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
13 March 2026
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
12 March 2026
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
12 March 2026
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth
11 March 2026
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy
