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North Dakota regulators approved extending the deadline for oil companies to complete drilled wells by one year, allowing them to delay production until 2027 or when spring load restrictions are lifted. The measure aims to keep drilling rigs active in the state as West Texas Intermediate crude trades around $61 per barrel, down from nearly $80 a year ago. The Industrial Commission’s decision gives companies flexibility during a period of economic uncertainty over tariff policy and global oil oversupply. Mineral Resources Director Nathan Anderson said some operators plan to drop rigs, and the policy prevents equipment from leaving for other oil basins. Companies must monitor delayed wells quarterly for pressure and leakage. The last similar extension occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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