The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) received a research paper entitled "Origins and Characteristics of the Basin-Centered Continuous-Reservoir Unconventional Oil-Resource Base of the Bakken Source System, Williston Basin" by Leigh Price. This paper contains valuable, comprehensive information about the potential oil resources in the Bakken Formation within the Williston Basin of eastern Montana and western North Dakota. The paper represents work as it stood at the time of Leigh Price’s death.

The EERC obtained a copy of this paper from David Bardin in 2006. Bardin is a retired member of Arent Fox, LLP. At that law firm, he specialized in public utilities, energy, and environmental law on behalf of corporate and public clients. From 1977 to 1979, Bardin was Deputy Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration and Administrator of the Economic Regulatory Administration in the U.S. Department of Energy during the Carter Administration. From 1958 to 1969, Bardin was an attorney, Assistant General Counsel, and Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Federal Power Commission (now the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission).

In April 2012, Mr. Bardin provided the EERC with several additional items to accompany the research paper, given the strategic importance of the Bakken oil resource to the American economy and energy supply.

Together, these documents provide key insight for policy makers and for all who choose to read them. These insights relate to the importance of exploratory research regarding unconventional energy resources and the technology to enable their production and the need for visionary policy to realize the potential of those resources, furthering the goal of energy security: