Bismarck, N.D. (AP) North Dakota's top energy regulator says the oil industry is exceeding new rules that require reducing the amount of natural gas that is burned off as a byproduct of the state's oil production. New regulations require producers to reduce natural gas flaring to below 26 percent beginning in October. State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms says North Dakota's natural gas flaring was 22 percent for that month.
Helms says oil drillers produced 1.18 million barrels of oil a day in October. That's down about 4,050 barrels daily from September.
October figures were the latest available because oil production numbers typically lag at least two months.
Helms says October's production was the first time in eight months that the state did not set a monthly oil production record.