And Bakken pales before the potential yield from CO & UT shales. 'Course, we have to get the politicians' and environazis' thumbs out of their bum before we'll see much production from those shales.
The Bakken Shales have been misnamed. Production does not come from the upper or lower Bakken shales. It comes primarily from the Middle Bakken, which is mostly Sandstones and Siltstones. Most wells are currently being drilled in the lower shale portion to take advantage of the non-permeable nature of shale, then fracking, bringing the oil bearing mid-bakken to the well bore, which optimizes production.
It cost more to drill this way, because of the lower “P” rates but pays off in the long run with a higher yield. The only set back is the average recovery rates of the formation are low. But new technology and methods are continually being improved.