Eloise Ogden/MDN The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources’ oil and gas production report shows the state reached an all-time high of 17,913 (preliminary number) producing wells in May.

BISMARCK – North Dakota recently reached an all-time high in producing wells.

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources reported the state had 17,913 (preliminary number) producing wells in May.

The previous all-time high was 17,791 producing wells in October 2022.

Of that total number, 15,622 or 87% are unconventional Bakken/Three Forks wells and 2,291 or 13% are produced from legacy conventional pools.

The oil and gas report is normally about two months behind.

The Mineral Resources Department also reported the state produced 1,133,530 barrels of oil a day or 35,139,418 barrels of oil in May. In April, the state produced 1,135,763 barrels of oil a day or 34,072,894 total barrels.

On Friday, the price of crude oil was $71.25 a barrel for N.D. Light Sweet and $76.89 for West Texas Intermediate.

The state produced 3,156,374 million cubic feet a day or 97,847,586 MCF of natural gas. In April, the state produced 3,119,451 MCF or 93,583,536 MCF of natural gas.

As of July 14, 36 rigs were actively working in North Dakota. No rigs were working on federal surface. The all-time high was 218 rigs working in the state on May 29, 2012.

In May, 459 wells were waiting on completion.

On the Fort Berthold Reservation, 136,319 barrels of oil were produced in May. Three rigs were actively drilling. The reservation has 2,648 active wells and 26 wells waiting on completion. There are 166 drilling permits approved. The reservation has the potential for 3,904 future wells.

“The drilling rig count has fallen to 36 due to workforce, mergers and acquisitions but is expected to return to the mid-40s, with a gradual increase expected over the next two years,” said Lynn Helms, director of the Mineral Resources Department.

He said there are 20 frac crews currently active in the state.

“Saudi Arabia announced unilateral oil production cuts earlier this month, amounting to 1 million barrels per day, making the OPEC+ total cut 4.7 million bpd (barrels per day) 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,” Helms said.