North Dakota Regulator: Flaring Drop Less Than Expected

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's top energy industry regulator says he's surprised that the expansion of a new natural gas plant hasn't made a bigger dent in reducing the amount of natural gas that is burned off and wasted as a byproduct of the state's soaring oil production.

The Bismarck Tribune reports flaring as a percentage dropped to 28 percent in May. Flaring was at 30 percent in April.

State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms says he was surprised that the Hess Corporation's Tioga gas plant coming back online following an expansion didn't reduce flaring more.

Helms says regulators expected the percentage of natural gas flaring to be "in the low 20s." He says the 28 percent mark "was a bit disappointing."

The national average is less than 1 percent.