North Dakota

The Eagle Ford Shale and Williston Basin led a surge in U.S. onshore drilling activity during the week ended Friday as the domestic rig count rose nine units to an even 500, according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR). Ten oil-directed rigs were added in the United States for the week, offsetting…

North Dakota exceeded its monthly production level projections for April, but it may be losing its bragging rights to New Mexico as the second largest oil producing state. Oil production was up 1% in April month/month to 33.6 million bbl, or 1.126 million b/d. Natural gas output grew at a 3.1% rate to 88.89 Bcf,…

Natural gas production outpaced oil in North Dakota’s Bakken Shale during March, according to the state Dakota Department of Mineral Resources (DMR). Gas production was 89.2 Bcf (2.8 Bcf/d), compared to 75.7 Bcf (2.7 Bcf/d) in February. Oil production totaled 34.3. million bbl (1.1 million b/d) from 30.3 million bbl (1.08 million b/d).  The state…

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Friday denied Dakota Access LLC’s petition for rehearing, rebuffing efforts to restore vacated federal approval for the pipeline to cross under Lake Oahe. By denying the petition the appeals court stood by its January decision to uphold a U.S. District Court for the District of…

End of 2020 statistics showed North Dakota’s Bakken Shale production holding relatively steady and other indicators, including oil prices, turning upward. But the state’s chief oil and natural gas official said production likely will drop for January and February. “The drilling rig count [15 as of last Friday] is substantially short of what we need…

North Dakota natural gas and oil production declined slightly month/month in November, but more well completions are expected this year on “significantly better” oil prices. Department of Mineral Resources director Lynn Helms noted that recent Bakken Shale sweet crude was trading at around $43.50/bbl, which should spur more well completions, but not high enough to…

North Dakota’s operators have achieved a 93% natural gas capture rate statewide in September, when month/month oil and gas production increased.  In the state’s Bakken Shale, home of robust supplies of sweet light crude oil that is rich with associated gas, flaring has been excessive as production growth outpaced efforts to build sufficient midstream takeaway…

North Dakota oil and natural gas production shot up in August along with gas capture volumes, but the production surge is expected to fall back and continue declining by the end of the year. Oil production in August topped 36 million bbl (1.16 million b/d), compared with 32.3 million bbl (1.04 million b/d) in July.…

Bakken Shale oil production in North Dakota rebounded in July, topping 1 million b/d, but the state expects output to drop again without higher crude prices and more rigs in operation. Chief oil and gas regulator Lynn Helms during a webinar Tuesday said oil and gas production jumped overall in July month/month by 16.5%. Oil…