When using Oracle.DataAccess.dll (Oracle Data Provider for .NET, Unmanaged Driver), calling Oracle.DataAccess.Client.OracleConnection.Open() method, you may encounter an Oracle.DataAccess.Client.OracleException if you misconfigured your environment.

Oracle.DataAccess.Client.OracleException was unhandled by user code
  ErrorCode=-2147467259
  HResult=-2147467259
  Message=""
  StackTrace:
       at Oracle.DataAccess.Client.OracleException.HandleErrorHelper(Int32 errCode, OracleConnection conn, IntPtr opsErrCtx, OpoSqlValCtx* pOpoSqlValCtx, Object src, String procedure, Boolean bCheck, Int32 isRecoverable)
       at Oracle.DataAccess.Client.OracleException.HandleError(Int32 errCode, OracleConnection conn, IntPtr opsErrCtx, Object src)
       at Oracle.DataAccess.Client.OracleConnection.Open()
       at <... some user code ...>

Bascically, whenever Oracle.DataAccess.Client.OracleException is threw with its Message set to an empty string, it means Oracle.DataAccess.dll fails to load its dependent DLLs.

Oracle Database Documentation:

ODP.NET and Dependent Unmanaged DLL Mismatch

To enforce the usage of Oracle.DataAccess.dll assembly with the correct version of its unmanaged DLLs, an exception is raised if Oracle.DataAccess.dll notices it has loaded a mismatched version of a dependent unmanaged DLL.

Though the documentation says an exception will be raised if a mismatched version of a dependent DLL is loaded, it actually includes the case that any of the dependent DLLs is not loaded.

This will happen if ODP.NET or Oracle Client is not installed, or dependent ODP.NET or Oracle DLLs are not placed at the side of the DLL running the code.

In addition, this will also happen if you have misconfigured your environment variable ORACLE_HOME, setting it to an incorrect or invalid directory.

Actually, ORACLE_HOME is not required any more since 11g on Windows as its value can be inferred from registry key and values under HKLM\SOFTWARE\ORACLE, and it prevents proper use of Multiple Oracle Homes. But if you do set this environment variable, it's okay as long as you set it correctly. Otherwise, you are going to face difficulties when using ODP.NET or other Oracle components.

Oracle Home Environment Variable Set