The Bakken oil boom dwarfs previous oil production expansions in Montana and North Dakota. Explore a range of economic, demographic and financial data for the Bakken, and learn about factors driving jobs and other forms of development in the oil patch of North Dakota and Montana.
Oil production
Summary
The Bakken oil boom is five times larger than the oil boom in the 1980s.
Active oil drilling rigs and oil price - Monthly average
Data Dashboard
Oil Drilling Rigs
| April 2013 |
Pct. change from a year earlier | |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 175 | -11% |
| Montana | 10 | -43% |
Summary
Oil drilling in Montana and North Dakota picked up beginning in 2004 until prices dropped below $60 per barrel in 2008, considered the break-even price for shale drilling and oil production at the time. Drilling accelerated again once oil prices recovered. Drilling activity decreased somewhat in North Dakota during 2012 as oil companies sought to cut costs and increase efficiency.
Oil production
Data Dashboard
Production (millions of barrels)
| Feb 2013 |
Pct. change from a year earlier | |
|---|---|---|
| Bakken Oil Counties | 21.5 | 38% |
| Rest of Montana | 0.6 | -18% |
| Rest of North Dakota | 1.8 | -4% |
Summary
The Bakken area represents most of oil production in Montana and North Dakota.
County Unemployment Rate
Slideshow of maps showing the historical county unemployment rate in the Bakken area
12-month moving average
<3% 3 to 4% 4 to 5% 5 to 6% 6 to 7% >7%
January 2013
October 2012
July 2012
April 2012
January 2012
October 2011
July 2011
April 2011
January 2011
October 2010
July 2010
April 2010
January 2010
October 2009
July 2009
April 2009
January 2009
October 2008
July 2008
April 2008
January 2008
October 2007
July 2007
April 2007
January 2007
October 2006
July 2006
April 2006
January 2006
October 2005
July 2005
April 2005
January 2005
October 2004
July 2004
April 2004
January 2004
County Employment Change
Slideshow of maps showing the county employment rate change in the Bakken area
12-month moving average
<-4% -4% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% to 2% >2%
January 2013
October 2012
July 2012
April 2012
January 2012
October 2011
July 2011
April 2011
January 2011
October 2010
July 2010
April 2010
January 2010
October 2009
July 2009
April 2009
January 2009
October 2008
July 2008
April 2008
January 2008
October 2007
July 2007
April 2007
January 2007
October 2006
July 2006
April 2006
January 2006
October 2005
July 2005
April 2005
January 2005
October 2004
July 2004
April 2004
January 2004
The Bakken area
Detailed map of the oil patch in the Ninth District
Definition for oil production: North Dakota production is from Bakken, Sanish, Three Forks and Bakken/Three Forks Pools as reported by the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources. Montana production is total production from Richland, Roosevelt and Sheridan counties.
Definition for economic indicators: North Dakota counties: Billings, Burke, Divide, Dunn, Golden Valley, McKenzie, Mountrail, Stark, and Williams. Montana counties: Richland, Roosevelt, and Sheridan.
Recent Trends in the Bakken [pdf]
Full Report [pdf]
Data on demographic, economic and financial activity in the Bakken as of December 20, 2012
More about oil in the Ninth District
Bakken activity: How wide is the ripple effect?
fedgazette, May 7, 2013
Working on the railroad - and the pipeline
fedgazette, April 23, 2013
Dealing with gas
fedgazette, April 23, 2013
Booming sales in North Dakota
fedgazette, February 8, 2013
Frac sand mining spurs rural rail
fedgazette Roundup, July 19, 2012
Sand surge
fedgazette, July 16, 2012
Desperately seeking workers in the oil patch
fedgazette, April 18, 2012
No room at the inn
fedgazette, April 18, 2012
Faces and places from the oil patch
fedgazette, April 18, 2012
After the oil rush
fedgazette, September 1, 2009
Location of the Bakken in the Ninth District
Jobs in the oil patch
Video: fedgazette Senior Writer Phil Davies talks about jobs in the oil patch
