Hess receives go-ahead for Bakken EOR
US independent has been given approval by North Dakota regulators to proceed with an EOR pilot project that it hopes will help boost recoveries in the Bakken shale play
The North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) has approved an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project proposed by Hess for the Bakken Formation shale play. The US firm hopes that the pilot project will result in improved productivity from a prolific region—estimated to hold 167bn bl of oil in place—where only a small proportion of hydrocarbons is currently being recovered. EOR is well-established in conventional formations, including parts of the Permian Basin where vertical drilling still takes place. However, it is still a relatively new technique in unconventional plays, and Hess’ project marks another step in efforts to apply the process to shale and tight formations. “EOR has yet to find wi
Also in this section
5 December 2025
Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
