North Dakota’s oil production remains depressed, but output is expected to exceed 1 million b/d in the coming months, according to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR).

North Dakota Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production

During a webinar to discuss the latest statistics, DMR Director Lynn Helms said he expects rising oil prices should lead to more shut-in wells being brought online in the coming months.

“We’re pretty confident production will increase 150,000-200,000 b/d in July and another 200,000-300,000 b/d will be added in August,” he said. “Those months’ numbers should look a lot better than May and June.”

Nearly all of the curtailed U.S. onshore oil volumes shut-in as Covid-19 hampered demand are set to return by the end of the third quarter amid stronger oil prices and a generally brighter market...