Another post on the Bakken from Energy and Capitol can be read here.

Although oil activity has slowed down some in the Bakken over the past few months, I’ve understood that there are some contracts worth three years there.  That’ s long enough for oil prices to jump back up and become profitable enough to make the necessary horizontal drilling techniques worthwhile.

There’s also talk in the Legislature of using the area to sequester carbon dioxide.  Besides keeping the greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere, it will help the Bakken field produce more oil, which could ultimately help the U.S. reduce its dependence on foreign oil. 

That sounds like a win-win situation to me.