202:
214:
326:
is often included in production statistics with the overlying Bakken
Formation. For instance, the Three Forks and Bakken were combined in estimates of potential production released by the United States Geological Survey on April 30, 2013. The estimate by the USGS projects that 7.4 billion barrels of
657:
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered volumes of 7.4 billion barrels of oil, 6.7 trillion cubic feet of associated/dissolved natural gas, and 0.53 billion barrels of natural gas liquids in the Bakken and Three Forks
Formations in the
622:
The doubling of the estimate resulted largely because of the first look at the Three Forks
Formation in North Dakota, which the Geological Survey said contains 3.73 billion barrels of oil. Its reassessment of the Bakken Formation, which lies above Three Forks, showed 3.65 billion barrels, only a
814:
635:
Stephanie B. Gaswirth; Kristen R. Marra; Troy A. Cook; Ronald R. Charpentier; Donald L. Gautier; Debra K. Higley; Timothy R. Klett; Michael D. Lewan; Paul G. Lillis; Christopher J. Schenk; Marilyn E. Tennyson; Katherine J. Whidden.
606:
623:
little more than a 2008 USGS estimate. The agency's conclusion that the formations contain 6.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 530 million barrels of natural gas liquids represented a tripling of previous estimates.
809:
819:
638:"National Assessment of Oil and Gas Fact Sheet Assessment of Undiscovered Oil Resources in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin Province, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 2013"
784:
824:
1274:
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777:
580:
801:
770:
1269:
1259:
1264:
742:
718:
694:
670:
529:
327:
oil can be recovered from the Bakken and Three Forks formations and 6.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 530 million barrels of
185:
533:
793:
881:
339:
The Three Forks Group reaches a maximum thickness of 80 metres (260 ft), but can be as thin as 35 metres (110 ft).
871:
1186:
584:
1213:
1091:
1049:
876:
557:
Peale, A.C., 1893. The
Paleozoic section in the vicinity of Three Forks, Montana. U.S G.S., Bull. 110, p. 9-56.
910:
1191:
1169:
1228:
1044:
945:
1223:
276:, and was first described in outcrop near the city by A.C. Peale in 1893 (for the Three Forks Shale).
1181:
1135:
970:
915:
746:
722:
698:
674:
273:
234:
1208:
1203:
1113:
1034:
920:
328:
1233:
1152:
1147:
1118:
1027:
1007:
960:
955:
940:
925:
479:
309:
139:
1157:
1140:
1069:
1054:
1022:
1000:
995:
965:
935:
930:
1218:
1196:
1130:
1096:
980:
950:
854:
840:
567:
498:
373:
304:
In the subsurface of the
Williston Basin, the Three Forks is referred to as the Three Forks
118:
1238:
1176:
1059:
1039:
1017:
990:
985:
845:
452:
411:
350:
285:
266:
189:
162:
581:"North Dakota Oil Boom Getting Bigger - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks"
537:
1164:
1079:
975:
108:
1253:
1101:
1064:
637:
494:
487:
378:
355:
262:
219:
129:
65:
24:
1106:
902:
886:
762:
483:
323:
319:
255:
607:"Northern plains site has twice as much oil as previously thought, Interior says"
1084:
1074:
1012:
866:
40:
34:
475:
85:
50:
446:
426:
401:
315:
259:
90:
30:
892:
431:
289:
166:
80:
75:
60:
55:
45:
502:
383:
95:
70:
207:
658:
Williston Basin
Province of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
456:
407:
386:
318:
produced from the Three Forks
Formation in the Williston Basin of
293:
170:
766:
121:, Lyleton Formation, Big Valley Formation, Torquay Formation
901:
833:
800:
240:
230:
225:
195:
181:
176:
158:
153:
145:
135:
125:
114:
104:
18:
149:35 metres (110 ft) to 80 metres (260 ft)
1275:Carboniferous southern paleotemperate deposits
778:
8:
785:
771:
763:
15:
1280:Devonian southern paleotemperate deposits
524:
522:
520:
518:
346:
514:
312:below, and the Bakken Formation above.
284:The Three Forks Group is composed of
7:
815:Frontier exploration and development
493:It is equivalent to the sum of the
272:It takes the name from the city of
743:Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units
719:Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units
695:Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units
671:Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units
605:Lenny Bernstein (April 30, 2013).
530:Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units
186:Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin
14:
647:. United States Geological Survey
794:Western Canada Sedimentary Basin
212:
200:
1270:Geologic groups of Saskatchewan
1260:Geologic groups of North Dakota
1:
850:Northwestern Alberta Plains
470:Relationship to other units
1296:
1265:Geologic groups of Montana
331:using current technology.
308:, which lies between the
23:
877:Northern Rocky Mountains
461:65 m (210 ft)
436:40 m (130 ft)
416:40 m (130 ft)
406:red dolomitic and silty
391:40 m (130 ft)
863:North-central foothills
810:Oil sands and heavy oil
570:, accessed 6 Jan. 2013.
723:"Big Valley Formation"
566:US Geological Survey,
474:The Three Forks Group
300:Hydrocarbon production
834:Depositional regions
645:Fact Sheet 2013β3013
423:Big Valley Formation
274:Three Forks, Montana
235:Three Forks, Montana
820:Natural gas liquids
802:Hydrocarbon history
747:"Torquay Formation"
699:"Lyleton Formation"
611:The Washington Post
534:"Three Forks Group"
329:natural gas liquids
25:Stratigraphic range
675:"Bakken Formation"
480:Saskatchewan Group
322:and south-eastern
310:Birdbear Formation
140:Saskatchewan Group
1247:
1246:
1214:Stony Mountain FM
1092:Mission Canyon FM
1050:Gypsum Springs FM
860:North-east Plains
467:
466:
443:Torquay Formation
398:Lyleton Formation
252:Three Forks Group
248:
247:
19:Three Forks Group
1287:
1148:Saskatchewan GRP
941:Judith River GRP
911:Cypress Hills FM
855:Canadian Rockies
841:Southern Alberta
787:
780:
773:
764:
757:
756:
754:
753:
739:
733:
732:
730:
729:
715:
709:
708:
706:
705:
691:
685:
684:
682:
681:
667:
661:
660:
654:
652:
642:
632:
626:
625:
619:
617:
602:
596:
595:
593:
592:
583:. Archived from
577:
571:
564:
558:
555:
549:
548:
546:
545:
536:. Archived from
526:
499:Exshaw Formation
486:overlain by the
374:Bakken Formation
347:
244:A.C. Peale, 1893
218:
216:
215:
206:
204:
203:
119:Bakken Formation
100:
37:
16:
1295:
1294:
1290:
1289:
1288:
1286:
1285:
1284:
1250:
1249:
1248:
1243:
1239:Canadian Shield
1192:Winnipegosis FM
1170:Souris River FM
1126:Three Forks GRP
897:
846:Central Alberta
829:
796:
791:
761:
760:
751:
749:
741:
740:
736:
727:
725:
717:
716:
712:
703:
701:
693:
692:
688:
679:
677:
669:
668:
664:
650:
648:
640:
634:
633:
629:
615:
613:
604:
603:
599:
590:
588:
579:
578:
574:
565:
561:
556:
552:
543:
541:
528:
527:
516:
511:
472:
410:, argillaceous
364:
345:
337:
302:
292:and bituminous
282:
267:Williston Basin
256:stratigraphical
213:
211:
210:
201:
199:
190:Williston Basin
99:
98:
93:
88:
83:
78:
73:
68:
63:
58:
53:
48:
43:
29:
28:
12:
11:
5:
1293:
1291:
1283:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1252:
1251:
1245:
1244:
1242:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1200:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1174:
1173:
1172:
1162:
1161:
1160:
1155:
1145:
1144:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1123:
1122:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1110:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1089:
1088:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1045:Gravelbourg FM
1042:
1037:
1032:
1031:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1010:
1005:
1004:
1003:
998:
993:
983:
978:
973:
968:
963:
958:
953:
948:
946:Belly River FM
943:
938:
933:
928:
923:
918:
913:
907:
905:
899:
898:
896:
895:
889:
884:
879:
874:
869:
864:
861:
858:
853:South-central
851:
848:
843:
837:
835:
831:
830:
828:
827:
822:
817:
812:
806:
804:
798:
797:
792:
790:
789:
782:
775:
767:
759:
758:
734:
710:
686:
662:
627:
597:
572:
559:
550:
513:
512:
510:
507:
484:disconformably
471:
468:
465:
464:
462:
459:
449:
444:
440:
439:
437:
434:
429:
424:
420:
419:
417:
414:
404:
399:
395:
394:
392:
389:
381:
376:
370:
369:
366:
361:
358:
353:
344:
341:
336:
333:
301:
298:
281:
278:
246:
245:
242:
238:
237:
232:
228:
227:
223:
222:
197:
193:
192:
183:
179:
178:
174:
173:
160:
156:
155:
151:
150:
147:
143:
142:
137:
133:
132:
127:
123:
122:
116:
112:
111:
109:Geologic group
106:
102:
101:
94:
89:
84:
79:
74:
69:
64:
59:
54:
49:
44:
39:
38:
21:
20:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1292:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1257:
1255:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1202:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1182:Davson Bay FM
1180:
1179:
1178:
1177:Elk Point GRP
1175:
1171:
1168:
1167:
1166:
1163:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1150:
1149:
1146:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1136:Big Valley FM
1134:
1132:
1129:
1128:
1127:
1124:
1120:
1119:Souris Valley
1117:
1115:
1112:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1094:
1093:
1090:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1072:
1071:
1068:
1067:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1060:Big Snowy GRP
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1015:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1006:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
988:
987:
986:Mannville GRP
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
971:Milk River FM
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
916:Ravenscrag FM
914:
912:
909:
908:
906:
904:
900:
894:
890:
888:
885:
883:
882:Fort St. John
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
862:
859:
856:
852:
849:
847:
844:
842:
839:
838:
836:
832:
826:
823:
821:
818:
816:
813:
811:
808:
807:
805:
803:
799:
795:
788:
783:
781:
776:
774:
769:
768:
765:
748:
744:
738:
735:
724:
720:
714:
711:
700:
696:
690:
687:
676:
672:
666:
663:
659:
646:
639:
631:
628:
624:
612:
608:
601:
598:
587:on 2013-10-29
586:
582:
576:
573:
569:
563:
560:
554:
551:
540:on 2009-04-16
539:
535:
531:
525:
523:
521:
519:
515:
508:
506:
504:
500:
496:
495:Wabamun Group
491:
489:
488:Madison Group
485:
481:
478:overlies the
477:
469:
463:
460:
458:
454:
450:
448:
445:
442:
441:
438:
435:
433:
430:
428:
425:
422:
421:
418:
415:
413:
409:
405:
403:
400:
397:
396:
393:
390:
388:
385:
382:
380:
379:Kinderhookian
377:
375:
372:
371:
367:
362:
359:
357:
354:
352:
349:
348:
342:
340:
334:
332:
330:
325:
321:
317:
313:
311:
307:
299:
297:
295:
291:
287:
279:
277:
275:
270:
268:
264:
261:
257:
253:
243:
239:
236:
233:
229:
224:
221:
220:United States
209:
198:
194:
191:
187:
184:
180:
175:
172:
168:
164:
161:
157:
152:
148:
144:
141:
138:
134:
131:
130:Madison Group
128:
124:
120:
117:
113:
110:
107:
103:
97:
92:
87:
82:
77:
72:
67:
62:
57:
52:
47:
42:
36:
32:
26:
22:
17:
1209:Stonewall FM
1204:Interlake FM
1165:Manitoba GRP
1125:
1114:Lodgepole FM
1035:Shaunavon FM
976:Colorado GRP
921:Frenchman FM
903:Saskatchewan
887:Saskatchewan
750:. Retrieved
737:
726:. Retrieved
713:
702:. Retrieved
689:
678:. Retrieved
665:
656:
649:. Retrieved
644:
630:
621:
614:. Retrieved
610:
600:
589:. Retrieved
585:the original
575:
562:
553:
542:. Retrieved
538:the original
492:
473:
343:Subdivisions
338:
335:Distribution
324:Saskatchewan
320:North Dakota
314:
305:
303:
283:
271:
251:
249:
226:Type section
1234:Deadwood FM
1229:Winnipeg FM
1153:Birdbear FM
1065:Madison GRP
1028:Sawtooth FM
1008:Vanguard FM
961:Lea Park FM
956:Foremost FM
926:Whitemud FM
872:Fort Nelson
867:Liard River
825:Natural gas
568:Three Forks
476:conformably
35:Tournaisian
1254:Categories
1187:Prairie FM
1158:Duperow FM
1141:Torquay FM
1070:Charles FM
1055:Watrous FM
1023:Rierdon FM
1001:Success FM
996:Cantuar FM
966:Pakowki FM
936:Bearpaw FM
931:Eastend FM
752:2010-01-03
728:2010-01-03
704:2010-01-03
680:2010-01-03
591:2013-05-01
544:2010-01-01
509:References
384:bituminous
368:Reference
1224:Yeoman FM
1219:Herald FM
1197:Ashern FM
1131:Bakken FM
1097:Kisbey SS
1080:Ratcliffe
1013:Ellis GRP
981:Viking FM
951:Oldman FM
857:foothills
447:Famennian
427:Famennian
402:Famennian
365:Thickness
360:Lithology
306:Formation
280:Lithology
260:Famennian
231:Named for
154:Lithology
146:Thickness
126:Underlies
115:Sub-units
31:Famennian
1040:Piper FM
1018:Swift FM
991:Pense FM
893:Manitoba
891:Western
453:dolomite
432:mudstone
412:dolomite
351:Sub-unit
290:mudstone
286:dolomite
258:unit of
241:Named by
177:Location
167:mudstone
163:Dolomite
136:Overlies
1107:Tilston
503:Alberta
482:and is
265:in the
196:Country
159:Primary
1085:Midale
1075:Poplar
651:May 1,
616:May 1,
451:brown
217:
208:Canada
205:
182:Region
1102:Alida
641:(PDF)
457:shale
408:shale
387:shale
294:shale
254:is a
171:shale
653:2013
618:2013
497:and
363:Max.
250:The
105:Type
41:Preκ
501:in
356:Age
316:Oil
263:age
33:to
1256::
745:.
721:.
697:.
673:.
655:.
643:.
620:.
609:.
532:.
517:^
505:.
490:.
455:,
296:.
288:,
269:.
188:,
169:,
165:,
91:Pg
27::
786:e
779:t
772:v
755:.
731:.
707:.
683:.
594:.
547:.
96:N
86:K
81:J
76:T
71:P
66:C
61:D
56:S
51:O
46:κ
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