巴肯油田是一座现代化的、经过强化处理的水平油田，已有 25 年历史，1996 年在蒙大拿州东部开凿了一口应急井，迄今已生产超过 60 亿桶石油。

垂直的 Albin FLB #2-33 原本应该在下面的 Nisku 中打开，但钻探过程中的地球物理和其他迹象表明，如果在那里打开，该井将不会有收益。

然而，地质学家迪克·芬德利和钻井工人鲍勃·罗宾逊在前往尼斯库的途中，却在白云石质的中巴肯地区看到了丰富的油迹。

Now 25 years old, the modern, stimulated, horizontal Bakken oil play that has produced more than 6 Bbbl to date began with a bail-out well in eastern Montana in 1996.

The vertical Albin FLB #2-33 was supposed to be opened in the underlying Nisku, but geophysical and other indications while drilling showed the well wasn’t going to pay out if opened there.

Dick Findley, the geologist, and Bob Robinson, the wildcatter, had seen a good oil show from the dolomitic Middle Bakken on their way down to Nisku, though.