Natural gas production in North Dakota rose to a record 3.440 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in September from an all-time high of 3.313 bcfd hit in August, while gas flaring also edged up.

Producers burned off, or flared, 0.182 bcfd of gas in September, up from 0.154 bcfd in August, keeping the percentage of gas flared at around 5%, the North Dakota Industrial Commission said in a report on Tuesday.

Flaring levels hit a peak of 36% in September 2011.

One billion cubic feet of gas is enough to supply about 5 million U.S. homes for a day.

The commission has set a goal of capturing at least 91% of gas pulled out of the ground after Nov. 1, 2020.

The number of producing wells, both oil and gas, rose to a preliminary record high of 18,538 in September from an all-time high of 18,396 hit in August.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; editing by Jason Neely)