Gov. Jack Dalrymple says North Dakota has made significant progress in solving the problem of natural gas flaring.
The gas is a byproduct of oil development in the Bakken.
The state used to flare about a third of that gas. Now flaring is under 30 percent – and Dalrymple says as gas processing plants expand and more gathering systems are built, flaring will further decrease. He says the challenge is keeping up with development.
"Every day, there's a new well that comes in," said Dalrymple. "It's a chase."
Dalrymple says the state will make more and more progress, and the percentage of natural gas flared will continue to go down.
A task force looking at the flaring issue is expected to report to Dalrymple and the state’s Industrial Commission at the end of January.
