Chairman and CEO Harold Hamm founded Continental Resources’ predecessor company in 1967 as an oil service provider, later expanding the Company to focus on the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas properties in Oklahoma. In 1993, the Company expanded into the Rocky Mountains region, first into the Red River Units of Montana and the Dakotas, and then into the Bakken Shale play in Montana and North Dakota.As a result of successful exploration and development activities, at year-end 2008, the Red River Units and the Bakken Shale accounted for 70% of 2008 production and 66% of proved reserves. Continental Resources has been a pioneer in developing horizontal drilling techniques that have made these plays two of the most important oil resources in the United States. As of 2009, the Company’s primary operating focus is the Red River Units and the Bakken Shale in the Rocky Mountains Region, and the Arkoma and Anadarko Woodford Shale Plays in Oklahoma, which are focused on natural gas production.