Red Wing Creek field is located near the center of the Williston basin in McKenzie County, North Dakota. The discovery well was drilled by True Oil Co. in August 1972. The primary trapping mechanism is structural. Seismic and subsurface data indicate that Triassic, Permian, and Pennsylvanian formations are missing over the center of the structure. Replacing these are rocks of Mississippian age which have undergone intensive deformation in an uplifted structural cone approximately 3,000 ft (914 m) high and 3 mi (4.8 km) in diameter at its base. Formations above and below the structure show very little tectonic disturbance.

Mission Canyon Limestone of Mississippian age is the primary producing horizon. The discovery well has over 1,600 ft (438 m) of net pay which is the best well in the field. Porosities range as high as 25% but most of the reservoir has porosities in the range of 6 to 10%. Oil-water contact is placed at a subsea depth of 7,600 ft (2,316 m). Reservoir studies indicate approximately 100,000,000 bbl of oil in place.

To date the field has 11 wells capable of production. There are eight dry holes. Two wells have been drilled to the Red River Formation of Ordovician age. At present there has been no commercial production above or below the Mississippian.

Present data have indicated that the field is producing from the central peak of an astrobleme, or meteorite impact structure of Jurassic age. Proof of this origin is based on geometry and shock deformation features, which include monolithologic breccia, shatter cones, and shock deformed quartz. The feature has been modified by subsequent salt collapse and differential compaction.

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