The US unconventional plays hold a substantial resource base and represent an increasingly important part of future energy supplies. Statoil has step by step developed industrial capabilities through early entrance into Marcellus and Eagle Ford.
 
Entering the Bakken and Three Forks tight oil plays and taking on operatorship represents a new significant step for Statoil. We are positioning ourselves as a leading player in the fast growing US onshore oil and gas industry, in line with the strategic direction we have set out.

The transaction provides Statoil with more than 375,000 net acres in the Williston Basin, which holds potential for oil production from the Bakken and Three Forks formations. Brigham also holds interests in 40,000 net acres in other areas. 

The Bakken and Three Forks formations are among the largest oil accumulations in the United States.

Tight oil reservoirs are being developed with similar methods as shale gas and liquids with long lateral wells that are hydraulically fractured, and have similar production profiles. Commercial tight oil extraction is a relatively new activity and has increased significantly the last couple of years. The oil produced from the Bakken and Three Forks formations is a light crude quality. Oil production from Brigham’s assets in Bakken has low CO2 emissions.