[Carry_Okie]

It takes lots of holes very deep following a 15ft thick stratum horizontally and then forcing out the oil with pressure. That's the existing technology. From what I read the most they'll get is about 20% of what is there with those means. It will come out very slowly.

It's sweet crude in what is effectively limestone (if I recall correctly).

[MNJohnnie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakken_Formation#Oil_production_estimates

No mention here of these technological problems with Bakken. Are you sure it is Bakken and not some other formation you heard this technological problem about? They are currently producing out of Bakken according to this.