Bakken output falters as December chill hits oil patch
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) released its February “Director’s Cut” report last week, providing a glimpse of how oil and gas production numbers wound down in 2025.
McKenzie County Statistics
In the December 2025 production report, McKenzie County solidified its position as a definitive leader of the state’s energy sector, contributing a staggering 32 percent of the total oil output. While the entire state produced a preliminary total of 34,771,242 barrels of oil, McKenzie County alone accounted for 11,020,704 barrels. County dominance was equally evident in natural gas production, yielding 44,870,340 MCF, which represents approximately 43 percent of the state’s total 103,517,778 MCF for the month. Supporting this massive output, McKenzie County operated 3,687 active producing wells out of a total 19,256 statewide, highlighting its critical role in driving our mineral resource economy.
Statewide Statistics
North Dakota’s oil and gas production took a notable hit in December 2025, as a combination of brutal winter weather and sagging prices impacted the state’s resources.
In the report, officials revealed that December’s oil production fell to approximately 1.121 million barrels per day. This represents a 6.38 percent decrease from November’s corrected figures.
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