Bakken Pulse · Archive

Every month since 2003

One issue for each month from January 2003 to August 2026: oil, wells, drilling, hearings and changes of operator, built from the public record.

Written on November 8, 2026, looking back. These issues were not published at the time. They are assembled now, with hindsight, so the Bakken's story can be read month by month.

Issues by month

Each cell is that month's oil output in thousand barrels a day. Open a month for its issue.

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
20261,1271,1241,1261,1351,1201,1611,1571,164
20251,1831,1651,1951,1761,1271,1721,1841,1751,1721,1791,1991,130
20241,1051,2561,2311,2431,1991,1871,1721,1811,2051,1831,2291,195
20231,0631,1591,1251,1361,1401,1741,1861,2201,2901,2571,2831,278
20221,0921,0961,1299081,0611,0981,0731,0741,1241,1201,099959
20211,1481,0841,1091,1221,1301,1351,0791,1081,1141,1111,1631,146
20201,4321,4551,4351,2268628951,0441,1671,2251,2321,2271,192
20191,4041,3371,3941,3931,3951,4251,4461,4811,4441,5191,5191,477
20181,1781,1761,1621,2271,2481,2311,2731,2951,3611,3941,3791,403
20179841,0341,0261,0511,0401,0331,0491,0891,1071,1841,1971,183
20161,1221,1201,1121,0421,0471,0271,0309829721,0441,035942
20151,1831,1701,1821,1651,1961,2041,2001,1811,1551,1661,1741,145
20149329459699961,0301,0831,1061,1231,1741,1741,1791,219
2013736778783790808821869908931941974927
2012546557579610641662674702726747733766
2011342347359350362384424444462489509533
2010235260276284298313320328342342356343
2009188192195197206215228232238241247242
2008137137143150155165172178189203214201
2007114116117118120121123124126128130135
200698103105103109111109111112113114114
200590929594939698100101103105104
2004798082838484848687889193
2003828382807980808081798081

Milestones

What stood out, issue by issue: firsts, records, sharp monthly swings and the largest changes of operator of record.

  1. August 2026 The operator of record changed from Neptune Operating LLC to Kraken Operating, LLC on 458 wells.
  2. November 2025 The operator of record changed from Zavanna, LLC to Zavanna Energy Operating, LLC on 168 wells.
  3. September 2025 The operator of record changed from Grayson Mill Operating, LLC to Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C. on 1,333 wells.
  4. September 2025 The operator of record changed from WPX Energy Williston, LLC to Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C. on 720 wells.
  5. July 2024 The operator of record changed from Liberty Resources Management Company, LLC to Silver Hill Energy Operating, LLC on 152 wells.
  6. May 2024 The operator of record changed from Crescent Point Energy U.S. Corp. to Neptune Operating LLC on 219 wells.
  7. February 2024 Oil output rose 14% from the month before.
  8. January 2024 Oil output fell 14% from the month before.
  9. September 2023 Oil output passed 1,250,000 barrels a day for the first time since March 2020.
  10. September 2023 The operator of record changed from Ovintiv USA Inc. to Grayson Mill Operating, LLC on 379 wells.
  11. July 2023 More than 17,500 wells reported oil for the first time.
  12. February 2023 Oil output rose 9% from the month before.
  13. February 2023 The operator of record changed from Ballantyne Oil, LLC to Fulcrum Energy Operating, LLC on 106 wells.
  14. January 2023 Oil output rose 11% from the month before.
  15. January 2023 The operator of record changed from Bowline Energy LLC to Neptune Operating LLC on 209 wells.
  16. December 2022 Oil output fell 13% from the month before.
  17. December 2022 The operator of record changed from Petro Harvester Operating Company, LLC to Formentera Operations, LLC on 132 wells.
  18. September 2022 The flared share of reported gas fell below 5% for the first time since the workbooks began in May 2015.
  19. August 2022 The operator of record changed from Rimrock Oil & Gas Williston LLC to WPX Energy Williston, LLC on 180 wells.
  20. June 2022 The operator of record changed from QEP Energy Company to Oasis Petroleum North America LLC on 403 wells.
  21. June 2022 The operator of record changed from Ovintiv Production Inc. to Ovintiv USA Inc. on 331 wells.
  22. June 2022 The operator of record changed from Resource Energy Can-Am LLC to Formentera Operations, LLC on 217 wells.
  23. May 2022 Oil output rose 17% from the month before.
  24. April 2022 Oil output fell 20% from the month before.
  25. November 2021 The operator of record changed from Equinor Energy LP to Grayson Mill Operating, LLC on 706 wells.
  26. November 2021 The operator of record changed from Bruin E&P Operating, LLC to Enerplus Resources USA Corporation on 473 wells.
  27. November 2021 The operator of record changed from Nine Point Energy, LLC to Bowline Energy LLC on 193 wells.
  28. November 2021 The operator of record changed from Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC to Enerplus Resources USA Corporation on 132 wells.
  29. December 2020 The operator of record changed from Newfield Production Company to Ovintiv Production Inc. on 317 wells.
  30. September 2020 The flared share of reported gas fell below 7.5% for the first time since the workbooks began in May 2015.
  31. August 2020 Oil output rose 12% from the month before.
  32. July 2020 Oil output rose 17% from the month before.
  33. May 2020 Oil output fell 30% from the month before.
  34. April 2020 Oil output fell 15% from the month before.
  35. April 2020 With hindsight: the lowest North Dakota crude price from 2003 through August 2026 ($11.76 a barrel).
  36. November 2019 With hindsight: the highest month of North Dakota oil output on record, through August 2026.
  37. October 2019 Oil output passed 1,500,000 barrels a day for the first time in the EIA monthly record, which begins in 1981.
  38. April 2019 More than 15,000 wells reported oil for the first time.
  39. February 2019 The operator of record changed from Crescent Point Energy U.S. Corp. to Ballantyne Oil, LLC on 130 wells.
  40. January 2019 The operator of record changed from Enduro Operating, LLC to Cobra Oil & Gas Corporation on 159 wells.
  41. December 2018 The operator of record changed from Enduro Operating, LLC to Cobra Oil & Gas Corporation on 261 wells.
  42. August 2018 The operator of record changed from Statoil Oil & Gas LP to Equinor Energy LP on 645 wells.
  43. July 2018 Oil output passed 1,250,000 barrels a day for the first time in the EIA monthly record, which begins in 1981.
  44. June 2018 The operator of record changed from SM Energy Company to Petro-Hunt, L.L.C. on 227 wells.
  45. April 2018 Oil output set a new record of 1,226,900 barrels a day, the first record since December 2014.
  46. December 2017 The operator of record changed from HRC Operating, LLC to Bruin E&P Operating, LLC on 324 wells.
  47. December 2017 The operator of record changed from Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation to Rimrock Oil & Gas Williston LLC on 101 wells.
  48. May 2017 The operator of record changed from Triangle USA Petroleum Corporation to Nine Point Energy, LLC on 149 wells.
  49. February 2017 The operator of record changed from SM Energy Company to Oasis Petroleum North America LLC on 147 wells.
  50. December 2016 Oil output fell 9% from the month before.
  51. December 2016 The operator of record changed from Emerald Oil, Inc to Petro-Hunt Dakota, LLC on 103 wells.
  52. November 2016 The operator of record changed from Denbury Onshore, LLC to Scout Energy Management LLC on 172 wells.
  53. November 2016 The operator of record changed from Samson Resources Company to Resource Energy Can-Am LLC on 123 wells.
  54. April 2016 The flared share of reported gas fell below 10% for the first time since the workbooks began in May 2015.
  55. February 2016 The operator of record changed from Oxy USA Inc. to Lime Rock Resources III-A, L.P. on 294 wells.
  56. October 2015 The flared share of reported gas fell below 15% for the first time since the workbooks began in May 2015.
  57. April 2015 More than 12,500 wells reported oil for the first time.
  58. October 2014 The operator of record changed from Kodiak Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. to Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation on 317 wells.
  59. September 2014 With hindsight: the most wells spudded in any month from 2003 through August 2026 (263).
  60. May 2014 Oil output passed 1,000,000 barrels a day for the first time in the EIA monthly record, which begins in 1981.
  61. January 2014 More than 10,000 wells reported oil for the first time.
  62. November 2013 The operator of record changed from Hess Corporation to Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC on 737 wells.
  63. October 2013 The operator of record changed from Zenergy, Inc to Oasis Petroleum North America LLC on 144 wells.
  64. May 2013 The operator of record changed from G3 Operating, LLC to HRC Operating, LLC on 192 wells.
  65. March 2013 The operator of record changed from Brigham Oil & Gas, L.P. to Statoil Oil & Gas LP on 265 wells.
  66. December 2012 Oil output passed 750,000 barrels a day for the first time in the EIA monthly record, which begins in 1981.
  67. December 2012 The operator of record changed from Denbury Onshore, LLC to XTO Energy Inc on 153 wells.
  68. August 2012 More than 7,500 wells reported oil for the first time.
  69. November 2011 Oil output passed 500,000 barrels a day for the first time in the EIA monthly record, which begins in 1981.
  70. July 2011 Oil output rose 10% from the month before.
  71. January 2011 The operator of record changed from Encore Operating, L.P. to Denbury Onshore, LLC on 151 wells.
  72. August 2010 More than 5,000 wells reported oil for the first time.
  73. May 2010 The operator of record changed from St Mary Land & Exploration Company to SM Energy Company on 144 wells.
  74. February 2010 Oil output passed 250,000 barrels a day for the first time in the EIA monthly record, which begins in 1981.
  75. February 2010 Oil output rose 11% from the month before.
  76. June 2008 With hindsight: the highest North Dakota crude price from 2003 through August 2026 ($126.68 a barrel).
  77. April 2008 Oil output set a new record of 149,600 barrels a day, the first record since August 1984.
  78. November 2007 The operator of record changed from Nance Petroleum Corporation to St Mary Land & Exploration Company on 260 wells.
  79. March 2007 The operator of record changed from Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP to Encore Operating, L.P. on 157 wells.
  80. May 2006 The operator of record changed from Westport Oil & Gas Company, L.P. to Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP on 147 wells.
  81. September 2005 Oil output passed 100,000 barrels a day for the first time since May 1998.
  82. November 2003 The operator of record changed from Whiting Petroleum Corporation to Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation on 128 wells.

Sources: EIA (oil and price), the free NDIC Monthly Production Reports (wells, operators, flaring), the DMR GIS wells layer (spud dates) and the project's order index (orders from 2008). Every figure is in the archive data file.