North Dakota oil production in January cut dramatically due to cold temperatures

(Bismarck, ND) -- State officials say the severe freeze in North Dakota has cut oil production dramatically and will take about a month to recover.  

The director for the Department of Mineral Resources says the weather cut production by more than half last week. Production fell from between 500,000 to 550,000 barrels a day to 350,000 to 400,000 barrels a day on Friday.  

Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms says January is going to be a very bad month for production.