McKenzie County Farmer - Latest News

M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer

North Dakota’s Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) released its January 2026 Director’s Cut report this week, painting a picture of a strong energy sector. Despite a global oversupply of crude and the current cold snap, state officials report that production remains robust, largely driven by technological gains in the Bakken formation.

McKenzie County Statistics 
Based on the State Summary Report for January 2025, McKenzie County remains the dominant force in the state’s energy sector, contributing approximately 30 percent of North Dakota’s total oil and gas output. For the month of January, McKenzie County reported a preliminary production of 10,887,844 barrels (BBLS) of oil and 46,034,469 thousand cubic feet (MCF) of gas. When compared to the statewide totals of 36,340,859 BBLS of oil and 103,066,289 MCF of gas, it is clear that McKenzie County’s production single-handedly accounts for nearly one-third of the state’s total oil volume and over 44 percent of its natural gas production. This industrial leadership is further evidenced by the county’s active well count; with 5,570 wells actually producing during January, McKenzie County maintains more than double the active wells of any other individual county, supporting a top-five county coalition that collectively generates over 96 percent of North Dakota’s total energy resources.

Statewide Statistics 
North Dakota’s energy landscape in late 2025 was defined by a shift toward maximum efficiency, with oil production reaching 1.189 million barrels per day in November. The Bakken formation continues to be the state’s undisputed engine, accounting for a staggering 97.5 percent of the total output. While the rig count saw a slight decline to 26 from its late-2025 peak of 28, the industry compensated through technological advancements, specifically the increasing use of three- and four-mile laterals to extract more resources per well. Beyond volume, the state achieved a major environmental milestone in gas capture, reaching 95 percent efficiency and driving flaring down to a record low of 4 percent, signaling a cleaner, more streamlined era for the region’s oil patch.

Director Nathan Anderson announced that North Dakota produced 35,673,000 barrels of oil in November 2025, averaging roughly 1.189 million barrels per day. This represents a 1.06 percent increase from October and sits 3.4 percent above the state’s revenue forecast. The Bakken continues to be the state’s powerhouse, accounting for 97.5 percent of all production. While production volume is up, tax revenue is feeling the squeeze of lower prices. The state’s average tax price for November was $52.87 per barrel, approximately 11.6 percent below the revenue forecast.

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