[familyop]

Some say this. Some say that. We’ll see.

Bakken Formation
http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/bakken.asp

400-Billion Barrel Bakken Oil Field a ‘Myth’, says USGS
http://politicalbyline.com/2008/06/400-billion-barrel-bakken-oil-field-a-myth-says-usgs/

Huge Bakken Oil Field A Myth
http://jbscorner.blogspot.com/2008/06/huge-bakken-oil-field-myth.html

[ckilmer]

The baaken (which includes three lower levels of the three forks formation) has something like 500 billion barrels of oil IN PLACE. “In place” is the way the oil industry describes total oil underground. However, only about 35 billion barrels of that oil is RECOVERABLE using current technology and at current prices. If the price falls then less oil is RECOVERABLE. If the price rises or the technology improves then more oil is recoverable.

[ckilmer]

Bakken Formation
http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/bakken.asp

400-Billion Barrel Bakken Oil Field a ‘Myth’, says USGS
http://politicalbyline.com/2008/06/400-billion-barrel-bakken-oil-field-a-myth-says-usgs/

Huge Bakken Oil Field A Myth
http://jbscorner.blogspot.com/2008/06/huge-bakken-oil-field-myth.html
..............

notice the date on these estimates. 2008.
the shale gas revolution had barely got off the ground in 2008 and the shale oil revolution was still in the wings.

In both cases recoverable reserves have steadily gone up every year.