The Bakken region now accounts for a little over 10% of total U.S. oil production and is the fourth region (along with the Gulf of Mexico, Eagle Ford, and Permian basins) currently producing more than 1 million bbl/d in the nation.

Infrastructure improvements in the central part of the nation carried more of this oil to refineries in recent months, helping to narrow the price difference between the Bakken region and West Texas Intermediate, which is priced at Cushing, Oklahoma.

The growth of crude oil production in the Bakken region is part of a longer-term trend in drilling efficiency gains and has led North Dakota to rank second in crude oil production in the United States, behind only Texas. These production gains have led to increases in gross domestic product in the state as well as increased demand for electricity.