A Texas oil firm will be tapping an oil reserve in western North Dakota.

Marathon Oil is the fourth largest oil company in the United States, and today the company opened an office in Dickinson.

Marathon Oil recently purchased a 200,000 acre piece of land in western North Dakota and eastern Montana.

Steve Guidry with Marathon Oil says the company will be drilling about 300 wells in the next five years.

He says when drilling is complete, the eight rigs will produce about 20-thousand barrels of oil a day.

(Steve Guidry, Marathon Oil) "Each of those rigs will generate about 120 additional jobs, both direct hire and indirect hire. And in addition to that we're bringing in 25 employees who will live in Dickinson and manage our drilling and production operations."


On Friday, Marathon Oil officials will be leading a tour of their operation in western North Dakota. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list