Eloise Ogden/MDN Oil and gas production declined in February, the most recent numbers available and released by state officials on Friday.

BISMARCK – North Dakota’s oil and gas production declined during the winter month of February, according to the most recent numbers available and released by state officials on Friday.

In February, the state produced 1.335 million barrels of oil a day. In January, the state produced 1.403 million barrels of oil a day.

The state also produced 2.630 MCF a day of natural gas in February. The previous month the state produced 2.720 MCF a day of natural gas.

North Dakota had a preliminary number of 15,090 producing wells in February and 15,409 in January.

On Friday, the price of North Dakota Light Sweet was $52.50 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was $63.58 a barrel, according to Flint Hills Resources.

Lynn Helms, director of the North Dakota Department of Natural Resources, said in his monthly report that the drilling rig count has become stable in the mid to upper 60s. He said current operator plans are to add 2-8 rigs in 2019 depending on workforce and infrastructure constraints.

Also on Friday, 63 rigs were actively drilling in the North Dakota oil patch.

The number of rigs actively drilling on federal surface in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands is down one to four.

Fort Berthold Reservation is producing 292,914 barrels of oil a day. Twelve rigs are drilling and there are 2,077 active wells on the reservation. There are 113 wells waiting on completion.