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North Dakota Ag News Headlines
State Sets New Oil Production Records
North Dakota Ag Connection - 07/16/2018

North Dakota has reached new records in both oil and gas production. May preliminary data released by the Oil and Gas Division indicates North Dakota is now producing 1,244,629 barrels of oil per day - an increase of 17,146 barrels from the last record set in December 2014.

"This is a very encouraging time for North Dakota as oil and gas operators and service companies have developed drilling rigs that are twice as efficient as they were in 2014 to drill and complete permitted wells," stated Lynn Helms, director of the Department of Mineral Resources. "Closing the gap between current wells producing and the wells capable of producing will add to 2018 production numbers so we should continue to reach new highs."

North Dakota also continues to set record numbers for gas production reaching 2,318,754 MCF per day according to May data. Increasing gas production has increased pressure on operators to meet requirements of the North Dakota Industrial Commission's Gas Capture policy. This month the Oil and Gas Division also announced gas capture was at 83% in May. The current capture goal is 85% and is scheduled to increase to 88% in November 2018. This is the first time since October 2017 that industry has not met the commission goal.

"Missing the gas capture goal for May is disappointing, but can be attributed in large part to gas plant maintenance," Helms said. "The Department is meeting with operators and midstream companies to encourage working together to divert gas when needed to use 100% of available capacity and to think creatively on how they plan to meet future goals."

Gov. Doug Burgum reacted to the production news.

"Congratulations to our oil and gas operators and the thousands of people they employ as this new oil production record confirms what we in North Dakota have known for some time: The Bakken is back," Burgum said. "This milestone is a testament to the tremendous private-sector innovation and investment made by oil and gas operators committed to finding better and more efficient ways of drilling. Amazingly, industry achieved that record production in May with an average of just 62 drilling rigs, or about one-third the 161 rigs in December 2014. We're excited to see even more progress on production and gas capture as industry brings online billions of investment in gathering and processing capability, continuing to break new ground and strengthen North Dakota's position as the nation's No. 2 oil producer."


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