BISMARCK – North Dakota’s oil production bounced back up again with 980,294 barrels of oil a day produced in January. That’s an increase of 37,972 barrels a day compared to December figures.

In December, the state produced 942,322 barrels a day.

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources released the newest oil production figures Wednesday. The numbers normally are about two months behind.

The state has 13,333 (preliminary figure) producing wells and, as of Wednesday, 44 rigs were actively working in the oil field.

The N.D. sweet crude price was $41.50 a barrel on Wednesday, according to Flint Hills Resources. The all-time high was 218 on May 29, 2012.

Lynn Helms, director of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, said the oil price weakness is anticipated to last into the second quarter of 2017.

– Eloise Ogden