapped oil in North Dakota.