北达科他州矿产资源部 5 月 16 日表示，该州的石油和天然气运营商表示，由于油价疲软，他们计划减少钻井平台和压裂人员，此举可能会影响美国第三大石油生产商的产量。

由于油价跌破 65 美元（盈亏平衡所需的价格），巴肯油田所在地的石油生产商已开始减缓产量并减少钻井数量。

北达科他州监管机构主任内森·安德森 (Nathan Anderson) 表示，北达科他州的盈亏平衡价格历来在每桶 55 美元至 60 美元之间。

安德森表示：“我们预计钻井数量将略有下降，这肯定与油价疲软以及目前略有波动的价格环境有关。”

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安德森表示，大约有四五家运营商计划放弃钻机，这要么是他们的商业计划的一部分，要么是由于价格低廉。

他补充说，到8月份，该州的钻井数量可能会降至27个左右。上周五，钻井数量为31个。

安德森补充说，目前运营的 14 个压裂队伍中，有两支也可能被减少。

Oil and gas operators in North Dakota have indicated they plan to drop rigs and frac crews due to weaker oil prices, a move that is likely to impact output in the third largest U.S. oil producer, the state's Department of Mineral Resources said on May 16.

Oil producers in the state, home to the Bakken play, have started to slow output, dropping rigs, as prices have fallen below $65, the price required to break even.

North Dakota breakevens have historically been in the $55/bbl to $60/bbl range, said Nathan Anderson, director of the state regulator.

"We're expecting the rig count to soften just a little bit, and most certainly related to soft prices and a little bit of a volatile price environment that we're in right now," Anderson said.

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About four or five operators plan to drop rigs either as part of their business plans or due to low prices, Anderson said.

The state's rig count is likely to drop to about 27 by August, he added. The rig count stood at 31 on Friday.

Two of the 14 frac crews currently operating could also be reduced, Anderson added.