Determination of Recovery Factor in the Bakken Formation, Mountrail County, ND

Abstract

An accurate value for recovery factor in the Bakken shale is needed for estimation of ultimate recovery. Published estimates of recovery factor in the North Dakota region of the Bakken vary greatly and examination of historical production from this region reveals that very few published recovery factor estimates are accurate. In this paper, recovery factor for the Bakken shale in Mountrail County, ND, was determined using three different methods. The first method involved review of the literature and an examination of recovery factors historically used by companies operating in the area. The second method was based on material balance, while the third method was based on decline curve analysis. Results from all three methods were integrated and indicate that the most likely value for recovery factor in the Bakken shale is approximately 7%. In the absence of more definitive performance data, these results can be used by companies to estimate ultimate recovery and to help make investment and development decisions in the Bakken shale.