Montana is a large state with a relatively small oil industry compared to Texas or North Dakota — but it shares some of the same geology. Eastern Montana sits over the western edge of the Williston Basin, the same formation that made North Dakota famous for Bakken Shale oil. Montana also has producing fields in other basins scattered across its vast territory.
The Williston Basin in Montana
The Williston Basin extends from North Dakota westward into Montana and northward into Canada. In Montana, the Bakken Shale and the underlying Three Forks formation produce oil in the northeastern corner of the state, especially in Richland and Roosevelt counties. The town of Sidney, Montana sits in the heart of this activity. Production from Montana's share of the Williston Basin ramped up significantly during the North Dakota Bakken boom of the 2010s.
Other Producing Basins
Montana has several other oil and gas producing areas:
- Powder River Basin. The southeastern corner of Montana connects to the Powder River Basin, which extends south into Wyoming. Both oil and coal bed methane are produced here.
- Sweetgrass Arch. In north-central Montana, the Sweetgrass Arch has conventional oil fields that have been producing for decades.
- Disturbed Belt. Along the Rocky Mountain front in western Montana, there is natural gas production from thrust-belt formations.
Who Regulates Montana Wells?
The Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation (BOGC) is the state regulator, housed within the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). The BOGC issues permits, sets spacing rules, and collects production data. Montana also has significant federal land managed by the BLM. Public well data is available at dnrc.mt.gov/BOGC.
Production Numbers
Montana produces roughly 60,000 to 75,000 barrels of oil per day. Natural gas production is smaller. The state has never experienced the explosive growth of North Dakota, partly because its share of the Bakken is thinner and its infrastructure is less developed. But it remains a steady producer with significant untapped potential in both the Williston Basin and other areas.