Eloise Ogden/MDN North Dakota’s oil production took a slight dip in April but natural gas production made a small increase that month.

BISMARCK – North Dakota’s oil production was at 1.171 million barrels per day in April, a slight decline from March when the state produced 1.193 million barrels per day, according to Nathan Anderson, director of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources.

“Production is down 1.8% from March to April, or about 22,000 barrels per day,” Anderson said this past week when giving the monthly oil and gas production report. “As you can see, again 1.14 million barrels per day comes from the Bakken/Three Forks, or about 97.3% of the production in the state of North Dakota.”

He said natural gas production in North Dakota for the month of April was at 104.1 billion cubic feet (BCF) or 3.471 BCF per day. He said March was at 106.8 BCF or 3.446 BCF per day. Anderson said this was a small increase from March to April.

The production numbers are normally about two months behind.

Of the top five counties (McKenzie, Dunn, Mountrail, Williams and Divide) for oil production, Anderson said, “McKenzie County actually strengthened a little bit to 32% of North Dakota production coming out of that county.” He said the top five counties produce 97.5% of the state’s oil production.

As of April, North Dakota’s rig count remained steady at 32, according to Anderson. The total U.S. rig count was 554, with 47% of the rigs working in Texas.

Anderson said the number of wells permitted in the state remains really strong with 105 in May, 108 in April and 94 in March.

According to Anderson’s report, the total number of producing wells rebounded from the extreme winter weather conditions. The total number of producing wells was 19,257.

Fort Berthold Reservation has an April oil production of 184,026 barrels per day, a 4.6% decrease from the March oil production of 192,961 barrels per day. Two rigs were actively working on the reservation. The reservation has 141 active permits and 3,008 active wells, according to Anderson.