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N.D. (AP) – Regulators say North Dakota produced a record high of 1,184,635 barrels of oil a day in September. That’s 50,000 more barrels a day than August. Oil production figures have a two-month lag time.

The natural gas flaring rate dropped from 27 percent in August to 24 percent. Natural gas is a valuable byproduct of oil production. But without infrastructure in place to capture it, it is burned off by oil producers.

New regulations call for producers to reduce flaring to below 26 percent starting with their October production. If they fail to meet that mark, they may face production restrictions.

The drilling rig count in the state dropped from 191 in October to 186 as of Friday. Department of Natural Resource Director Lynn Helms blamed that on low oil prices.