Bakken oil & gas production in North Dakota grew almost 2% in May to set a new record. The state produced:

• 810,129 b/d of oil
• 899,977 mmcfd

That's up from 793,852 b/d and 861,193 mmcfd in April.

If any month was expected slow, it would have been May. June is really the only month left to watch this year. The rest of the year should continue to grow at a consistent pace. Activity levels point to growth of 10,000 b/d per month through the end of the year. Growth of more than 16,000 b/d in May is a bit of surprise to the upside and puts the state well on its way to eclipsing 850,000 b/d by year-end.

April was the coldest on record and was followed by the wettest month on record. Load restrictions have been in force in parts of the state over the past two months and construction of well sites has been constrained.