Summary

Overall, the significant advancements that have taken place in drilling and completion operations in the Bakken over the past five years are helping lead the U.S. on a path toward energy independence. Wells in the Bakken and all other major shale areas of the U.S. are being drilled and completed faster and producing more oil and gas than ever before.

In addition, these advancements are helping to significantly reduce impacts on the environment, while the overall success of the Bakken continues to generate jobs and improve our economy. More innovation and faster application of even newer techniques are coming in the very near future.

American companies and universities along with our government’s national energy laboratories are all working to propel the rapid rate of change and ensure that our economy has the energy advantages it needs.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory in Tulsa, Okla., is devoted to fossil energy research and enabling domestic fossil fuels to economically power America in an environmentally sound manner.

Many universities have programs focused on developing cleaner, more efficient energy while protecting the environment. The University of North Dakota is one example with its Energy & Environmental Research Center.

American companies are also taking part in the effort. Brine Chemistry Solutions, for example, created The Shale Water Research Center, aimed at making hydraulic fracturing more efficient, while “maintaining a zero or net positive environmental footprint”, according to their website.

Changes are taking place across the industry and our nation to create a brighter energy future for America.

By Heather Siegel – Denver, CO

hsiegel@dtcenergygroup.com



Heather Siegel, assistant director of marketing at DTC Energy Group, Inc., is also a meteorologist with a degree from the University of Oklahoma and member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Prior to joining DTC Energy Group, she worked as a meteorologist and online journalist for AccuWeather. Some of her previous articles and research include long-range seasonal forecasts for the United States and Europe, as well as outlooks on the effects of hurricanes on oil and gas prices. In her position at DTC Energy Group, Ms. Siegel is continuing her passion for forecasting and trends by writing about the oil and gas industry.