North Dakota production continued to climb in May but new requirements in the state’s flaring reduction plan slowed permitting activity in June and may lead to production curtailments for some operators early next year. About 75% of permit applications required an extra 2-7 days of processing time while the state contacted operators to obtain additional information on gas processing plans, Lynn Helms, director, North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, told reporters during a July 14 conference call. “At least 75% of the permits are missing one or more pieces of information,” Helms said. The state began requiring operators to submit gas capture plans with permit applications on June 1. Plans include information on area gas-gathering system connections and processing plants ; the rate and duration of planned flowback; current system capacity; a timeline for connecting the well; and a signed affidavit verifying […]