Controlling Gas Flaring | Video

Jennifer Joas | 3/8/2013

State lawmakers want to get a handle on the great balls of fire in western North Dakota. Several flaring bills were brought up this session, but one that`s made it through crossover would allow flaring to continue for one year. But it provides incentives to oil companies to capture the natural gas liquids before flaring during that first year of production.

If they do that, they are exempt from oil production tax for two years. Department of Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms says flaring cannot be stopped altogether.

"Because of the aerial extent of this oil field and the difficulty of getting pipeline rights of way and getting the infrastructure built, we would have an incredible negative impact on the economics of the Bakken and Three Forks," Helms said.

The bill would allow natural gas to be processed through mobile units, until the well can be hooked up to a pipeline.

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