Workers at a well in the Bakken
Rising Bakken gas output an opportunity, not a threat
The formation’s gas-to-oil ratio is set to keep rising, but new markets and midstream plans mean infrastructure constraints may not be an issue
Bakken gas production has grown significantly over the past several years despite relatively stagnant oil output from the formation due to a rising gas-to-oil ratio (GOR). “New wells being drilled in the Bakken are not yielding more gas than prior vintages,” Amber McCullagh, vice-president of midstream research at consultancy Rystad Energy, told Petroleum Economist. “On a single-well basis, Bakken gas-oil ratios have been stable over the last 6–8 years, with a new well producing 25—30% as much gas as it does oil in its first year of production.” “However, each individual well, in the Bakken and other plays, sees gas comprise a rising share of its wellhead volumes over time. In the Bakken, wh
Also in this section
17 January 2025
Supply glut or supply deficit are both plausible outlooks, with tariffs and sanctions among the key risks that could swing the pendulum
17 January 2025
European Commission is on its way to meeting clean energy goals, but energy security concerns and higher costs may give it second thoughts
17 January 2025
The CEO of QatarEnergy has highlighted the potential impact a new EU directive could have on energy exports to the continent
16 January 2025
The government’s resource nationalism is aggravating the NOC’s debt position and could yet worsen if also tasked with the decarbonisation shift
