A summary of how the North Dakota Industrial Commission agreed to spend almost $1.7 million in oil industry research subsidies:

FRACTURES: Marathon Oil Co. and a group of companies led by Headington Oil Co. both received aid for separate projects to research fracturing techniques for oil shale rock in western North Dakota's Bakken formation. Fracturing creates cracks in the rock and helps encourage a stronger oil flow. Marathon is getting $207,550 in state aid for a $415,100 project, while Headington is receiving $750,000 for a $14 million initiative. Other companies in the Headington group are Hess Corp., Continental Resources Inc. and Schlumberger Oilfield Services.

ROCK STRENGTH: A University of North Dakota researcher may get up to $100,000 to develop a laboratory to measure rock strength and design fracturing simulations for oil-bearing rock. Each dollar of state aid must be matched by a dollar of industry investment.

TESTING LAB: Ward Williston Oil Co., which has offices in Westhope and Bloomfield Hills, Mich., received $98,000 in aid to support construction of a portable oil production measurement system that is built for use in northern climates. The project is expected to cost $196,000.

CARBON DIOXIDE: The Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota will get $500,000 over two years to conduct ongoing research into techniques for storing carbon dioxide gas underground. Carbon dioxide is believed to contribute to global warming.

MEETINGS: The North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties received $10,000 to help defray the cost of a series of February public meetings in Bowman, Watford City, Killdeer, Tioga, Stanley and New Town to allow residents to discuss concerns about oil industry development. The money will also be used to update a pamphlet to address common questions about the oil industry.

TOTAL AID: $1,665,500. The money comes from a research fund that is financed by oil taxes.