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Standards and Regulations

Due to North Dakota's long history with oil and natural gas drilling, the state already has strict regulations in place. Additionally, companies follow the federal regulations that oversee oil and natural gas development.   Furthermore, companies follow stringent standards and operating procedures to conduct all operations, including hydraulic fracturing, to protect North Dakota's citizens and the environment.

Stringent standards, operating procedures and regaulations for oil and natural gas drilling are based upon decades of experience; they protect citizens and the environment because they are enforced by the drilling companies and the government through strict regulations and oversight.  

Standards

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is a trade association that represents 400 member companies across the oil and natural gas industry.  For more than 85 years, API, in conjunction with its member companies, has developed and refined engineering standards and practices for all aspects of oil and natural gas production.  Many of these standards have been adopted as references for industry performance, and incorporated into state and federal regulations.  These standards, considered industry practice, cover all aspects of Bakken Shale production, including site preparation, drilling, well construction, well integrity, water use management and surface environmental considerations.

Companies producing natural gas from the shale formations adhere to these strict standards when planning for and operating their wells.  Many of these companies are also the ones who developed the standards, and have been using them in production for years, if not decades.  The companies that continue to follow these strict standards and regulations will protect the safety and health of all citizens and the environment.  API and its member companies also continually monitor and update these standards to ensure operational safety and efficiency.

Regulations

In addition to stringent standards governing natural gas operations, there are federal, state and local government regulations that address oil and gas drilling and environmental protection for North Dakota.

These rules cover all aspects of the process, including well permitting, well materials and construction, air emissions, wildlife protection, safe disposition of used hydraulic fracturing fluids, water testing, chemical recordkeeping and reporting.

Federal

Clean Water Act (CWA)
Clean Air Act (CAA)
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

State of North Dakota

The North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC), Department of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Division, regulates the drilling and production of oil and gas in North Dakota. The NDIC Oil and Gas Division’s mission is to encourage and promote the development, production, and utilization of oil and gas in the state in such a manner as will prevent waste, maximize economic recovery, and fully protect the correlative rights of all owners to the end that the landowners, the royalty owners, the producers, and the general public realize the greatest possible good from these vital natural resources.  

NDIC Rules and Regulations

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