Canadian independent Enerplus Corp. reported lower year/year production for the first quarter but it is poised to resume growing output in the Bakken Shale of North Dakota following a pair of recent acquisitions.

Enerplus

Natural gas production for the firm, which also has assets in the Marcellus Shale, dropped to 255.7MMcf/d in the first three months from 262.9MMcf/d a year earlier. Meanwhile, natural gas liquids (NGL) grew to 6,581 b/d from 5,346 b/d while oil dipped to 42,465 b/d from 49,044. 

“We commenced completions operations in the Bakken toward the end of the quarter, which, in combination with the production acquired through our acquisitions, will drive a material increase to our second quarter production,” CEO Ian Dundas said during an earnings call.

While output was...