BISMARCK – The production of natural gas production in North Dakota has increased.

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources announced new oil and gas production numbers on Monday. The numbers normally are two months behind.

In February, the state produced 3,036,428 million cubic feet of natural gas, an increase from January’s production number of 2,834,988 MCF.

The state also produced 1,157,303 barrels of oil a day in February and 1,060,708 (final number) barrels of oil a day in January.

As of Monday, North Dakota light sweet crude was selling for $78.50 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate for $82.52 a barrel.

On Monday, 41 rigs were actively drilling in North Dakota. No rigs were drilling on federal surfaces.

As of February, 17,497 (preliminary number) wells were producing. The all-time high was 17,791 wells in October 2022.

Fort Berthold Reservation produced 152,640 barrels of oil a day in February. Four rigs were drilling on the reservation. There were 2,641 active wells, 25 wells waiting on completion and 230 approved drilling permits. The reservation has the potential for 3,911 future wells.

Lynn Helms, director of the Mineral Resources Department, said the drilling rig count has stalled in the mid-40s, with a gradual increase expected over the next two years. He said 21 frac crews are active.

“OPEC+ announced unilateral oil production cuts earlier this month, amounting to 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd), bringing total cuts by the group to 3.7 million bpd until the end of the year. Russia sanctions, China economic activity, looming recessions and shifting crude oil supply chains continue to create significant price volatility,” said Helms.