[woofer]

The post doesn’t make clear whether these new finds are shale, or oil that can be recovered by more traditional pumping methods.

The Bakken isn't shale. And the number of large (and I mean HUGE) pumps going in from Dickinson to Bowman ND is astounding.

[thackney]

The Bakken is mostly oil shale. Less than 1% is produeable by drilling and pumping. Most will require retorting the shale.

That said, the less than 1% has already made North Dakota the 4th largest state in oil production.