Top Story In Rigzone Today: North Dakota's Record Production -- September 12, 2014

Reuters via Rigzone is reporting:

North Dakota's daily oil production jumped 5 percent in July to an all-time high, though the number was lower than expected as producers worked to meet aggressive flaring-reduction targets, state regulators said on Friday.

The production numbers, which have been steadily rising for years, highlight the massive investments Hess Corp, Whiting Petroleum Corp and other companies are making to develop the state's oil-rich Bakken and Three Forks shale formations and others.

Despite the positive production data, shares of top North Dakota oil producers fell with the broader market.

The investments have brought thousands of new workers to North Dakota, as well as billions in infrastructure and real estate investment, making the state the fastest-growing economy in the United States.

North Dakota's oil wells produced 34.4 million barrels in July, up from 32.8 million barrels in June, the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources said. That averaged 1.1 million barrels a day.

Natural gas production in the state hit 1.3 billion cubic feet per day, also an all-time high. The percentage of natural gas flared in the state fell to 26 percent in July from 30 percent in June.

In an effort to curb flaring, the wasteful burning of natural gas, state regulators issued strict goals earlier this year with key benchmarks for flaring percentages each month.

For Oct. 1, for instance, the state's oil producers cannot flare more than 74 percent of natural gas produced. If they do, they face fines.

I could be wrong, but I thnk the "74% rule" affects only wells crude oil production above a certain level, 6,000 bbls/month?

Much more at the linked article.  It was just interesting to see this as the lead story over at Rigzone.  I wonder if Jane Nielson reads Rigzone?

Interesting bit of trivia: the lede mentioned Whiting and Hess, but failed to mention "the face of the Bakken," Continental Resources.

With regard to flaring, PetroGlobalNews is reporting:

Norway-based Statoil said Wednesday it will expand its use of technology that powers equipment with natural gas that would otherwise be flared at its Bakken, North Dakota sites.

The technology captures flare gas and uses it to power drilling rigs and equipment.
Statoil already implemented the technology in a pilot program at six drill rigs and one fracking fleet in Bakken.

The technology is being developed with GE and Calgary-based Ferus Natural Gas.
The system captures natural gas as it is released from oil wells and separates out liquid propane and butane. The remaining natural gas is then compressed. The compressed natural gas can be used to fuel trucks and other equipment.

Statoil said the technology, called the Last Mile Fueling Solution, will allow it capture between 3 million and 5 million cubic feet per day of natural gas.

This story has been reported earlier but this provides more detail about GE's role.

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