Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Can you recommend a major U.S. participant in the Bakken oil region? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

The Bakken formation covers parts of Montana, North Dakota and Saskatchewan and could contain 500 billion barrels of oil or more. Oil was first discovered at Bakken in 1951, but it has always been hard to extract from the rock. However, modern techniques, such as horizontal (or slant) drilling have made it easier to access hard-to reach deposits like those at Bakken. Major U.S. producers in the Bakken region include: EOG Resources, $181.92, symbol EOG on New York (Shares outstanding: 272.4 million; Market cap: $49.0 billion; www.eogresources.com), is the fifth largest non-integrated oil and gas company in the U.S. and one of the top five Bakken stocks by oil and gas production. It’s also the largest oil producer in the Eagle Ford formation in Texas. Continental Resources, $116.43, symbol CLR on New York (Shares outstanding: 185.6 million; Market cap: $21.0 billion; www.contres.com), is the largest leaseholder and oil producer in the Bakken, with more than 1.1 million acres leased. Whiting Petroleum, $66.94, symbol…