BISMARCK, North Dakota – Oil and natural gas production in North Dakota experienced a notable decline in December, a downturn attributed to a combination of sub-zero temperatures and depressed oil prices. The state produced 1.121 million barrels of oil per day in December, a decrease from 1.198 million barrels in November, according to data released Monday by the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources.
Natural gas production also fell, dropping from 106.4 billion cubic feet in November to 103.5 billion cubic feet in December. Nathan Anderson, director of the Department of Mineral Resources, indicated that the cold snap significantly impacted operations. “I don’t have an exact number, but we definitely had temperature-related downtime in the month of December,” Anderson stated.
The decline in production follows a year of substantial output for the state. In 2025, North Dakota produced over 426 million barrels of oil. However, the December figures represent the lowest monthly oil production total for the year. The vast majority of the state’s oil production – 97.4% – originates from the Bakken-Three Forks formation, with the remainder coming from outside that region.
Industry observers anticipate that the effects of the harsh winter weather will continue into the new year. Justin Kringstad, with the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, cautioned that January likely faced similar challenges. “January had a lot of the same challenges, too, so we’ll see. I don’t want to put a hard number on it, but I think January certainly will see the effects of winter as well,” Kringstad said.
Despite the December dip, the number of active drilling rigs in the state remained stable, with 26 rigs operating in North Dakota in both January and December. A total of 28 rigs were actively drilling across the broader Williston Basin, encompassing both North Dakota and Montana. This suggests that while current production was hampered, exploration and development activities were maintained.
Geographically, McKenzie County continues to be the leading oil-producing region within North Dakota, accounting for 32% of the state’s total output. The counties of McKenzie, Williams, Dunn, Mountrail, and Divide collectively contribute 96.1% of North Dakota’s oil production, highlighting the concentration of activity within these areas.
The North Dakota production decline occurred against a backdrop of fluctuating national oil production figures. U.S. Oil production reached a record high of 13.9 million barrels per day in October, before experiencing a slight decrease to 13.8 million barrels per day in November. The December figures for North Dakota suggest a potential broader trend of winter-related disruptions to oil and gas supply.
Permitting and well completion activity also showed shifts in December. The state issued 85 permits in December, compared to 75 in November and 72 in January. However, well completions decreased, with 83 wells completed in December, 37 in November, and 63 in January. The total number of producing wells decreased by 172 month-over-month, while the number of inactive wells increased by 625, according to Anderson’s report. Producing wells peaked at an all-time high of 19,625 in October.
Production on the Fort Berthold Reservation also saw a decrease, falling 2.6% from 140,336 barrels in November to 136,745 barrels in December. Three rigs were operating on the reservation in December, with 154 active permits and 3,019 active wells.
Alongside production volumes, data on gas flaring and capture rates were also released. The statewide gas flared volume decreased by 14.8 million cubic feet per day in December, reaching 151.3 million cubic feet. Gas capture rates remained relatively stable, with a statewide capture rate of 95.2% and a Bakken-specific capture rate of 95.8%.
The confluence of weather-related disruptions and market conditions underscores the vulnerability of oil and gas production to external factors. While the long-term impact of the December decline remains to be seen, the data highlights the challenges faced by producers in maintaining consistent output during periods of extreme weather and economic uncertainty. The state’s energy sector will be closely watched in the coming months to assess the extent of the recovery and the potential for sustained production levels.
