WILLISTON, N.D. - North Dakota oil production decreased 1.8 percent in April to nearly 1.2 million barrels a day, preliminary figures released Friday show.
Natural gas production increased 1.4 percent in April to an average of 1.5 billion cubic feet per day, according to the Department of Mineral Resources.
Director Lynn Helms said last month he anticipates the state's oil production to remain between 1.1 million and 1.2 million barrels per day until oil prices recover. Helms was not available to make comments on April's oil production Friday due to scheduling conflicts.
Natural gas flaring dropped from 19 percent to 18 percent in April, according to the North Dakota Pipeline Authority.
The number of drilling rigs operating in North Dakota on Friday was at 76, the lowest since December 2009, according to the Department of Mineral Resources.
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Most drilling is concentrated in the four core Bakken counties - McKenzie, Williams, Mountrail and Dunn. Three rigs were operating Friday in Divide County and one was active in Bowman County.
The percent of North Dakota crude transported by rail remained unchanged in April from the previous month at 54 percent, the Pipeline Authority said in its monthly report.
