New Well in Mercer County Reported

According to an article in today's Bismarck Tribune, Continental Resources apparently has begun pumping oil from a well located north of Golden Valley. It is the first well to be completed in Mercer County and suggests drilling interest may be moving outside the state's highly active Bakken formation areas in McKenzie, Mountrail and Williams counties. According to the article, the Mercer well was drilled into the Lower Lodgepole Formation, which lies above the Bakken. Continental officials would not comment on the status of the well.